Overhaul update
We start with the boiler, still on its back. A reason for turning it was to allow access for foundation ring riveting. The rivet holes must be reamed out to size, and two reamers protrude from what will be the left outer side sheet.
The right inner firebox, with two more reamers upper right and cleaned up stay holes awaiting new stays.
The same two reamers in detail emerging form the outer side sheet.
At the front end, the riveting of the patch to the bottom of the barrel (top of photo) is now finished.
In the machine shop, two of the mountings for the ejector exhaust pipe and one for the handrails demonstrate the level of detail of this overhaul.
New piston rod packings have been made and the working party trial fitted these. On the left side, all went well...
...but not so on the right. The gap at the top shows that the packing won’t fit fully over the rod, and the centre needs to be opened out slightly.
The working party continued its task of fitting cylinder cladding plates. The exposed areas of cylinder painted silver are now black.
A minor but associated task was to exchange three of the studs retaining the rear valve covers with long ones, which serve also to secure the casing over the covers.
Having found out which piece of cladding goes where and the more complicated issue of how to get it there, we then repeated the process with insulation material in place. This added a whole new challenge to persuading the pieces to go in!
The cylinder drain cock pipework before fitting.
The cylinder drain cock pipework in position.
The SMF's John Bowater at work on the right hand valve.