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Aux Dome Cover - Feb 24, 2012 |
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John Ezovski
This past week I have spent a bunch of time on the phone attempting to locate a
piece of material suitable for a new aux dome cover. Each distributor I called pointed
me down the road.
I Ended up getting quotes from two shops. One in Stockton and another in West
Sacramento. With approval and a very kind donation from Rod Diridon, today the blank
for the cover was ordered
The piece will be flame cut to about 20 1/2 inches. It is 2 inches thick, will have
material certs and heat treat numbers. The piece is going to weigh in near 225 pounds.
Delivery could be as early as this coming Wednesday to the trolley barn. I hope to meet
the truck and immediately deliver to the work site.
This will be the beginning of a multi-step machining process. Mounting bolt holes should
not be difficult. Cutting the 3 inch holes for the safeties is going to be a challenge.
Holes for the whistle and valve are just a bit easier.
Several years ago, I was informed that changes were coming to cover calculations in
the Form 4. When complete, there will be no issues with aux dome cover thickness
and the Form 4.
Next week I will work at getting material for the 20 new aux dome studs.
Over the next weeks (months?) there is going to be a bunch of work. |
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John Ezovski
Ballasting of the 90 some feet of panel track that SP1215 rests was completed today. The site is now ready to receive the Missouri Pacific caboose. See attached image.
Thank you to Reed and Graham for the 17 yards of ballast. Thank you to Robert Pederson, AtoolShed for the use of a dump truck and loader.
To Ken M. and Steve R., thanks for relocating the rock to San Jose History Park. The guys that worked
the shovels another big thanks. I had figured at least three full days of work to complete this task. Larry,
Steve, Gene, and Tom completed the job in one and one half days. Tamping ballast under ties is miserable
work. Shoveling stone is right up there with tamping. We all knew what need to be done and made it
happen. |
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SP2479 - Sat. Jan 21, 2012 |
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John Ezovski
Several things to report.
Over the past couple of weeks, a very detailed analysis of the steam dome cover was completed.
This cover, with out any doubt, is not serviceable. Bot the steam dome and aux dome covers are
to thin to be returned to service. Material and specs for new covers have been forwarded to Jack
and Ken so that quotes may be obtained and new covers created. All 20 studs in the aux dome
and 24 studs in the steam dome will have to be replaced. There will be lots of work here!
The cross head for the right steam distribution cylinder has been closely examined. One side
of the cross head lacks bronze. Next week an attempt will be made to braze the surface.
A big thank you to Larry M. for donating his old PC. The site now has a Dell system running
Windows XP. All CTRC files on the old machine have been moved to this new system. |
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SP2479 - Sat. Jan 7, 2012 |
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John Ezovski
Repairs to 2479's crossheads and guides are complete!
Work began on the left side guides and crosshead Oct. 15, 2011. A different
set of issues were encountered but were quickly overcome. The guides did
not require any repairs. All holes were reasonably round and the cylinder end
of the guides did not require weld repair. Only four of the eight mounting bolts
had to be replaced. Babbitting of the crosshead was the major issue and
required the most time.
Prior to the close of 2011, the crosshead was installed and found to be
binding at both end limits of travel. Close inspection revealed the lower guide
to be the problem. The lower guide was ever so slightly bowed up at the
tail end. Belt sanding of the last five inches of the guide provided the necessary
relief.
Binding at the front limits was a function of the upper guide being to wide for the
crosshead. Again belt sanding was used to remove a material from the sides
of the guide. The left crosshead now slides freely within its limits of travel.
Today the left cylinder cover was installed to protect the cylinder from rain and
other sources of potential damage.
Next in line are the traming of the steam distribution valve crossheads. The biggest
problem here is the need for the new cage for the front end of the left cylinder. |
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John Ezovski
Today the left crosshead was returned to the locomotive. With the crosshead
in place, bolts were installed in the lower guide. All of the news is not good.
The crosshead was found to be pinched tight when full forward. A .025 inch shim
was added at the front upper hanger to free the crosshead. When the crosshead
was pulled to back to end of travel, a similar situation was encountered.
Measurements show the upper and lower guides being within .005 inch at the two
points that have been used to establish guide positions. Neither guide is perfectly flat. The upper guide has a very slight arc to it. Solution to the problem will be identified after the first of the year.
There will be no work session Saturday, Dec 31, 2011 |
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SP2479 - Update Oct. 8, 2011 |
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John Ezovski
This past week, on two occasions, the fence along Healey Ave. was cut.
There was no apparent attempt to break into any of the containers nor any graffiti applied.
A walk along the entire site fence showed no other damage.
Cuts in the fence occurred under a tree that probably provided some cover.
Today several workers heavily pruned this tree.
A good portion of the trimmings were removed.
Hopefully this work will help discourage this activity.
Fairgrounds management was informed.
Night security will now patrol the area on Healey Ave.
Work has continued on repairs to the right side crosshead guides.
All holes have been bored and bolts machined.
Measurements between the guides appear to be within acceptable limits.
When 2479's master mechanic returns from vacation, he will make
the final decision regarding any additional work in this area.
Measurements of the position of the left crosshead guides to the stroke of the piston
have been completed.
These guides will also require repositioning.
With any luck, the
process that has been learned on the right side will allow these repairs to be completed
in a shorter time frame.
The locomotive and tender have been not been moved in almost two years.
There has been some concern about journal surfaces.
Over the past several weeks the exposed journal surfaces on the locomotive were cleaned and lubricated.
Journal oil levels were checked on the tender and locomotive lead truck.
Today the tender was pulled forward an back several times one full wheel revolution.
The tender resisted the pull on first move.
All other moves were completed with almost no effort.
In the next several weeks the same operation will be performed with the locomotive. |
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John Ezovski
During the past several months repairs to SP-2479 right side crosshead
guides have continued but at an agonizingly slow pace.
With the lower guide in position and the upper surface of the crosshead machined, workers turned to installing the upper guide.
Before this could be completed guide position to center of the cylinder had to be made along with repairs to the holes in the upper guide and its associated hanger holes.
Obstacles were encountered in each step of these repairs
Each obstacle caused at a minimum of a weeks delay to devise a solution.
The guide’s position to the cylinder has been set and is near ideal.
The greatest challenge has been the match boring of the rear holes in the upper
guide and its associated hanger hole.
This past week the first of these holes was finished.
Hopefully the second rear mounting hole will be completed in a more timely fashion.
These images show the various tooling used to complete boring of the upper hole.
All of these items had been used elsewhere but required modifications.
Cleanup of the front anchor points is much easier as these holes can be
drilled.
This process began late Saturday afternoon.
The inside hole is almost complete.
The organization’s large Clark forklift has been running rather poorly and
has received a considerable amount of attention during this period.
A compression test was performed with satisfactory results followed by a complete
tune up.
With only a slight performance improvement, it was felt that a carburetor rebuild was necessary.
Finding the model number and parts for a 58 year old carburetor was no easy task but parts were located.
(One of these days we are not going to be so lucky.)
Rebuild of the carburetor made a difference.
The lift was driven and operated with no issues.
Two large machines have been removed from storage.
The first of these, a Brown and Sharpe mill, has been cleaned up and made serviceable.
This machine has not been used for a number of years.
It had been stored outside in semi-covered area and thus required lots of help before power could be applied.
Cleanup of the second machine, a surface grinder, is in work.
Weekly, members are cutting grass, pruning trees and clearing weeds.
Maintaining site appearance is always a concern. |
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Larry Murchison
The 1215 locomotive with a tender snuggled up to its backside.
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SP2479 - Accomplishments: Saturday May 21, 2011 |
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John Ezovski
A large crew produced the most productive day in a very long time!
Thanks to the generous donation of 30 gallons of hydraulic oil by Mr. Steve Lopes, Western
States Oil, today the large planner was used to trim the top of the right side cross head guide's
babbitted surface. Prior to trimming, this surface was heavily pitted. With this work complete,
repairs can begin on the right side's upper cross head guide.
The last of four bolts for the lower cross head guide was machined. Nuts are all that is needed
to mount the guide on the locomotive.
While machining of the cross head was taken place, welding of tire clips on the main driver
was taking place. The right side tire of the main driver was replaced during earlier repairs.
Tire retaining clips were not installed at the time of the repair. Several more clips need to
be made to replace missing clips on the right side of number three driver.
Additional welding was performed on the backhead of the boiler. A small but deep gouge
in the sheet was repaired by pad welding.
The area behind the shop was looking rather sad. Several members worked in the area
most of the day. Appearance from Old Tulley Road has improved greatly. A bit
more work is needed to complete this task.
Spring cleanup of the tall weeds in the round house materials area has begun. Lots more
work is need in this area to complete this job.
Thanks to all that participated. |
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Location And Date Change For Monthly Meetings! |
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Starting May 7, 2011, our monthly meetings will be moved to the first Saturday of the month at the locomotive restoration site.
The meeting time will be at 10:00 am in our double wide trailer.
The change will enable meeting attendees to see restoration progress.
Since Saturdays are the standard "work day" at the site. meeting attendees are encouraged to bring work clothes!
Access to the restoration site is available from Healy Avenue.
For internet map directions, enter "2479 Healy Avenue, San Jose!".
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SP2479 Status - April 20, 2011 |
Small crew today but a few accomplishments.
All machining to the lower right crosshead guide is complete which makes it ready to
be returned to the locomotive. Before it can be mounted a pair of bolts must be
made and some touch up work to the front shim plate is required for the guide to
be preciously positioned to the piston rod.
In order to gain access to the group's large Rockford Planer, a cleanup of the
outdoor shop was required. With "stuff" relocated, the planer's ways and various
shafts were cleaned and lubricated. Power was applied to several parts of the
machine to check movement and allow additional lubrication. A significant quantity
of hydraulic oil is needed before the last section and most important part of this
machine can be operated. 30 gallons of oil is on order and hopefully will be come
available for next weekend's session.
Over the past several weeks a fox has been seen in and about the rail tie stack.
A fox in this area has been seen often over the years. This visit has been a bit
more interesting as a litter of seven kits have been seen with the vixen.
The kits may be seen in this photo. |
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