For the three Live steam engines that my dad and I have built, I have installed washout plugs in the corners of the mudring (so we can blast all areas of the mudring), backhead above the crownsheet and around the firebox door, and in the barrel of the boiler(top and bottom to clean out around the tubes and the bottom of the barrel). About once every 1-1.5 months, we powerwash the boilers. We bought a standard powerwasher and I made differnet nozzles to fit onto the powerwasher and clean out the boiler. My different nozzles are made from 1/8" and 3/16" copper tubing and are straight, and others are bent at 45&90 degree angles.
Because we have copper tubes and the rest of the boiler is steel, we have two zinc boiler anoids in the front flue sheet, which are also removed when powerwashing the boiler.
We also use LSB8000 in our boiler water which is used to help stop corrosion.
What else can we do to help preserve the longivity of our boilers?
What did the full size engines do?

jsfrost@mtu.edu

Mandatory minimal mean time between washings of 30 operating days - more frequently if required.

Rigourous testing of boiler water and treatment designed to suit the particular needs - too much or unnecessary chemistry can damage boilers too.

Generally, they didn't sweat longevity in the "old days". They were looking for more operating days for greater revenue miles. Replacement of fireboxes and tubes was assumed.

dave

irondave@bellsouth.net

Oh, I forgot - your blowdown schedule is established based on the test results as well.

dave

irondave@bellsouth.net

I would watch using that LSB. We used their product for full size steam locomotives and had really bad results. If you mix it wrong for what water you are using it will attack the metal of your boiler.

kbmayer

> For the three Live steam engines that my dad
> and I have built, I have installed washout
> plugs in the corners of the mudring (so we
> can blast all areas of the mudring),
> backhead above the crownsheet and around the
> firebox door, and in the barrel of the
> boiler(top and bottom to clean out around
> the tubes and the bottom of the barrel).
> About once every 1-1.5 months, we powerwash
> the boilers. We bought a standard
> powerwasher and I made differnet nozzles to
> fit onto the powerwasher and clean out the
> boiler. My different nozzles are made from
> 1/8" and 3/16" copper tubing and
> are straight, and others are bent at
> 45&90 degree angles.
> Because we have copper tubes and the rest of
> the boiler is steel, we have two zinc boiler
> anoids in the front flue sheet, which are
> also removed when powerwashing the boiler.
> We also use LSB8000 in our boiler water
> which is used to help stop corrosion.
> What else can we do to help preserve the
> longivity of our boilers?
> What did the full size engines do?


kbmayer75@charter.net

> I would watch using that LSB. We used their
> product for full size steam locomotives and
> had really bad results. If you mix it wrong
> for what water you are using it will attack
> the metal of your boiler.

> kbmayer

Jeff,

The LSB8000 is pre mixed for use in model boilers. I use it in my locomotives and have not had any problem at all. I had an old Allen mogul and it had a lot of crud in it. I called Terry at Terlyn Ind. and he put me on a heavy program 3 years ago while I was running in Florida. After using a heavy dose for 8 days it helped to clean out the crud. I sold the loco 2 years ago and it is still in great shape.

They recommend boiler wash once a year. more often is ok. I do it once. I also have a 1" scale berkshire and the 18 year old boiler is as good as new. I did nothing to it until 4 years ago and then used the LSB 8000. I rebuilt the loco running gear 2 years ago and the boiler is clean. I never use sacraficial metal !

What you are doing is fine. I leave the blow downs open to let air circulate. For winter I blow everything out and store in the garage. I have a wood stove and work out there sometime and keep the temp above 32 at all times. I don't like taking chanches with anything freezing. Where are you located?

Bruce

Boilers are steel with copper tubes.

bgsberk@comcast.net