What is the best gasket material for a steam throttle?

Charlie High · **Posted:** Sat Sep 20, 2008 11:33 am

I would like to know what folks have found makes the best gasket material for steam throttles. Thanks.

Dave · **Posted:** Sat Sep 20, 2008 1:12 pm

Huh?

All the locomotives I've worked on have used ground-in joints where the components of the drypipe, standpipe, etc. come together - except one that was retrofit with a butterfly valve in place of the original, which had a copper gasket, but as far as I know (and hope) that's unique. What are you working on?

If the original was ground in, but it has gotten gnarly, remachining really bad stuff and lapping in or using Expando on slightly piutted surfaces ought to work well.

dave

Martyhuck · **Posted:** Sat Sep 20, 2008 5:54 pm

Perhaps he is talking about the throttle rod gland - if so, the best thing I've found is no longer available - graphited asbestos!

Frisco1522 · **Posted:** Sat Sep 20, 2008 10:58 pm

I had good luck on 1522 using Teflon coated square material formed into rings.(Stuffing box packing, that is) We used up our graphited asbestos rings and that's what I replaced them with.

Loco112 · **Posted:** Sat Sep 20, 2008 11:55 pm

There is a company called "Anti-Keystone" http://www.anti-keystone.com/

They seem to be the place to get all those obscure packing gland materials.

I have not purchased anything from them yet, but I do have their catalog and a few samples and they seem to have the spectrum of packing ring materials.

Charlie High · **Posted:** Mon Sep 22, 2008 8:55 am

We are looking for something to seal where the throttle assembly bolts on to the standpipe. The throttle assembly has a recessed ring cut into it's base. The standpipe surface is flat. There was some type of gasket there at one time. Thanks!

Kelly Anderson · **Joined:** Tue Sep 14, 2004 7:52 am **Posts:** 2477

J.David · **Posted:** Mon Sep 22, 2008 10:42 pm

Dear Charlie:
I would suggest that you make a gasket out of sheet copper, approximately three times as thick as the recess in your standpipe. The gasket ought to be annealed prior to assembly (and whenever it is to be reused). We use white lead paste as a sealing "schmooy" (highly technical term) for all steam fitters joints. Don't lick you fingers after applying...
Good luck!
J.David

Charlie High · **Posted:** Tue Sep 23, 2008 12:49 pm

Thanks Kelly and David for putting us on the "right track"! Last night we made a copper ring. I will let you know how this turns out. Charlie

Bobk · **Posted:** Tue Sep 23, 2008 1:11 pm

J. David has a good and most likely correct answer. Without details it is hard to guess. Generally when you see the recessed groove this means annealed copper gasket. .062 copper should be sufficient. Copper is used as it has a longer life in this atmosphere than most fibers. At least 70 years ago this was true. Newer materials may prove me wrong.

Charlie High · **Posted:** Thu Sep 25, 2008 8:45 am

We installed the gasket. Works like a charm. Thanks to everyone.