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Water pump Gland packing

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Water pump Gland packing Empty Water pump Gland packing

Post  highpressure Sun 12 Apr 2009, 6:40 pm

During running in today the water pump started to let by the ram, eventually emptying the tender even in bypass. Is there a recognised method for gland packing as I have tried three times to repack with more graphite yarn to find it makes absolutely no difference at all. It is impossible to tighten the glands in situ so the pump has to come off each time ( so far three and counting) and on the final try the packing was so tight I couldnt push the pump back up the ram, but it had no effect at all on the amount of water being ejected.

I am considering taking the ram out and running two grooves in and fitting O rings to allieviate the problem and to act as insurance should the packing fail again. I dont have much confidence in the gland method of sealing as a previous engine had the same problem and I couldnt pack that gland either.

There is also a video of it ticking over now on you tube heres a link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYYSXZpl-r0



Regards Kevyn.
highpressure
highpressure

Number of posts : 1096
Age : 56
Location : West Sussex, 4" DCC Road Loco
Registration date : 2008-06-18

http://www.simplydigitalaerials.com

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Post  Julia Sun 12 Apr 2009, 8:28 pm

If you pump is the standard MW design it is possible and normal to tighten the gland packing in situ. I use 3 "Cs" of 3/16 square section PTFE yarn as packing - it is brilliant.
Julia
Julia

Number of posts : 71
Location : South East England
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Post  highpressure Sun 12 Apr 2009, 9:50 pm

Hi Julia

No it is not the MW design but a solid casting from gunmetal from probably another well known design of the Burrell but the gland nuts are top and bottom on this one so the lower nut is totally inaccesible to all shapes and sizes af spanners. Clearly not a well thought out option for maintainance. Where do you get the PTFE yarn?

Also I spotted you on our local news broadcast giving the reporter a ride at Chatham.... fame at last!!!!

Regards Kevyn.
highpressure
highpressure

Number of posts : 1096
Age : 56
Location : West Sussex, 4" DCC Road Loco
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Post  Julia Sun 12 Apr 2009, 10:03 pm

The PTFE yarn is quite expensive. I got some from live steam models but I think other deals now stock it. There will be descriptions on my website. You take the ram out and wrap the yarn around several times and then take a vertical cut to form several Cs You then pack these such that the joins don't align.

Better description here http://www.kitbuilder.co.uk/burrell/steaming2.htm


Last edited by Julia on Sun 12 Apr 2009, 10:19 pm; edited 1 time in total (Reason for editing : added link)
Julia
Julia

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Post  highpressure Mon 13 Apr 2009, 11:10 pm

In order that it may help someone else with a similar problem I would like to post the solution to this problem. It wasnt in fact the gland packing that was leaking but where the ram is attached to the rod from the eccentric strap. In my case I have a brass ram which is attached to the rod with a flat head counter sunk screw and this had worked ever so slightly loose allowing water to pass into the inetrnal bore of the ram and be ejected under pressure. Tightening up the screw with a small amount of sealer on it has cured the leak completely.

Perhaps not the best design but an effective pump all the same.
highpressure
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Age : 56
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