DCC boiler

Hi All

I am wonder how high off the ground I should block my boiler up? I would like to sit the fire box on wood blocks and fit the smoke box assembly.

I am guessing the fire box should have about 16'' of wood under it

Mark

As high as you dare !!
Will save your back and knees....

Do you have an engine crane and/or some bottle or scissor jacks?

if you do the height isnt overly important as you can either sling some straps around the boiler and lift the boiler to slide the rear wheels on or use jacks to lift the tender and boiler to the correct height for the wheels to slide on.

I used a 2 ton engine crane to lift the boiler to a nice working height and blocked it before lowering it back down to a lower height to put the wheels on using bottle jacks under the rear axle casting between the horn plates for small adjustments.

Axle stands will also be a good purchase as you can have it set at the correct height once the rear axle is in place.

You need 23 cm under the foundation ring to match the wheel centre hight so anything more than this will allow you to fit the wheels. As Sonik45 says though if you can get it higher and safe then it will make it easier to work on. I am using a hydraulic table to raise and lower it, they can be picked up reasonably priced second hand. If you go this way make sure it will handle the weight though.

Many thanks for the replies.

Mark

I built a trolley for mine which it sat on for a couple of years, was high up and saved the knees and meant I could move it to make access easier.


IMG_2759 by Robert R&N, on Flickr

Make sure you have a way of lifting it off safely, it gets very heavy very quickly, the wheels are rated to 2t each and I used railway sleepers to construct it with threaded bar running through it.