Gauge glass

Hi all, got another question for you, hope someone can help.
Got kit 22 and the gauge glass is huge!! Far to long, can anyone help me out? What length does it need to be and what is the best way to cut to length?
I haven't got a good track record when it comes to glass, Don't want to break it.
Any assists would be greatly received.

Thanks Charlie

Glass needs to be a few mm longer than the gap between the two fittings (Nuts off). Make sure the glands are co-centric and parallel using the rod tool provided first.

By only having a few mm glass in each gland. It is enough to keep the silicon gland packing from going in to the fitting but gives the glass a certain amount of articulation if the horn plates move.

ONLY EVER tighten the gland nuts on the sight glass FINGER Tight.

cutting can be done with a dremel disk by gently scoring round at the measurement with water cooling.
or using a sharp glass cutter to score and use heat to "stress" cut the score line.
or glass cutter and gently tap the rod with support under the part you want to keep.

I cut my glass by the score line but cut long and used a sander belt to grind to final length and round off the edges.

Thanks Lynnr, your always good for advise.
What I don't understand is why STW can't just supply the glass to length? Would make life a lot easier for some of us.
Would a normal glass cutting be good enough? Glass and me doesn't go together well!!


Charlie

Every models glass length can be slightly different due to the bolting of the hornplates to the boiler.
The glass comes in standard lengths.

Yes a normal glass cutter will work.

Thanks Lynnr, will invest in one and give it a go.
Thanks for your help.

Charlie

I used a the edge of a small file to score it. Then it snapped easily. To get a accurate length, I inserted a large drinking straw between the glands, marked it and then used that length to mark on the glass. Mike.

Hi Mike, good idea for getting the length right. I'm currently looking on Amazon for glass cutter, so many to chose from!

Charlie

Personally, I wouldn't bother with the cutter. It's such a small tube, the cutter may be a bit heavy handed. All I did was lay it on some newspaper an kept rolling it under the file, it went easily. Mike

I did the same, small triangular file.

Barry

Thanks your replies. Think I'll give the small file a go, its going to be a waste of money to buy a glass cutter if not needed.


Charlie

By us not cutting it you get to have it what size you need and you also get 3 bits from it

Hi, just to let you guys know. I've done my gauge glass. The triangle file done the trick. All done and with no dramas.
I had a problem with the gauge glass protector. The pieces of plastic were too short for the frame. Rang STW, hopefully getting replacements sent to me.
Had others had this problem? The pieces I had were 40mm long, the frame, that is fitted in, seems the pieces should be at least 50mm long. Still waiting to hear from STW as to what is happening.

Charlie

I had the same problem with the protector. It's the rods that are too long. I did shorten mine to suit, but a couple of days later, STW sent me replacement. Mike.

Thanks Mike, never thought that might be the problem. Hope to here from STW and see what they say. You put threads further down the rods and cut then to size then?

Charlie

Yes Charlie, just threaded the rods further down and cut them off. At the time Steve wasn't sure when the replacements would be in stock. They arrived a few days later. Mike

Can you remember what the tread size is?

Charlie

It's 8ba. You can have my spare rods if you want. Those are the correct replacements. Or I can loan you the die, if you are stuck.

Thanks for the offer. I'll see if I have a 8BA dia. Might hear from STW soon.

Charlie

If you want the rods STW sent to me, let me know.

Ok will do, thanks again for offer of them.

Charlie

I have now received the new bars from STW, manged to get the plastic to stay in the gauge glass proctor. Only to find, when I tried to fit it, that the bottom of the gauge glass proctor, doesn't fit around the gauge glass fitting. I had a few choice words!!!
I'll have to get back to STW for a replacement bottom for the gauge glass proctor.

Have you got the base sitting on top of the bottom gland nut, or is the base wrong?

Hi Mike, all sorted now. Spoke to Steve and the problem was the top of the protector. It was a bit too small to go around the top nut. I filed it our a bit and now fits ok.

Excellent!

Yes all done now, waiting for kit 23 now. Got the tool box to make, can't make up my mind whether to have it opening or not. Will probably make it so it opens.
Engine coming together good now, can't wait to get it running.

Charlie