Tender water level taps

Hi everyone.

This morning we have been looking at an issue with the water level taps in the tender, and have decided that we would have a look to see if we can buy better ones in. Where do people go when they buy some else where?

Many thanks all

Will@STW

I sealed mine up and don't use them . I fitted a sight glass on the side of the belly tank

I found it difficult to make them close-off completely, so I decided to leave them both permanently in the fully 'open' position, with a short length of small bore PVC tubing connecting the two spouts together.
Works really well as a simple 'sight glass' for the tank water level.
Regards Chris

I would agree a sight glass mod would be far more useful than taps, both mine dont get used now and have seized up

Might get round to doing this now there are no shows

I have sealed mine. What I have done is added a float and indicator rod near to the tank outlets, simply a brake line union added to the bunker floor near to the existing outlets. A rod of suitable length slides inside the union, one end has a float (synthetic bottle cork) and the other an indicator (small arrow made of brass). Then a visible mark inside the bunker. Make the rod so that the minimum level is just above the outlets inside of the tank.

Richard.

T140 wrote:I have sealed mine. What I have done is added a float and indicator rod near to the tank outlets, simply a brake line union added to the bunker floor near to the existing outlets. A rod of suitable length slides inside the union, one end has a float (synthetic bottle cork) and the other an indicator (small arrow made of brass). Then a visible mark inside the bunker. Make the rod so that the minimum level is just above the outlets inside of the tank.

Richard.

Hi Richard,

that sounds like a good solution for a more visual level indicator, we had something similar on loco tenders

Cheers

Mike

I bought some from Vintage car parts for my 6" Burrell with a 1/8th BSP thread. they will be a little over scale for the 4"DCC but the main problem is the brake arm might hit the middle cock.

Hope you can get something sorted out as i'd far sooner use the taps.

Will@STW wrote:Hi everyone.

This morning we have been looking at an issue with the water level taps in the tender, and have decided that we would have a look to see if we can buy better ones in. Where do people go when they buy some else where?

Many thanks all

Will@STW

Is there any update on this Will ?

I have received the taps in Kit 8, and I don’t trust them to work effectively, so I can see why you are looking for an alternative.

milford59 wrote:

Is there any update on this Will ?

I have received the taps in Kit 8, and I don’t trust them to work effectively, so I can see why you are looking for an alternative.

We have a potential supplier, but need to see if they work and how they look before we start using them.

Many thanks

Will@STW