This month work has focused on the overhaul of D5830. On the power unit the remaining 8 pistons have been removed and 12 cylinder liners have been removed. The waste return galleries have been cleaned out, the pipe work from the galleries to the bed plate was taken off and flushed out and have been refitted. The oil from sump has been drained and a deep clean of the sump has begun. The main engine bearing, conrod big and little end bearing exams have found these are all worn out and require replacing, but no horrors were found. The top of the power unit has also been cleaned.
The pistons have had all their rings removed and gudgeon pins removed to separate the pistons from the conrods. The pistons have gone away for crack testing and machining. The conrods will go away soon to have new big end bolts fitted and new little end bearings fitted. The cylinder heads have been pressure tested before these go away for overhaul.
One of our volunteers has steam cleaned all the engine covers and various other components.
The oil filters were drained, one was done by removing the plug underneath, the other had a seized plug so the oil had to be syringed out. The one with the seized plug, the filter body was taken out of the loco, the plug was drilled out and the thread cleaned up. The filters have been binned, both filter bodies have been cleaned inside and out, the frame the filter sits in also been cleaned. New plugs have arrived for when these filters bodies are put back together
The bottom of ‘A’ side radiator compartment has been cleaned out, mega amounts congealed effluent removed. The same task has been started in ‘B’ side radiator compartment, many years of detritus has been removed. The radiator drains have been unblocked as these got blocked during steam cleaning.
More rotten steelwork has been cut out from the roof sections and more new steel sheet cut to size and welded in. Just when you think you’ve found most of the corrosion, a little prodding reveals more
The 5 replacement roof gutters have arrived and look great, 2 of these will have to be modified to fit into their correct places.
The replacement cylinder liners have been collected and brought to Ruddington, the original cylinder liners we are offering for anyone to buy for a small donation if you fancy an english electric flowerpot, please contact us using the contact us form, these will have to be collected from Ruddington.
Finally, following a vote at the company’s recent Annual General Meeting, a majority of shareholders voted to repaint D5830 into BR Blue as 31463 when the loco is next repainted.
