Accucraft Caradoc Leaking Oil

[stuartcymro]

My Accucraft Caradoc loco has been leaking oil from underneath the smokebox for months now. Its so bad that it covers all over the track. After every run i clean it but its back during the next run. I contacted Accucraft and they said that its normal! but it never did this when i first got it! Does anyone else have an oil leak problem with running Accucraft live steam?

 

[Casey's mate]

I have two Roundhouse engine and both do exactly that. It clears the oil/water from the cylinders as far as I am aware. A friend of mine has an Accucraft Lyn and Countess, They do exactly the same. We have an engine shed and shed road at the CFR covered in oil just for the live steam engines to get ready. I would say nothing to worry about but the fact it didn't do that when it was brand new...could it be to do with newness? Just running in?

This video shows our Roundhouse Billy starting on the shed, if you look on the track after the engine pulls off you can see all the oily water there. (Skip to about 2.50 for engine starting up)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzotRBNHbvA

 

[bobg]

My first question Stuart is, are you using the correct steam oil? If it is too thin (or not proper steam oil) then that could cause you to use more than required and it will inevitably end up underneath the front and probably over the upper works as well, even along your rolling stock.

Most displacment lubricators tend to deliver too much anyway, too much sometimes being considerd better than not enough (not in my book!). I think both are as bad, largely for the reasons you've posted; too much gets everywhere and then collects dirt etc. too little and it accelerates wear rates.

However, that said, a cylinder requires surprisingly little. One full size loco that I used to drive only got a cupfull a day, split between both cyls, and poured into the cylinder before running started.

 

[Rosco]

Yep this is normal. You can minimise it by making sure you don't overfill the lubricator (not past the tiny hole), and by gently easing the regulator open on first pullaway. At least you know oil is getting through.

 

[stuartcymro]

Many thanks for sharing the video. I noticed the steam oil on the track at start up, but didn't see any more along the tracks as the train went along. My Accucraft Caradoc tends to put down steam oil along the line, not just in one place. To me personally this seems a bit excessive?

 

[stuartcymro]

My first question Stuart is, are you using the correct steam oil? If it is too thin (or not proper steam oil) then that could cause you to use more than required and it will inevitably end up underneath the front and probably over the upper works as well, even along your rolling stock.

Most displacment lubricators tend to deliver too much anyway, too much sometimes being considerd better than not enough (not in my book!). I think both are as bad, largely for the reasons you've posted; too much gets everywhere and then collects dirt etc. too little and it accelerates wear rates.

However, that said, a cylinder requires surprisingly little. One full size loco that I used to drive only got a cupfull a day, split between both cyls, and poured into the cylinder before running started.

The steam oil i am using is Pearse Steam Oil, its quite thick. I fill the lubricator up with about 1cm away from the top. After the run, i open the value and let the water run out and then blow out much of the oil. I followed Accucraft operating instructions and fill gas first, oil second and lastly water.

 

[Railfan]

Stuart, I have a Caradoc and it leaked a little more water and oil than my other locos. I thought nothing of it until a cool morning I noticed that steam was not just coming out of the stack. It seemed to also come out beneath the smoke box. And there also seemed to be more oil/water beneath it as well (actually, quite a bit). With some help from others I was able to locate the source of the problem after the engine was cool. A steam fitting in the smoke box was not completely tight. Once it was tightened, things were fine.

I would suggest you check for steam coming out in places other than the stack. If so, check the fittings.

 

[bobg]

My first question Stuart is, are you using the correct steam oil? If it is too thin (or not proper steam oil) then that could cause you to use more than required and it will inevitably end up underneath the front and probably over the upper works as well, even along your rolling stock.

Most displacment lubricators tend to deliver too much anyway, too much sometimes being considerd better than not enough (not in my book!). I think both are as bad, largely for the reasons you've posted; too much gets everywhere and then collects dirt etc. too little and it accelerates wear rates.

However, that said, a cylinder requires surprisingly little. One full size loco that I used to drive only got a cupfull a day, split between both cyls, and poured into the cylinder before running started.

The steam oil i am using is Pearse Steam Oil, its quite thick. I fill the lubricator up with about 1cm away from the top. After the run, i open the value and let the water run out and then blow out much of the oil. I followed Accucraft operating instructions and fill gas first, oil second and lastly water.

Fine, that at least seems to eliminate that possiblity. I would now further suggest that Railfan's suggestion is well worth a check, but also check if there are any other joints in the steam line (after the lubricator), that might also be loose. My Countess leaked oil all over the footplate from new till I discovered that the feed to the superheater was loose. Most of these sort of things are just a process of elimination.