Roundhouse Billy problem - too much steam?

[Paul M]

The only thing I haven't tried is replacing the regulator

As previously suggestions, it does seem like a regulator problem, have you taken it out to check there's nothing stopping it from fully closing?

 

[Charles M]

A Billy should run very nicely on 20 lbs. of pressure. I have a Roundhouse Katie converted to resemble a Hunslet " Jack ". I had obtained a conversion throttle to the needle valve type when I did the rebuild of my model. The R/C type throttle on a manual locomotive is virtually uncontrollable. My model has had R/C restored to the throttle only and I still use the needle valve throttle with good results. The throttle must not be closing completely to have a runaway all of the time.

 

[Jasper]

I've drilled a 1.6 mm hole in the centre of each of the cylinder front plates.

I'm curious: who made this suggestion?

 

[Rhos Helyg Loco Works]

Fascinated to know the final outcome of this ... will we ever know?

 

[Rhos Helyg Loco Works]

So, how is the modified Billy working now?

 

[Paul M]

It would be nice to know.

 

[HobbitFertang]

Hi Folks,

My 'hole in the cylinder' experiment failed completely and didn't improve the running. . . . It did look good though. Having spoken to the guys at the Roundhouse Open Day, I may have either a faulty regulator or I've accidently installed the manual version of the regulator instead of the radio control version. Actually, I've decided to strip the valve gear and chassis and install new rods & links as the loco keeps locking up after only a couple of minutes in steam. I think I may have over-relieved some of the holes when assembling the kit plus I've noticed the chassis is slightly bent after a fall from height. That's a winter job maybe.

 

[DannyTheElfman]

Was the loco manual or radio control? When I received my Accucraft countess it had exactly the issues you were describing, flying off like a missile at minimal input and skidding down the tracks when it stops. It turned out to be a radio fault. The regulator channel would randomly reverse direction so when the stick was at zero travel, the actual throttle on the loco was at full. Then upon moving the reverser it would fly off at full speed and come to a violent stop when closed. Took me a good while to figure out what was going on because there was nothing obviously wrong with it, it was a problem with the electronics on the controller.

 

[HobbitFertang]

That's very interesting Danny. I'll give it a thorough check along with everything else.

 

[Rhos Helyg Loco Works]

Thanks for the update!

Installing a manual regulator on an r/c loco would give precisely opposite performance to that you describe. It would be sluggish to start and you would never achieve full power.

"the loco keeps locking up after only a couple of minutes in steam" ... that sounds like a much larger problem, and unless it is very worn if you fix it with new components that will be by coincidence rather than by design.

I know this nice man who would fix all of its problems: locoworks@rhoshelyg.me.uk

 

[Paul M]

unless it is very worn

Cant be that, its a new kit

 

[JimmyB]

unless it is very worn if you fix it with new components

Cant be that, its a new kit

I think I may have over-relieved some of the holes when assembling the kit

This could be the issue!!