Thread: Restoring a Weir boiler feed pump

John it is a hot water pump, with oil cooled brgs,

ps. i think ?

Originally Posted by shedhappens

Nice work Steamie,

Just thinking about all that rust ? How much of that is likely to be a build up of minerals outta the water ?

and um.............for doin such a nice job you can have a booby prize, if you want it

Now that's something I just can't pass up.
I just know that even if I quietly rolled into town to pick it up my parents will sense it and expect me to visit. I will call it 'killing two birds'
Fantastic offer shed', I'll be in touch.

Phil

Originally Posted by DarBee

Hi Phil,
My senior commander says the only way SWMBO would be on the wire brush is to get you back into the house quicker! Mine has taken me away to the Sunshine Coast for a WHOLE WEEK!!! No shed for a WEEK. So I came back to your thread hoping to find some solace - but I feel jilted since you have not given us an update since 5thMay.

On the wust front, I had to make a bracket last week from steel from the junk - pretty wusty. Without wanting to be seen as 'harping' (just a bit prone sometiimes), I treated it with the good 'ole phosphoric and it passivated really well.

Regards, Daryl

Hi Daryl,
you beat me to it. I had a win in the shed tonight and it needed posting

I have been a bit quiet lately and have been doing minimal work of a night, perhaps it's old age or the fact that December and January is summer in Ballarat and the rest is winter
I have been going through what has to be made or rebuilt which is still not finalised as some bits and pieces are around the shed 'somewhere' that I can use to make parts with. I forgot to water the money tree and it aint bearin' fruit this year.
I also went camping last weekend in a free camp site (see what I mean), but back in the shed now.
Right, onto the win.
Everytime I thought about it I would spray the suction valves. They are the ones deep down in the bowels of the pump where they haven't seen the light of day for years. So far down in the abyss are they, that no normal tool will reach them...so I made one. It's a bit of plate with a hole drilled in it and a bit of running thread and a nut and washer. Very high tech.
DSC_1422_2.jpg DSC_1423.jpg

Everynight I would try the special tool which screws into a threaded hole in the centre of the valve. They are in so tight that where the nut is the thread kept stretching.
This is a good thing as it will give way there and not in the thread in the valve
I had to relocate the nut three times so far, then tonight, I heard a crack as the valve finally let go and started to raise itself from it's seat
DSC_1401.JPG DSC_1404.JPG

I still have one more to go but it is proving to be very stubborn. Perhaps it needs a lot more patience
DSC_1400.JPG

Phil

In between times I have been cleaning the studs. I intend to use the originals as there appears to be no sign of corrosion..'cept on maybe a couple.
I don't have a 3/4 die nut (which would make life easy) but I do have a 3/4 Whit chaser from a die head.
I set this up in the toolpost and rearranged the gear train to suit 10TPI and away I went...by hand of course.

DSC_1414.jpg and here is the result DSC_1420.jpg

Phil

Hi Phil,
That stud has come up a treat!
Your high tech jig did everything it meant to, good to see it coming along.

You need a fire in the shed! I finally got mine in last week, it only got to 12 here today but it was nice and cozy inside, i even cooked snags for lunch on it!

Cheers,
Ew

Good Grief Ewan, you gave me quite a start there suggesting a Fire-In-The-Shed! Having never experienced a Fire-In-The-Shed, I had these awful visions of the project, along with the rest of the 'most valuable' contents all going up in a (big) puff of smoke!

Lucky my Officer Commanding hasn't learned to read this forum or I'm sure her idea of a Fire-In-The-Shed would mean exactly that - contents never to be seen again! On very cold days (less than 20 DegC), I shut the shed door to keep warm.

Keep Warm, Daryl

Originally Posted by Steamwhisperer

Hi Daryl,
you beat me to it. I had a win in the shed tonight and it needed posting

I have been a bit quiet lately and have been doing minimal work of a night, perhaps it's old age or the fact that December and January is summer in Ballarat and the rest is winter
I have been going through what has to be made or rebuilt which is still not finalised as some bits and pieces are around the shed 'somewhere' that I can use to make parts with. I forgot to water the money tree and it aint bearin' fruit this year.
I also went camping last weekend in a free camp site (see what I mean), but back in the shed now.
Right, onto the win.
Everytime I thought about it I would spray the suction valves. They are the ones deep down in the bowels of the pump where they haven't seen the light of day for years. So far down in the abyss are they, that no normal tool will reach them...so I made one. It's a bit of plate with a hole drilled in it and a bit of running thread and a nut and washer. Very high tech.
DSC_1422_2.jpg DSC_1423.jpg

Everynight I would try the special tool which screws into a threaded hole in the centre of the valve. They are in so tight that where the nut is the thread kept stretching.
This is a good thing as it will give way there and not in the thread in the valve
I had to relocate the nut three times so far, then tonight, I heard a crack as the valve finally let go and started to raise itself from it's seat
DSC_1401.JPG DSC_1404.JPG

I still have one more to go but it is proving to be very stubborn. Perhaps it needs a lot more patience
DSC_1400.JPG

Phil

Hi Phil,try a couple of lock nuts up top on the all thread and give it a tap when walking past keep the nuts below the all thread so you can re use. But here all thread studding all sizes is deemed sacrificial cheers John Dont be scared use the FBH in your tool kit 16oz or better,

Originally Posted by j.ashburn

Hi Phil,try a couple of lock nuts up top on the all thread and give it a tap when walking past keep the nuts below the all thread so you can re use. But here all thread studding all sizes is deemed sacrificial cheers John Dont be scared use the FBH in your tool kit 16oz or better,

Hi John,
the thought has crossed my mind several times but the problem is that the all thread is screwed into a brass thread and by tapping on the head will tend to bounce the thread, although minimally, in that area. I have found in the past that this is the best way to strip a thread.
I keep the thread loaded up and tap the plate I am using as a bridge. This way the shock is less severe and I stand a better chance of not stripping the thread in the valve, although it is perilously close now with how tight the nut is when trying to pull it out of it's housing.
If I strip the thread I will have no option but to destroy it to get it out and I am big fan of original components
I have lost count of how many times I have gone to give a big hit on the head of the all thread but something always seems to stop me at the last second.
There is a large area of grip on the perimeter of the valve which is causing the problem, add that to the corrosion that has crept in and it becomes incredible how much they can hang on
I have a little saying that I go by, "if someone put it there, then I can get it out of there" (it just takes a monumental amount of care).
I had another go tonight and got a bit over-zealous. I stopped when I felt something about to give way, and it wasn't the valve
The 16 oz'er might have to stay in the box for a bit as it normally only comes out when there is damage to be done . I might stick to the old copper/rawhide for the moment.
I am also struggling with one of the two drain plugs under the pump. It looks like the plug and the bottom of the pump chamber have become one
DSC_1424.JPG DSC_1427.JPG

Here is a pic of the other side of the plug
DSC_1431.JPG

Phil

Originally Posted by Ueee

Hi Phil,
That stud has come up a treat!
Your high tech jig did everything it meant to, good to see it coming along.

You need a fire in the shed! I finally got mine in last week, it only got to 12 here today but it was nice and cozy inside, i even cooked snags for lunch on it!

Cheers,
Ew

Hi Ewan,
I have a kind of slow combustion stove in there but by the time I get it hot it's time to go back inside.
I am thinking about one of those patio heaters, instant heat sounds good to me but I do like the sound of snags at half time.
Bent Pole Patio Heater - Bunnings Warehouse

Phil

Originally Posted by Steamwhisperer

Hi John,
the thought has crossed my mind several times but the problem is that the all thread is screwed into a brass thread and by tapping on the head will tend to bounce the thread, although minimally, in that area. I have found in the past that this is the best way to strip a thread.
I keep the thread loaded up and tap the plate I am using as a bridge. This way the shock is less severe and I stand a better chance of not stripping the thread in the valve, although it is perilously close now with how tight the nut is when trying to pull it out of it's housing.
If I strip the thread I will have no option but to destroy it to get it out and I am big fan of original components
I have lost count of how many times I have gone to give a big hit on the head of the all thread but something always seems to stop me at the last second.
There is a large area of grip on the perimeter of the valve which is causing the problem, add that to the corrosion that has crept in and it becomes incredible how much they can hang on
I have a little saying that I go by, "if someone put it there, then I can get it out of there" (it just takes a monumental amount of care).
I had another go tonight and got a bit over-zealous. I stopped when I felt something about to give way, and it wasn't the valve
The 16 oz'er might have to stay in the box for a bit as it normally only comes out when there is damage to be done . I might stick to the old copper/rawhide for the moment.
I am also struggling with one of the two drain plugs under the pump. It looks like the plug and the bottom of the pump chamber have become one
DSC_1424.JPG DSC_1427.JPG

Here is a pic of the other side of the plug
DSC_1431.JPG

Phil

Hi Phil,ow that doesnt look nice at all. sounds like or looks like a try with the hot spanner ??? last resort maybe drilling out bigger drill at a time.Play with lots of ancient stuff here and some time you have to for go friendliness.Is that a crack too I see beside the plug? Oh do you still want that stainless let me know dia and length is imperial like most stuff here.Cheers John.

Originally Posted by Steamwhisperer

Hi Ewan,
I have a kind of slow combustion stove in there but by the time I get it hot it's time to go back inside.
I am thinking about one of those patio heaters, instant heat sounds good to me but I do like the sound of snags at half time.
Bent Pole Patio Heater - Bunnings Warehouse

Phil

Hi again, got !of those here but they are hungry on gas. Best economy is about 1/3 throttle.I refill my own bottles 40 pounders never be able to afford the refiller or bottle exchange prices. great thing but expensive to run.Got one of those other ''bottled sunshine'' 100 pounder with a o head element.they ok last about 40 hrs but getting a little expensive now. beauty is you can cart the tropice to what ever machine or bench you are at Cheers John

Originally Posted by j.ashburn

Hi Phil,ow that doesnt look nice at all. sounds like or looks like a try with the hot spanner ??? last resort maybe drilling out bigger drill at a time.Play with lots of ancient stuff here and some time you have to for go friendliness.Is that a crack too I see beside the plug? Oh do you still want that stainless let me know dia and length is imperial like most stuff here.Cheers John.

Hi John,
I am confident it will come undone without heat (famous last words) as there is a gasket that should degrade with a bit of work under the head of the plug.
I must admit I did a double take at what looked like a crack but it is just a casting line which can be a great place for a crack to happen only because of the irregularity of the surface. Underneath it is all cast iron thank goodness.
I still haven't checked the tapers yet so will get right onto it tomorrow night and let you know. Thanks again for the offer.

Phil

Originally Posted by Steamwhisperer

Now that's something I just can't pass up.
I just know that even if I quietly rolled into town to pick it up my parents will sense it and expect me to visit. I will call it 'killing two birds'
Fantastic offer shed', I'll be in touch.

Phil

No prob's Phil, i'm sure your name is written on it somewhere anyway

In the https://www.woodworkforums.com/f65/fr...pindle-170582/ thread there was some discussion about cooling/shrinking, is this an option to remove your stubborn suction valve ?

I had another shot at getting the last suction valve out tonight and am proud to report that I had success.
Only problem is, I used a little heat Just enough to change the shape of the valve slightly It was even still cool enough to touch.
After another spray I had a go at the stubborn plug again but stubborn won out...again
Went back to the valve and out it came, easy as that...sorta.
DSC_1489.JPG DSC_1493.JPG DSC_1491.JPG

Phil