[seadawg]

You folks might have picked up from an earlier post or two that I acquired an Aster CLIMAX from Richie (Trainmax) at Diamondhead this year. (Thanks again Richie.) It runs great, although the safeties leak by a fair amount. (I’ve got a couple on order from Hans.) Here’s my question or concern. There seems to be a plug or set screw on the steam dome that is rusting. I’d like to replace it before it rusts so badly that I won’t be able remove it easily. The question is what is it a plug or a set screw? Can it be removed without hosing up anything?

See the attached picture:

 

[k5pat]

Dave,
I looked at my Aster assembly manual and it does not show any set-screw in the side of the safety valve base.


One page shows the safety valve base assembly and the other is a description of the assembly. It looks like the screw may have
something to do with the regulator inlet (113), but they don't make it clear.

If I get some time I'll take mine apart and see if I can see what it's for unless somebody beats me to it.


Click on these links to see scanned images of the Aster assembly pages:




http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3324/3266276237_9332ccea6f_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/252/3266274479_a6c42d4180_b.jpg

 

[Guest]

Dave,
I just checked the Climax instructions and that plug is not shown. The round block that both safetys screw into has a small thread that conects it to the boiler. The plug that you are seeing is on my Climax also and it must have been factory installed as there is not an instruction to install it. Anyway it just connects the two holes for the safetys to the common boiler connection. Mine has a slot for a regular screw driver, and I can see a bit of the bath tub caulk that Aster uses.
Cheers Dan

 

[k5pat]

Dave,
Now that I've thought about it, That hole was used to drill the passage between the two safety valves in the valve base.
After that it had no further use so they plugged it with a setscrew and bathtub caulk.. I cannot believe that they used a ferrous metal

for the screw, but stranger things have happened.
Good Luck,

Pat

 

[Kovacjr]

Hi Dave


Pat is correct its just a plug from the cross drilling. I had resealed mine also. The safety gaskets were shot on mine. I also ordered many of the Orings for various parts as they were very dry from not being used. I took many apart and oiled them since and have been working great since.


I also installed RC and that made a huge difference in speed control. I also had replaced the piston packing.
Did you knwo that Doug Bronson offers the cab that I had David Fletcher draw up for me to scale the loco more to 20.3?

[img/]http://www.bronson-tate.com/images/cabs/aster-climax-1.jpg

 

[seadawg]

That's what I love about this site. Thanks everyone! Now I just need to answer my own new question. Do I wan't to try and change it out?

 

[seadawg]

Posted By Kovacjr on 02/09/2009 11:18 AM


Hi Dave


snip...
Did you knwo that Doug Bronson offers the cab that I had David Fletcher draw up for me to scale the loco more to 20.3?

[img/]http://www.bronson-tate.com/images/cabs/aster-climax-1.jpg