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Testing vaccuum brakes away from a loco.

Discussion in 'Heritage Rolling Stock' started by Forest Rail, Sep 19, 2015.

  1. Forest Rail

    Forest Rail New Member

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    Morning all.
    I am currently attempting to get our fleet of dogfish into sone semblance of working order ready for ballasting in the near future. As a result I am grappling with both brake rigging and the vaccuum system. As they are located a fair old distance from the main sheds, I was wondering if there was a unit that can be used to replicate a loco being attached and forming a vaccuum? Failing that I may have to speak nicely to one of the engine crews....:p

    Cheers!
     
    Forest Rail, Sep 19, 2015
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  2. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

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    I think that you are talking a serious piece of kit to pull 21 or even 26" of vacuum, just speak nicely to the loco crews is the easiest answer.
     
    Martin Perry, Sep 19, 2015
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  3. Forest Rail

    Forest Rail New Member

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    Ah thought as much, got a couple of days of freeing things up with 'applied force' and penetrating oil before then I think.
     
    Forest Rail, Sep 19, 2015
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  4. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    At Tenterden we had a Vacuum unit that we used to test coaches as part of the 18 monthlys, not exactly portable unless the rake was next to the shed and we has long enough extension hoses, best option would be to ask a friendly loco crew,
    have you had any of the vacuum cylinders off to check for rings etc? checked pipes valves , hoses, because if they have not i would expect you to have a few leaks
     
    martin1656, Sep 19, 2015
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  5. Forest Rail

    Forest Rail New Member

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    The vaccum cylinders seem to working fine although the connections between each wagon have seen batter days. The main problems seem to be the bell cranks beneath the cylinders getting stuck in the on position.
     
    Forest Rail, Sep 19, 2015
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  6. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    If you have a small portable compressor. preferably reciprocating but not necessarily so, you can cheat by simply piping it up as an exhauster. Couple the compressors air inlet to the vacuum system and the outlet to frsh air and you should be able to create sufficient vacuum quite easily. If you are using a non recip compressor, you need to check that you aren't upsetting the lub system by doing this. Depending how sophisticated, you want it to be, you can add in a vac relief valve, non-return valve and a ball valve to provide an application valve.
     
    Steve, Sep 19, 2015
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  7. JWKB

    JWKB Member

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    On the Gwili we use a vacuum pump borrowed from a friendly fridge engineer. Whilst this lacks a gauge it does the job of testing functuanlity of the cylinder.
     
    JWKB, Sep 19, 2015
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  8. Ploughman

    Ploughman Part of the furniture

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    Due to the amount of Air braked vehicles we have now in the civils fleet on the NYMR we have just built up an Air brake test cart for test purposes.
    Reservoir, Gauges, Application valves and various connections all working off a 240v Machine Mart compressor.
    Seems to work and hold pressure OK.
     
    Ploughman, Sep 19, 2015
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  9. baldric

    baldric Member

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    You can build a full test rig to check the cylinder off the vehicle, this needs a smaller exhausted and test weights to load it with. Anothero option is to get an exhauster from an 08 connect a motor and away you go. The quick option is to get a loco though for a one off.
     
    baldric, Sep 20, 2015
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