Large Scale Central

AristoCraft Live Steam 0-4-0

Electronics Live Steam
#1

Hi all,

Today I received a used Aristo live steam 0-4-0 that I purchased on eBay. Runs great but the sound card doesn’t work. no big deal I’ve heard them online and wouldn’t use it anyway.

The thing I’m having a problem with is when the pressure relief pops off it puts out the flame, I just hit the Ignite button and it reignites no problem. I tried keeping the flame to a minimum but it still builds pressure and pops off. (I like running trains at less then full speed)

My question is, if I was to enlarge the hole in the steam dome, above the pop off valve, would that cure the problem?

Anybody else have this problem, if so what’s the cure?

Thanks in advance.

Adam

#2

I have not had that happen to me, my 0-4-0 runs well, except O rings are aging and leaking…

Not certain I understand why that is happening to you…odd…

Jerry

#3

Mine never had the problem with the flame. As for the safety going off try getting the flame as low as you can. I have a few steamers where the safety goes off a lot, sometimes its hard to control. You could also try not using the warm water bath. That might make the burner burn lower. Weather can also have a factor. I really would not worry about it. Making the hole bigger will do more harm and wont effect the safety as its a spring loaded valve. The safety is designed to go off when the pressure gets to a certain point. Another option if you can get one made is a pop valve. Try Wee Bee and see if he makes any.

#4

Thanks for the replies.

Jerry,

I think the pressure blast, when the pop off blows, travels under the molded plastic steam dome forward towards the smoke stack and blows the flame out. Maybe I’ll try lifting the plastic body and placing a strip of insulation between the steam dome and the stack.

Shawn,

I believe the pop off is working as it should. It pops at about 35psi and closes at about 25psi. I think the pressure is just traveling under the molded plastic boiler shell and down the stack.

Maybe I’ll have time, after all the races, today to play with it some more and let you all know what I came up with.

ps

Thanks to all who have served and made the ultimate sacrifice.

Adam

#5

Contact these folks;

http://www.thetraindepartment.com/

They advertise here and are nice folks. While they don’t list Aristo, they might advise.

Me? I’d install a tube from the blow off out the dome. It’s where the prototype exhausted too.

John

#6

John’s idea sounds reasonable, as long as the brass tube is big enough to not restrict the flow, alternately opening up any existing hole in the plastic shell should only have cosmetic effect.

#7

Adam et al:

Interesting idea about the steam finding its way to the stack and blowing out flame, please let us know if you make a tube mod and how it goes

Now (when my shoulder heals) I need to run mine and try to observe why mine does not do this…

Jerry

#8

All,

I’ll get out and play with it a little later today.

One thing I noticed, while looking down into the hole in the steam dome, is that the pressure relief valve is not in the center of the dome but forward about 3/8". I think the whole under side of the plastic boiler shell gets pressurized when it pops off.

Has anyone removed the plastic boiled shell? If so, how big of a job is it?

I think if I could just seal around the base of the plastic steam dome, to divert all the pressure out the hole in the top, then the flame out problem will be solved.

I think today I’ll just play with it, as is, and think over my options.

Again, if anyone has removed the plastic cover please give a quick idea as to how involved it would be.

Thanks all.

Adam

#9

I never took mine a apart. I ended up selling mine to get something else.

#10

Larry Herget made a part to hook to the safety and direct the steam to where they safeties blew on top.

#11

So the safety shoots downward? Yea, that could blow out the fire if its not directed properly.

#12

Jerry, Thanks

That is interesting. Maybe that’s my problem. If I can stand the heat in my workshop this weekend, (it was 101deg. outside today) I’ll pull the plastic boiler cover off and see whats under it.

When it blows off, I thought it was shooting up under the plastic steam dome and across the top between the boiler and the shell.

Thanks again for the photo.

Adam