Large Scale Central

Ruby Kit finished: runs poorly forward, little power

Electronics Live Steam
#1

To all:

I greatly appreciate any suggestions you have as I have made an error(s) somewhere in setting the specs on my completed Ruby kit loco.
I’m new to steam - this is my first effort.
The kit is from Royce and was purchased as an incentive to complete our yard construction. A year later all is done and the kit was assembled this week.
Clearly, the workmanship from Accucraft is impressive.

Problem:
Running the engine forward requires pushing it to get it to to move then resulting in a foot or less of movement on level track on own power. It stalls.
Reverse runs OK at a fast speed, yet, with no power in reverse to climb up a very slight grade (1%+) – it then stalls also.

Am I on target with these questions:
1 - In setting the valves, is the “ring” marker on the valve to be visible when setting it into the piston? Should it be partially in the entry? I set them so this ring mark was visible flush with the piston block.

 Am I looking for a solution not here?

2 - I did the same for the forward and reverse valve. With the lever forward the “ring” being just outside the block.

3 - The setting of the eccentrics requires them to have the “holes equally spaced on either side of the axles” – I did this visually, however, is this tricky in that they have to be absolutely equally spaced. They visually appear to be so.

Again, is there something I have overlooked?

4 - One of the cylinder gaskets was missing in the kit. I made one out of paper – I think the kit one was a paper product – and soaked it in LaBelle’s plastic compatible oil. I think there’s no obvious leak so I’m guessing it is not the problem.

That’s all I can think of – I did follow the instruction book. Read and reread looking for my mistake.

I know of an article by Dave Hottman on reversing the steam entry (I think this is the idea) into the pistons to improve Ruby’s running.
Is this outcome the one I need to get the engine to run?

Any check list you may have is appreciated.

I also posted on MyLS and no responses yet.

Thanks,

Wendell

#2

Wendel, go back over to MLS and dig into the archives of the Live Steam forum. There have been problems as you describe and their solutions discussed. At one time they had a Ruby build session going and much of those problems were discussed there. I don’t recall what was done as I don’t own one, but I recall it being a modification of the cylinders.

#3

Warren-

Thank you for your suggestions.
I will make a search.

One other thought - in context of recent postings: I have found your contributions to be most helpful, clearly written, and non-adversarial. Yes, you do offer your judgments based on the data you have and you do make clear that basis. As long as that is a contributor’s guide, I agree with making best-option judgments.

Thanks, and carry on.

Wendell

#4

Wendell,

Try this:
http://www.mylargescale.com/forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=20759

Andre’

#5

Andre-

Thanks for the reference to Dave Hottmann’s article.
I need to read it more than once to fully absorb the concept – I think this is worth a try.

Wendell

#6

To all:

I have followed Dave Hottman’s directions and switched to the “inside admission” process.
The loco, on blocks, runs much better now – at least forward. The reverse requires turning the wheels to start.
Thanks to all.

Wendell

#7

There is a trade off in the tuning to get acceptable in both directions sometimes results in a performance loss one way or the other. I’d run it for some time to break it in as you have it tuned now. Then once things have seated you can tweak it again.

Andre’