Member postings for Michael Callaghan

Hi chaps. I can’t recall how many emails I have send to the southern federation committee with out one single reply. Has anyone out there ever had a reply to a question from these people.

Thanks chaps

Hi. I am in need of a ba2 castellated locking nut for the motion on my b1 locomotive. I could make one or two, but in the interest of time saving and the fact it’s cold in the workshop can I buy these nuts from any supplier. Thanks

Hi Colin. A mill is a nightmare to move due to its CoG being so high. You need to reduce has much weight as you can. The answer to your question all depends on what equipment you have. Along with bolting to the pallet I would also strap the belt down each side to keep the mill more sable, if it starts to go you will never hold the weight. You need to keep the weight on the bed so front or rear to the truck handle not side to side. It would be better with two people one pulling the pallet truck and one pushing to counter any movement during a turn etc. Remember pallet trucks need a good flat floor and can become a pain on uneven floors. Just take care and your time.

Thanks chaps

Hi, anyone out there know who sells springs suitable for the bogies of a 5 inch gauge electric locomotive. I can’t find them anywhere. Thanks michael

Please what ever you don’t purchase one off eBay. I have know connection with this company bar for purchasing three inverters from over the years with very good backup. The company is. Inverter drive supermarket. U.K. company and good prices and very good customer care

That’s it. EKP. Thanks chaps

Hi out there. I can’t remember the name of the company that is based near bridgewater that sales ba bolts. Anyone know it’s name. Thanks

I got done for going 3mph over on the m5 near Bristol. Just at a speed awareness course v zoom. It was all about how great smart motorways are. To be honest I was half asleep through most of it. Motorists are just seen has cash cows by the councils and government. Maybe if the money was spend on better policing of the motorways I would not of been stuck behind a middle line hogger for miles driving along with the lorries at 60mph and unable to get past the pr..k due to the speed of the cars in the outside line all tailgating each other. I hate driving these days in the U.K. too many cars, stupid cyclists and now very dangerous e scooters.

Hi chaps, I am part way building a B1. Now I have to boiler inlets each side of the boiler just behind the smoke box. This is of course to allow water into the boiler. So here is my question, who makes a nice 90 degree fitting for treading into the boiler bush. And the second part of the question is what would be the best copper tubing to use to run alongside the boiler. I think that this needs to be thick walled as it may get knocked and of course it needs to be straight. Who sales this type of tube. Thanks.

Thanks chaps. Sorted now.

Hi chaps, what’s the best way of fitting the chimney to the smoke box. This is for a 5 inch gauge B1. Thanks

Thanks chaps, interesting reply’s. Looks like I was trying to over engineer the thing.

Hi chaps. I am part way through building a locomotive build stand. This is based on a Genie lift. Part of the job is a turn beam which can be used to work underneath the loco by turning it upside down on the beam. And here lays the problem. As you all know a locomotive weighs a lot and the load on the pivot bolt would be high. To help out here I was thinking of bearing. This would help when turning the locomotive over on the beam. The problem I have is two fold. For the beam I am using 4x2 inch aluminium square 4mm thick. And a 12mm shoulder bolt. I could add 2 bearing housings to each side of the beam, or fit a tube running inside the beam carrying the bearings. What would be your best. Idea, and what would be the correct bearings to use. I have material to make bearing housings, but nothing for the tube if I go that way, and with the cost of metal these days and problems with delivery, would housings be the way to go. Thanks

Hi, joining a club may be your best bet. Near you is Taunton model engineering. A bit thin on ground at the moment due to c19. But there are some members with lots of experience you can talk to.

It all depends on what you plan using it for. Bambi compressors are low noise. But are not designed for running more then 10 to 15 minutes at a time. There are larger silent compressors on the market, but the prices are high. After looking around for a time, I ended up purchasing a used twin cylinder unit and putting it in a small garden tool storage Box, the exhaust makes the most noise and I fitted an extension to the outlet which feeds into a bucket of water. This cuts down the noise nicely, a trick I picked up from seeing American rv s parked up with their generator exhausts in water buckets.

Before spraying make sure that the brass is totally clean. I have also found it helps lightly going over the surface with a scotch pad to key the surface. Acid 8 works ok.

Thanks to you all.