leaking boiler?

Terry,

As reinforced by others if it were mine, as a first step, I would clean it up completely so you can get a good look at it. To get a good look one of the cheap endoscopes that work with phones or tablets would be a good bet, allows you to get a square on view and provides some magnification. If it's been done right then once clean you should see a fillet of silver solder around the tube, look carefully to see if you can see either a pin hole or a crack. It might help to pump it up whilst looking closely if you can't see anything obvious as the water will give you a clue. Then you can make a decision on the way forward. If it's a pin hole I would work gently round it with a small blunt centre punch and toffee hammer to peen it in on itself. If it's a crack then I think I would try a tapered drift to expand the tube into the plate, unless you can find a miniature roller tube expander. If you go OTT you will like as not make it worse! Then test again to see if you have improved or cured it. If it is cracked then it's likely the tube was too tight a fit in the plate so the solder has not penetrated right through but just formed a fillet on the outside, expansion and contraction will do the rest!

Not sure about proprietary engine sealer as an IC engine will run at about 70 to 85 degrees C, the boiler will be significantly hotter than that so whatever is in the mix may not like higher temps. Starch was used in full size engines back in the day so has a bit of a track record.

You would have to be a member of the club to use the club boiler tester, under the code they are only empowered to inspect members boilers or by special arrangement between clubs members of another club. I personally doubt that a commercial inspector would be demanding material certs for a copper boiler of that size - steel would be very different and material and welder certs would be required. You would be looking at a guess at between £200 and £300 for his services though! Makes club subscriptions and a free test by the club inspector rather attractive, standards, knowledge and experience do vary though.

A cautionary note though, the above are merely suggestions, what you ultimately choose to do is entirely up to you and best done under the guidance of the person or body that will certificate it. There is a commercial boiler maker as a forum member if you do a search, maybe ask him if he wants a job!

Paul.

Hey Paul,thanks for the info. I never thought of the endoscope,I have one in my workshop!!I assume the whole thing will need to be tripped down if I was to peen it as theres no room to swing a hammer lol?

Im having another look tomorrow and Ill come back with my findings,

Thanks again.

This may be an alternative solution.

On ebay - item no 352374527244 - a Minnie boiler currently at £89.23 with 18 hours to go.

I am no boiler expert but looks ok - perhaps some of our more experienced members could comment or offer advice ?

Hope this helps.

Joe.

Thanks Joe,had a look ,doesnt look bad?

apart from the obvious is there anything else that has to be done whilst fitting it.IE Brass outer casing etc?

Cannot help you on that one as still wearing L plates, but Jason seems to be well clued up on these matters so hopefully he will see your post and reply.

Joe

PS - may be worth sending him a message ?

Edited By joe king 1 on 13/06/2018 17:16:24

As to the e-bay boiler my crystal ball is all steamed up at the moment. It will be pot luck as to whether it holds water or not just like the boiler you already have.

I can see the two long stays don't have the bushes soldered in place. You will also need to drill & tap for cylinder and weigh shaft bracket, door hinges, pump, etc. It may be a slightly different size to yours as boilers move during construction so your hornplates may need re drilling and if the width is different you will have to play with shaft lengths. You will have to drill out all the rivits on your smokebox and drill and rivit it to the new boiler.