Minnie traction engine stays help need

Hi everyone,

Having drilled one side of my traction engine for the horn plates and had snapped two drills in the process I didn't want a repeat on the other side and having to have them spark eroded again, so I went to my local go to Engineering firm to have the stays drilled for me, an easy enough job and cheaper then spark erosion again,

Well when I got it back I could of cried he had drilled the five stays but two of them have been drilled through the side of the stay inside the fire box the boiler now longer holds pressure, the boiler came to me already made with test certificate , I know the boiler certificate is out of date by about 20 years but the boiler has never been fired and I was hoping to make the traction engine (which is my first ever build) I was hoping not to have too any issues getting the boiler recertificated

Any advise and help would be greatly appreciated is this boiler salvageable or do I have to drill the stays out or are the other options (I have never silver- soldered before) or would anyone be willing to help do this for me

Many thanks for the help

George

I have put some pictures in my album I don't know how to post them on here

Edited By George Jervis on 07/01/2020 07:18:33

If you have not silver soldered before then I would suggest getting it done.

Looks like it may be possible to mill out the stays which would be easier than trying to melt them out as they look to be threaded and then fit slightly oversize new ones. I would also be looking at the hole positions on your horn plates to make sure they are closer to the middle of the stays, Who marked out the hole positions, or were you going to have them drilled centrally and spot through to the horn plates?

Edited By JasonB on 07/01/2020 07:58:54

As a professional boiler maker I can tell you that I have previously attempted to salvage boilers akin to this and in ever case failed. Bear in mind that I am making them all week, every week and silver soldering on a daily basis. You might get lucky if you drill them out and re-stay but more likely is that you will end up with leaks all over the place as you attempt to re-solder them. This might sound like a defeatest attitude but having been there on several occassions I know what to expect. Good luck though and keep us posted.

George,

I feel your pain! Also tend to agree with fizzy although you may be in with a chance as it is still brand new and never steamed. Best plan if you intend silver soldering a repair would be oxy gear although very little room for manoeuvre inside that firebox! The way to go maybe to mill the existing stays away, top the inner and outer plates and make some close fitting screwed stays, peen the edges over lightly and then caulk with some HT soft solder (Comsol) if you can still get it. Probably time to have a word with your boiler inspector if you intend getting it certificated and see what they would accept / suggest.

Sadly there is a lesson here, the guy doing the drilling obviously didn't fully understand what was to be achieved. Always best to make sure there is a clear understanding as to what is to be done. Easy to say with hindsight though! Hope they didn't charge you for wrecking it!

Paul.