Injector Steam Cones: Usually Loose?

For years I'd been accustomed to the cones in miniature injectors being a light push fit; and there they stay even when descaling and cleaning the device.

A few days ago, examining how best to arrange the plumbing on my steam-wagon, I unscrewed the steam-pipe from it and the cone obligingly dropped straight out. This is a new injector, never yet been used.

I noticed only because it cried "ting" as it hit the wagon's chassis. Luckily I found it before the gremlins did, and it seems unhurt.

Obviously its own and the union flanges normally hold the steam cone in place; but someone told me they usually are now made loose, to facilitate cleaning!

That right?

I would imagine they are now made loose as its quicker and cheaper than the light push fit that's been specified for the last hundred years, another job being dumbed down!

I doubt that. The rest of the injector did not fall out.

Also these are not mass-produced domestic items with quality compromised for cheapness, but anyway it should be easier now to make batches of components to close tolerances than it would have been decades ago.

Probably faster too, though I don't know to what extent the model-engineering traders have automated their processes.

"... dumbed down"? An Americanism I refuse to use!

Most likely a tolerance build up issue. Light push fits are tricky as the difference between bit too loose so it falls out and too tight so its hard to pull apart is tiny. I've always found slide with a gentle push type fits far easier.

It's not a critical for performance tight tolerance dimension either. Seriously don't want too many of those on a component.

Clive