TRACTION ENGINE CYLINDER TO BOILER SEALING

At long last, I'm starting to assemble a mountain of bits and pieces, made over far too many years, into a 2" scale 'Minnie' traction engine.

The boiler has an external, raised, 1/8" copper thickening plate (unmachined after being silver soldered to the boiler barrel) for the mounting of the cylinder and I would welcome views on the best way of sealing the joint between the pad and the machined curved surface of the underside of the cylinder.

At present, I am thinking of the following 'sandwich' :-

1. Coat boiler pad with Foliac jointing compound.
2. Fit 1/32" Reinz AFM30 gasket (widely used for steam joints and already made).
3. Coat top side of gasket with Foliac jointing compound.
4. Fit and bolt down cylinder assembly.

The boiler has already been tested hydraulically after fitting plugs into all the screw holes in the raised pad.

I would be most grateful for advice on sealing this important joint in preparation for a steam test.

Many thanks,

Martin McDonald

The Graphite Foliac is the popular choice, you could go down to 1/64 jointing but that will really depend on what you allowed for when machining the underside of the cylinder saddle.

J

Thanks for that, Jason.I presume that you would agree with anointing with Foliac both under and over the gasket itself, as I described.

Many thanks,

Martin McDonald

yes both sides

I am looking to seal the same joint on a 3" Burrell which doesn't have the raised pad . I have boss white on stock. is this suitable instead of foliac ?

I tried boss white on my 2" Fowler, but it didnt work. Redid the joint with Steamseal, graphite Foliac , from the local Plumb Centre, no problems

I think boss white is only good for 200degC and about 150psi so you will be pushing things, Steamseal as they now seem to call the Graphite Foliac is rated to 600deg C and something over 1000psi

+ 1 for Foliac on all sides

Chris Gunn

can anyone suggest a supplier for AFM 30 gasket material for my 2" scale RSJ

Is the Foliac mentioned above in a paste or flakes form ?

I have a few tins of different but fine grades of the flakes type, and I was wondering if that would be suitable for this job. Or is it different stuff altogether. ?

It came from my late father's workshop when he died, and would have been used on our full size traction engines.

Phil

Phil, the product I use it is a black sticky paste, the flakes you inherited may well be gland packing.

Chris Gunn

Same with mine.

One thing I have used the Foliac flakes for is to make a spring lubricant. The rear springs on my Morris Traveller were knackered so I treated it to a set of new ones last year, the new ones were not lubricated at all when they arrived and had barely any paint on them either.

I made my own concoction using Waxoyl and Foliac flakes mixed 50/50 and after stripping the springs I re-painted between each leaf with this stuff. Then re-assembled them and lathered a bit more on for good luck.

I have to say it works wonders, the springs are rust free and working very smoothly still, as it seems to stay put way better than any grease would.

Phil