[Steam-engine] Wachs boiler update

[James Mackessy]

Hi Rick!
     Actually, removing the tubes from a boiler that is undocumented and has
been sitting a while is not
all that uncommon. We have had the inspector ask us to do so on two
different upright boilers at the
museum. On the first one, there were no leaks during hydro, he just wanted
to see the water line area
of the shell. The second one needed tubes anyways. It is a little work, but
not that big of a deal, to
re-tube one of these.
     From your posts, I have surmised that you may have a "submerged top
flue sheet" type of boiler,
where the water is carried above the top flue sheet. If this is correct,
rolling the top of the flues is a
little tricky if the inner wall of the top section "cones in" as it
approaches the top of the boiler, but it
still should not be a big problem. Get your boiler inspector involved now,
find out what he wants, and
do it. You don't want to get this thing all fixed up and find out he won't
pass it because he has doubts
about it's condition. Give him every opportunity to get to know the boiler,
it will improve your chances
if it's steamworthy. With the tubes out, you will be able to see what's up
with that bottom flue sheet,
too.
Best Regards;
Jim Mackessy
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Richard Strobel" <Richard_Strobel7 at msn.com>
To: "Steam-engine mailing list" <steam-engine at lists.stationary-engine.com>
Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2005 12:57 AM
Subject: Re: [Steam-engine] Wachs boiler update


> Robert, I have thot about your post for over an hour.  Initially, being a
> newbee, I thot WOW..well removing tubes is quite an extreme
adventure!..but
> after running it around..I now feel..what the hell, if all else fails what
a
> truely rewarding experience it would be to get with a guru and replace
those
> tubes..damn, now that would be fun!!
>
> Thank you so much for your post!!!
>
> Rick
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: <HISTMACHRY at aol.com>
> To: <steam-engine at lists.stationary-engine.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, October 19, 2005 5:10 PM
> Subject: Re: [Steam-engine] Wachs boiler update
>
>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Rick,
> >
> > If this boiler was mine, or if I was hired to put the boiler back in
> > service,
> > at a minimum I would do the following.
> >
> > 1.     Clean interior of all loose debris, and visually inspect the
> > condition
> > of all surfaces.
> >
> >  2.       Perform an ultrasonic thickness measurement of the shell, tube
> > sheets, and firebox sheets, and door hole ring.
> >
> > 3.    Calculate the working pressure
> >
> > 4.    Perform initial hydro, pressure based on calculated working
pressure
> > and appropiate factor of safety.
> >
> > 5.     Remove all the tubes, clean interior, and visually inspect the
> > interior.
> >
> > 6.    Inspect the lap seam, this can best be done by radiography when
the
> > tubes are     removed.
> >
> > 7.   If every thing is good, install the tubes, do a hydro, and fire it
> > up!
> >
> > At any step along the way, if things look bad, stop and revaluate the
> > boilers
> > use.
> >
> > A hydro in my opinion only tells me your boiler will hold water, that
has
> > nothing to do with the integrity of the boiler and it's components. The
> > ultrasonic metal thickness measurement, done correctly, and even some
> > basic
> > calculations can tell you a lot about the boiler. The riveted seam that
is
> > weeping may be
> > able to be caulked, however it may also be an indicator of another
> > problem.
> >
> >
> > Robert Yuill
> > _______________________________________________
> > Steam-engine mailing list
> > http://www.stationary-engine.com/mailman/listinfo/steam-engine
> >
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