I've just sent Nick an email about some needs I have, and being much to wet to do any orchard pruning, I was thinking about Live steam - I mean, what else is there to think of on a horrible wet day?...
I've just ordered a full gasket and seal set for my 1967 vintage Triumph motorbike, and I would have liked to have done the same for my locos, but while there is a vast range of "things" in our shop, I'm really not sure what I should get, to keep in stock as it were, because at the moment I have had no failures.
This got me thinking about what the club could offer for members.
Would it be possible to create a pack of the most common parts a member might need to do routine servicing and maintenance, including may be a required tool? I know I always have an odd seal or gasket left over when I have serviced a bike, so buying just what you need is attractive - except I don't know what I might need.
Could the knowledgeable here come up with a "call off" list of the most common failure items?
The second thing, I almost bought a Silver Link on eBay yesterday. The full starter set was up for £400 and didn't sell, but bits were missing from the locomotive, which was allegedly only "run once" and I just have a feeling about it so didn't bid.
Bearing in mind the admission from Rails that they have several sets of LS of unknown provenance, I also wondered about the club doing a re-certification service.
If we are able to bring some of these now ten year old machines out of their closets, what about offering a checkup, rolling road check and a boiler certificate, together with a new handbook and drivers DVD for the cost + profit.
Someone who buys a LS, might feel a lot happier if it has been checked over and has a valid certificate to say it is OK.
Anyone got any thoughts on these two suggestions?
Norman
Not as easy at it sounds I’m afraid!
Seals are ok but other hardware is only in limited supply. Every repair need different parts that’s why it is all individually set out and priced.
Made up packs would be impactive on general stock and my time which is getting limited. Also a pack would contain items that may not be used hence a wasteful endeavour me thinks.
The tools are sold as a set and individually so it would be down to the individual need as to what is ordered at any one time. To service piston seals you need two tools of the four available so it is beneficial to order a boxed set.
It would be best to pehaps have a parts list for A3 and A4 locos available so members can acertain what they need from a guide list.
Hello Norman a service pack sounds like a very good idea if Nick can spare the time to make them up. It could be labled as a 'general service pack' and include the pistons seal sets and a gasket set for each loco type. Could also include a spanner for the cylinders, or not if the member already has one. The spanners are the easiest tool for me to make.
There is one gasket type that is no longer available, the A4 rotary valvle housing. I have approached a couple of gasket makers but they are too small for them to make. However, I will see if I can design and make a tool to make them by hand.
Your comments about RoS are valid to me and the notion has already been mooted. Maybe this an opportunity for the committee to discuss options about an offer to them.