Accucraft Edrig steaming problems

[BryanW]

I hope you good people will be able to help me with an Accucraft Edrig that has steaming problems.
By way of background this is a second hand purchase. I have owned the loco for about 6 months but I estimate that it is approximately 20 or 25 years old. It has never steamed well but it is getting much worse - to the point where yesterday it would not complete a circuit of my 100 foot track.
It can be temperamental to light - sometimes burning in the smokebox before I have to shut it off and start again. When it does light "properly" it is very fierce (noise) and the gas regulator valve is difficult to adjust to a steady or low setting : it is either fierce of goes out. Although I believe I am putting in enough gas (butane/propane mix) it seems to disappear quite quickly (gas leak and/or fierce burning). Having done some research on the internet I believe there are available gas regulator valves with a finer thread but these seem to be only available from the Train Department in the USA. I also don't know which one to order.
I think I need to change to a butane only gas (at least in the summer) and try and get hold of an "improved" gas regulator valve and maybe change the gas inlet valve.
Has anyone any advice on what may be the problem and solution(s) other than the ones I have mentioned. Are these "improved valves" available anywhere in the UK?

Thank you in anticipation

BryanW

[Scrat]

Hi Bryan,

first thing is to check the nozzle if it is clean.
Then I would apply compressed air to the gas tank with the gas valve just a little open and put drops of dishwashing liquid along the gas line to check for any leaks. The symptoms you described make me think about a leak in the gas pipe.

[Lonsdaler]

You can purchase Train Department items from Simon Whenmouth at Anything Narrow Gauge. If you call him he will be able to advise which gas valve you need. And just to clarify Scrat's suggestion - use the soapy liquid over the pipework, not added to the gas tank (that may be obvious, but you never know!). Good luck.

[CharlesMac]

You might also check that the jet holder is tight up against the burner inlet pipe. I have had situations where the jet holder had moved slightly away from the burner inlet and it made the engine hard to light and sound like a roaring jet engine.
If the engine has an air collar ring on the burner inlet check to make sure that it is in the correct position. My running location in Colorado USA is at 6000 feet elevation. The air collar is very critical to proper operation of my Edrig model.

I was helping a potential new member at our garden club with a new to him (used) model. He told me that he had checked the model over and everything was ok. I believed him, a major mistake. We filled the model with gas and lit the burner off. Suddenly the entire cab of the model was alight with an expanding fireball. The gas tank was in the fireball. I reached into the cab and shut the gas off before we had an explosion. I managed to singe the hair off of my right hand. From now on I only light my own models and tell everyone testing a used model to wear gloves for the first light off of the burner.

[philipy]

A salutory tale, Charles, thanks for posting it!