Re: The Rest Of The Story

All of the above is true, but there is more to it. Actually the tubes are not the main issue, the primary purpose is to inspect the boiler inside and out. It is necessary to remove the tubes to do this. If the removed tubes are in otherwise good condition they can be re-used, but in a shorter boiler. This is because most of the wear is on the firebox end, and also because the ends of the tubes are damaged in the removal process. (Cut off just inside the tube sheets.) Tubes would need to be carefully inspected before such re-use.

As rehunn said, re-installing the tubes is probibly the most time consuming part, given the conditions prescribed. But if the crew consists of 2 or 3 people, as with the Sumpter Valley, then removing and re-installing the jacket and lagging, and all of the stuff hanging outside of it, takes just as long or longer. Generally all of the stay bolts are not replaced, only the broken ones unless there is a problem with some of the firebox sheets. Removed stay bolts are not re-used, even if still in good condition.

Edit for Urias: Leaking tubes can be re-rolled, but this is a somewhat dangerous practice. In the old days they used to do this while the boiler was under pressure, and more than one boiler man was scalded to death when the tube broke. Even if the re-rolling is successful, the tube ends are now thinner and more likely to break later.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/20/2012 03:56PM by Jim Grigsby.