The OY is mechanically sound. It received a lot of TLC after the 1995 season.
It dose have a couple of areas that would require a little attention..
1.) The left side piston needs to be refitted to the piston rod. Although effort was made to
check for a problem after the 1995 , this got past me. Slightly compromised fits can
Be difficult to detect without removing the piston from the rod. This is not a curtain dropper though as refitting can be done in a couple of days.
2.) Their is a very large Babbitt bearing cap just under the wheel house floor. The entire split bearing that houses the main shaft axle for the wheel and 2 each ¼ shaft one for each fly wheel & Bevel gear on the engines, was rebabbited after the 1995 mishap. The bearing clearance is set with shims for all the shafts and the clearance on the bearing should be checked prier to another hard work out.
3.) The left side cylinder head ,rod packing end should be closely inspected . It performed well in 1997 but it took a big hit in 1995 and was repaired rather than replaced.
Any time you cut ice rather than snow you are going to put a rotary and crew through hell.
The OY still has the original flues from new and they were in good condition in the late 90’s
They rarely saw service and the boilers were always dry in the south west climate.
It would be a good idea to pull a couple of the bottom flues for a belly inspection.
For me the rotary was a love hate thing. Now years later I would love nothing more than to again have it beat me to a pulp all day and again ride in her though the late evening & early morning dark back to Chama, telling bad jokes & eating burritos in the wheel house with the other guys. Or just take in the gazillions of stars of a clear sky & mystique of the night from the gang way as the work extra fills the air with sound & smell of an earlier time.
Now that’s a great memory.
Jack
