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Hi Barry, Hopefully, attached is the drawing of the eccentric rod for the Super Simplex. As you can see, the center to center distance is something to be determined as the valve gear is set. The Simplex was drawn in 1967 and the Super Simplex was drawn in 1989. Martin Evans learned that you...

Hi Bamak, Jumping in and starting to turn the wheels by hand will teach you more than you realize. Obviously, the steam must push the piston when the crank pin is the correct position relative to the wheels. Adjusting one part or another and then carefully observing the results will also...

Hi Barry, All the suggestions give so far are good. I think you mentioned you have the Simplex construction book. The book says full gear travel is 9/16". or .562". This is the maximum needed movement of the slide valve. The same goes for the Super Simplex. The full movement of the reverser may...

Here's the photo I was trying to post earlier. It may, or may not, be helpful at this point. David

Hi Bazmak, I'm sure Mr. Walschaert won't mind, no problem! Hmm...setting the valve gear by email. I will not be able to really do this via email, but, I can give you a few hints. It took me quite a while to get mine to where I was really satisfied. I ran the loco for months with the...

Bazmak, I think this reversing system was invented by Mr, Walschaert. The Stephenson system uses two eccentrics, one for forward and the other for reverse with a slide block link between the two. The Walschaert system uses the expansion link and radius rod to set the slide valve. Perhaps you...

Also forgot to mention, you have to remove the steam line to the chest and the exhaust! (small detail!). By the way, on the Super, the main steam in and exhaust are flanged and bolted to the cylinders. I think the drawings for the Simplex show them as screwed. I don't know if it is too late for...

Lookin' good Bazmak! I will follow closely, I'm sure you will be fine. Once you have the motion plate and guide bars attached to the the rear cylinde cover, it is possible to remove the cylinder and motion plate as one assembly. You only have to remove the big pin in the crosshead, the...

Good one Bazmak! David

That tap makes the 1/4"-20 double lead thread look giant! Nice work! David

Hi Bazmak, For your "two point" cutter, you won't know until you try. It will probably work. Although. you will be removing twice as much material at a time versus a singe point cutter. Hopefully, in bronze, it won't be a problem. Progress on the steam ports and cylinder face looks great! David

Hi Bazmak, Thank you for the kind words. If you are gong to make a tap, why not make it like a regular form of tap. Why would a D bit be better for cutting internal threads? A D bit seems to work well as a straight reamer, but, a tap? Maybe I have misunderstood you. David

Hi Bazmak, Yes, in order to cut left hand threads, traditionally you cut from the head stock to the tail stock. So, the chuck turns in the normal direction, but the tool moves from left to right, away from the chuck. As you say, you have to reverse the direction of the lead screw. The...

Yes, the nut for the reverser screw was a challange! I ground a piece of 1/4" HSS into a miniature boring bar. (Much "quality time" spent in front of the grinding wheel.) The "boring bar" had the end ground such that it had a 60 degree cutter on the end to make the thread. No photos of this...

Nice work on the reversing screw, looks good! If and when you pin the cross head, I suggest that you try to put the large end of the pins in the upward direction, so, if anything was to ever loosen, the pin(s) do not fall out. I put both of my pins in such a way that they can also be removed...

I guess you could use 1 larger pin instead of two smaller pins. But, something to consider, is that the entire weight of the locomotive and the train is bearing on the cross head to piston rod connection. With one pin per cross head instead of two, this weight bears even harder on the hole...

$50 for postage, that's crazy! Sorry about that. Isn't their some sort of industrial supplier in Australia like McMaster-Carr? Even $3.50 a piece seems like a bit much. As for size, 3/0 in the piston rod only leaves you 1/16" on a side, perhaps that is enough. Make sure the pin is in the very...

Almost forgot, yes, the Super Simplex on YouTube with the "Apple Green" wheels is my baby! The first steam test in my shop was done using my boiler that I use to run my stationary steam engines. I thought, why not connect it up to my locomotive for a real steam test! Operating on real steam is...

Hi Bazmak, The photo really looks like a life size Simplex! It also looks a bit like Kennions "Butch", as the weigh shaft and lifting arms are in a notch in the forward end of the water tanks. In either case, the loco in the photo also has a Belpaire boiler, you can see the "bump" at the fire...

Beautiful locomotive photos! Too bad about the lathes, they certainly were beauties! Yes, all of my lifting arms are pinned to the shaft with taper pins. I got all of my taper pins and reamers from Ebay. These items are quite cheap from Ebay, and can be had brand new. I cannot believe how...