davey4270
Western Thunderer
120. Fitting the Boiler. Part 4.
I have attached a copy of the instructions to give you an idea of what’s involved! I attempted to assemble the frame extensions which were too short, the wrong profile and lacking any rivet detail. In fact they were as much use as a chocolate tea pot. Although I have seen these for sale in my local motorbike shop. Perhaps a novelty Christmas present. I guess they’re something I’ll have to scratch build later. That’s the frame extensions not the chocolate tea pot.
This picture is of the smoke box front and saddle. The side plates had to be cut to length and curved outwards at the top but the rear plate was accurate. I curved the plates by placing one in a vice with the jaws slightly open and bending the plate slightly, move it 1mm and bend again etc just like forming the bunker rear plate. See earlier blogs. When you’re happy with the profile, solder in place with the rear. I folded up an inverted “L” shaped piece of scrap brass and soldered it across the lower front.
The next job will be to drill 2 holes for 12 BA screws from beneath the footplate and through the “L” shaped bracket. This will have 2 x 12 BA nuts soldered on top to secure the smoke box/boiler to the footplate. The circular boiler former soldered to the inside of the smoke box front is clearly seen. This accurately locates the front of the boiler and it will be soldered in place later.
I have attached a copy of the instructions to give you an idea of what’s involved! I attempted to assemble the frame extensions which were too short, the wrong profile and lacking any rivet detail. In fact they were as much use as a chocolate tea pot. Although I have seen these for sale in my local motorbike shop. Perhaps a novelty Christmas present. I guess they’re something I’ll have to scratch build later. That’s the frame extensions not the chocolate tea pot.
This picture is of the smoke box front and saddle. The side plates had to be cut to length and curved outwards at the top but the rear plate was accurate. I curved the plates by placing one in a vice with the jaws slightly open and bending the plate slightly, move it 1mm and bend again etc just like forming the bunker rear plate. See earlier blogs. When you’re happy with the profile, solder in place with the rear. I folded up an inverted “L” shaped piece of scrap brass and soldered it across the lower front.
The next job will be to drill 2 holes for 12 BA screws from beneath the footplate and through the “L” shaped bracket. This will have 2 x 12 BA nuts soldered on top to secure the smoke box/boiler to the footplate. The circular boiler former soldered to the inside of the smoke box front is clearly seen. This accurately locates the front of the boiler and it will be soldered in place later.