Re: Maddison Kipp Lubricator
Posted by:
Mark Drake (62.189.28.---)
Date: July 12, 2012 07:49AM
Hi George,
Yes, I had a similar problem with my 740. The dash oil gauge is simply a pressure gauge in the oil line, so it only registers line pressure - when the lubricator is pumping into positive steam pressure (throttle open) you get a reading, but only for the delivery phase of the pumps rotation. The needle appears to 'twitch' upwards when pumping and then falls back a bit while the lubricator piston takes another gulp of oil.
With mine, the oil delivery was pitiful even with the adjuster at max oil flow; as my engine was pretty much all new, I wasn't too happy. So I decided to make a new lubricator lever arm which was shorter by 40%, and make an extension driver arm (from the water pump plunger boss). This has substantially increased oil flow and I can now adjust it downwards on the lubricator adjuster. I'm happy to over oil the engine as, like you, I don't use the condensate.
On my 740, the oil was delivered to a boss on the steam loop. I didn't like this either as I feel that by the time it gets to the engine it has started to break down with the action of the heat and doesn't do it's job properly. The oil in the exhaust had a black treacle appearance and actually smelled burnt. I've now moved the delivery point to a boss on the steam elbow into the steam chest - much better.
If you move the delivery point like I have, you must to have a flexible section. Make sure that you have the oil check valve attached rigidly to the cars chassis, and NOT to the engine end. The reason is that if the flexible section breaks, you will immediately be alerted to the sound of escaping steam; but if you have the check at the engine end, you could go several miles without oil before you notice...
Good luck, as always,
Mark