Access to the underside of heavy engines?

[Roger BestParticipant @rogerbest89007]

How do you get to the underside of your engine? I need to give mine a good clean and repair the paint, its more than just oiling the motion.

Do you just tip it on something soft?

I am minded to bolt disks of plywood to the buffer beams but I need to know the centre of gravity.

I have a bad back and my workshop is very cramped, so no heavy lifting for me, only controlled and safe. My Polly 4 is about 40kg so one end at a time to lift.

ta

[Roger BestParticipant @rogerbest89007]

Access for maintenence

[Roger BestParticipant @rogerbest89007]

A few pictures of my new engine on its trolley, and the areas that need work.

[Perko7Participant @perko7]

My engine weighs about 50kg, but I can't roll it onto it's side as the side steps are fairly delicate and would be bent in and foul the motion, so I usually tip it onto one end. It needs some stabilising supports but at least I can see and get to all the bits while standing. Previously I would lay some rails between the fixed workbench and a mobile bench of a similar height and roll the loco onto the rails. Meant I had to sit on a low stool to get to the underside and was a bit hard on the back and neck muscles as well as usually needing temporary additional lighting.

[Jon LawesParticipant @jonlawes51698]

I use a spit connected to the buffer beams. It has saved a huge amount of time and effort and allows for quicker servicing and inspection to find out what is working loose…

[Robert ButlerParticipant @robertbutler92161]

If it's possible, can you cut two circles of thick Plywood of sufficient diameter and fix to the buffer beams and roll it into whichever position you require. A timber brace can be screwed to the circles to enable its position to be locked.

Robert Butler

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Follow Locomotive transport on this site for some other ideas

Locomotive Transport

[alan ord 2Participant @alanord2]

+1 for Jon Lawes. I made my own fixture for working on my loco. Pictures in my album.

Alan

[Roger BestParticipant @rogerbest89007]

Ta guys, I have the means to follow Robert's advice, I like the spit solutions, but that is a big job in its own right and I need this done for testing day.

Transport is another issue entirely.

I am still interested in what people do.

[Author]

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