Removing side tank hand pump

[Mark Salzedo 1Participant @marksalzedo1]

Hello,

The side tank hand pump in my 3 1/2″ Gauge Small Boilered Tich is stuck. I cannot move it. I have removed the running board and side tank to try and access the pump. There are four screws on the tank top which hopefully should remove the cover to expose the pump. I have loosened the four 10BA screws on the top cover but it seems unwilling to budge. There are also four screws on the underside of the tank, presumably these are to remove the pump completely.

Here is a link to the short video: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/o3gtkt21ovmor6rvea3v1/Pump-side-tank-problem.MOV?rlkey=zt3cajmatbitarvtdcvye1gqm&st=581hmx2u&dl=0

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated, as I don’t want to remove the top cover forcefully, but I may have to.

Thanks,

Mark

[MichaelRParticipant @michaelr]

The tank top may be bedded on a gasket sealing compound which could still be stuck fast, same with the pump see if there is any trace of sealer or soft solder

[Mark Salzedo 1Participant @marksalzedo1]

Yes, there is some soft black substance on the underside of the tank around the four pump supporting screws…

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

Hi Mark, if it’s been bedded on some of the compounds eg, CT1 this is also an adhesive and can take some breaking. I had a similar problem with a 5″ 0-6-0 T, the pump was stuck. Once freed I operate it every few weeks to avoid it happening again. Noel.

[Mark Salzedo 1Participant @marksalzedo1]

Hello Noel and Michael, Thanks for the feedback. What a pain, the pump is imprisoned in the tank, and I need to take the pump apart! Noel, how did you manage to eventually break the adhesive? I bought the locomotive about a year ago, and with a move, I have only just got around to checking it over. It probably hasn’t been steamed in a few years. It does run very smoothly on air though. Thanks, Mark

[paul rushmerParticipant @paulrushmer83015]

Hi Mark Have you tryed a cup of boiling water tipped over the pump? This has freed the valves severial times on one of my locos.

Paul

[Mark Salzedo 1Participant @marksalzedo1]

Thanks Paul. I’ll give that a try tomorrow….

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

Looking at the pics and thinking. Make a U shape of some scrap material that you can put into the tank and apply a lift from the underside, gentle and patience may work. What is the tank made of, Brass has it been soldered ? As paul has said boiling water or even hotter, if it’s a sealer it will eventually give up. What has stuck ? the linkage or is it the piston, or may be the valves ?

Mine had a perfect paint job – finding ALL the screws was the biggest task. In my case it was stuck valves. Good Luck. Noel.

[Mark Salzedo 1Participant @marksalzedo1]

Thank you for all the thoughtful responses. I managed to get the pump working again by filling the tank several times with boiling water. Much appreciated….

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