Simplex Ashpan

[David WassonParticipant @davidwasson11489]

Hi Pete,

I like your design, it is quite clever. I may make something like it as well. I would like to devise some way to dump the ashes without dumping the fire as well. Maybe another catch or pin to disallow the grate from tipping. This way, you could dump the ashes, or both the ashes and the fire depending on what needs to be done. Maybe I'm overthinking this!

In any case, I have followed your work on the other forum with great interest. Your photos have answered many questions that have come up during my Simplex build. Excellent work!

David

[doubletopParticipant @doubletop]

David

I'm sure it could be improved on if working from scratch. As you can see the tabs attached to the door to hold the grate up are a bit "make do and mend’’. They were a proof of concept and hasn't moved much beyond that stage.

I like your pin idea. If a hole was drilled that went through the frames the door could be used to drop the ash and the pin only removed when dropping the fire. Easy to do properly when building from the get go, but when it’s all together a bit harder to get the holes lined up.

If you were prepared to sacrifice a piece of grate it could be made split, with the back portion fixed in place by two cross bars and the front portion, also with two bars, made to tilt. That would overcome any jamming on the stays and tilt more easily as it wouldn't be cantilevering the coals on the back of the grate. A suitable pusher through the firehole door to shove out the last of the fire.

Thanks for the credit on the refurbishment. Fortunately, it had been built by some credible NZ loco builders and all I had to do was replace worn out parts, tidy it up and do some enhancements. Stuart Hart had a bit more to do, we both purchased our second hand Simplex's around the same time and swapped tips as we went.  The Dart I did next was a bit more of a challenge.

Please come back and show us what you come up with. I may finish my job and include some of your ideas.

Pete

 

Edited By Doubletop on 29/09/2016 07:41:22

Edited By Doubletop on 29/09/2016 07:44:18

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