Progress continues to be made on the refurbishment of
the tender brake gear. The bearings on the end of the
brake beams required replacement and new bushes
have been machined to an interference fit.
The propane torch is lit to commence heating the bush for fitting to the beam
The bush is gently heated
Rotated to get an even distribution of heat
Finally to a red hot temperature
The bush is quickly slipped onto the journal of the brake beam,
the heat having expanded it to be a slide fit and the retaining
washer is placed against the bush end
The retaining nut is screwed up to the washer
and quickly tightened to apply pressure to the bush
With the retaining nut tightened, the bush will not shrink
away from the thrust face washer holding this firmly in place.
Six bushes have been fitted to the three brake beams and
these are now complete ready for cleaning and painting.
Just three more parts of the numerous parts of the brake
gear assembly are ready!
The brake hangers which support the brake beams
are also being re-bushed and are here seen cleaned and painted with primer
Meanwhile, in a galaxy far, far away, the main brake beam
is being bushed and machined and new tender pipework is in manufacture
