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+title: Blog
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+post: Wilesco steam fire engine D305
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+description: Trying to get an old toy to work again
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+date: 2023-09-08
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+comments: true
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+parent: steam
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+---
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+Somewhere around twenty years ago, when I was still a small child, I got a [Wilesco D305 steam fire engine](https://www.wilesco-shop.de/mobile-dampfmaschinen/dampf-feuerwehrauto-d305.html) for christmas.
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+It's now finally back in my possession, so of course I had to try it out.
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+My friend Igor and his daugther volunteered to help 🚂
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+
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+<!--%
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+lightgallery([
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+ [ "img/wilesco_feuerwehr_1.jpg", "D305 in front of Toolbox Markdorf" ],
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+])
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+%-->
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+
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+Unfortunately it didn't work too well.
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+We got it to actually drive for about 30sec, but that was pretty much the best we could make it do.
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+
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+<!--%
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+lightgallery([
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+ [ "img/wilesco_feuerwehr_v_2.mp4", "video/mp4", "", "", "Machine startup and run without load." ],
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+ [ "img/wilesco_feuerwehr_v_4.mp4", "video/mp4", "", "", "Starting the machine." ],
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+ [ "img/wilesco_feuerwehr_v_5.mp4", "video/mp4", "", "", "Driving with 'remote control'." ],
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+])
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+%-->
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+
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+I think it's a combination of negative factors:
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+
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+* The main shaft of the flywheel is slightly bent, causing increased resistance to turning as well as misalignment of gears.
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+* The piston and cylinder are not moving totally freely, even after oiling everything.
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+* The main valve is leaking and very wobbly.
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+* The safety valve o-ring is worn out and loose.
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+* The whistle is leaking.
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+* The whole kettle is full of scale and probably oxidized.
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+Lots of green-white slug came out of the outlet pipe at first.
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+* The fuel is probably not new and may have sucked in some moisture from the air, reducing the intensity of the fire.
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+* A part of the chimney is missing.
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+Maybe this results in insuficcient airflow to the fire?
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+The fire seemed too weak after inserting it below the kettle, burning more intensely outside the firebox.
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+* Maybe the soot from past firings on the kettle is reducing thermal conduction?
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+* The gears are not properly touching when trying to drive the pump.
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+* The pump is leaking and does not produce any pressure or flow.
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+
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+So not much steam is produced in the first place.
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+Then some of it is lost in the leaking valves.
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+And finally the machine itself is hard to move.
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+So even with the most intense fire we managed to create there's really not much pressure / steam produced.
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+And even in the short time where the whistle sounded like there was good pressure, it still was not enough to run it properly.
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+
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+<!--%
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+lightgallery([
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+ [ "img/wilesco_feuerwehr_v_3.mp4", "video/mp4", "", "", "Machine moving for the first time." ],
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+ [ "img/wilesco_feuerwehr_v_1.mp4", "video/mp4", "", "", "Machine running, not driving any load." ],
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+])
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+%-->
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+
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+Fortunately Wilesco still exists.
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+And as you would expect from a small and old company like this, they also have a [big set of replacement parts](https://www.wilesco-shop.de/search?search=d305).
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+Also my grandfather was actually a "licensed" Wilesco repairman and seller.
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+So he had quite a big collection of their machines, toys and replacement parts.
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+Some replacement parts actually were part of the things I managed to get from the house last month.
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+
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+<!--%
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+lightgallery([
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+ [ "img/wilesco_feuerwehr_3.jpg", "Assortment of Wilesco spare parts" ],
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+ [ "img/wilesco_feuerwehr_2.jpg", "More Wilesco spare parts" ],
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+])
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+%-->
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+
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+I have a bunch of generic parts like gaskets, but unfortunately no complete safety valve with a matching thread.
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+And also I don't yet have the required brazing/soldering skills to do work like replacing the main valve.
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+So I'm not quite sure how to proceed with this at the moment.
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+For now it will have to go to the healing bench.
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