Boiler lifespan

Boiler lifespan

This topic has 3 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 26 November 2024 at 23:34 by Simon Collier.

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26 November 2024 at 19:43 #766922
Michael Foster
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@michaelfoster47072
I am contemplating buying a nice 5″ loco but the boiler is 42 years old. It has a hydraulic and recent steam test but I’m concerned about the age of the boiler. Should I walk away?
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26 November 2024 at 21:50 #766934
SillyOldDuffer
Moderator
@sillyoldduffer
Bump in hope a boiler expert will comment.

My feeling, not worth much, is the chronological age is almost irrelevant – it’s run-time that wears machines and boilers out. A carefully stored unused 42 year old boiler will still be ‘as new’, whereas one that’s been steamed enthusiastically every weekend and badly maintained is likely to be in a poor state. Any history or signs of heavy usage?

That it’s passed hydraulic and steam tests recently is probably more important than any sight unseen comments we might make here. Unless someone knows of an ageing mechanism that allows a boiler to pass tests even though it is toast.

Dave
26 November 2024 at 22:12 #766939
Nigel Graham 2
Participant
@nigelgraham2
At that age and scale it is likely to be of copper so unless something really weird has happened to the boiler (or it’s been abused) it should be fine while it still passes the standard hydraulic and steam tests.

It would be worth knowing if it lived mainly on soft or hard water. The latter may have deposited a lot of lime-scale that would need careful removal with a mild descaler such as citric acid or kettle de-furrer.
26 November 2024 at 23:34 #766956
Simon Collier
Participant
@simoncollier74340
I don’t think age is a consideration on its own. I know several locos that have been running around for this long and longer. We do have soft water.
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