Speedy 5 inch valve gear revisions.

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

I understand there has been a lot of comment in the past about the LBSC layout of valve gear.  I believe Don Young re-designed the gear which increased the power output.  Where would I find this information?

 

Are there any other modifications I should consider at an early stage of the build ?

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

I can’t believe that nobody knows anything about this subject.  Any lead would be helpfull.

[Chris BParticipant @chrisb73862]

This subject came up on another forum some weeks ago.

 

http://modeleng.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=4826

 

Hope this is the info you were looking for

 

Chris….

[OwenParticipant @owen]

HI Robert

Ernie Winter in Australia has Don young designs, castings etc for speedy he may have some information on any redesigns in the valve gear I don’t know for sure but worth a shot.

Owen

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Chris/Owen – Thanks for the replies.  The Modeleng ….  What a mine of information.  I think that should keep me out of trouble for a few nights as I digest the reccomendations.

 

Thanks.

[DMBParticipant @dmb]

Hi Robert,

I have got around 80 years of Model Engineer and Don Youngs mag LLAS, most copies and I dont recall DY having tackled LBSC`s Speedy VG. Are you getting confused with LBSC`s Maid of Kent? Both DY and K N Harris re-designed that VG in ME. Unfortunately I cannot remember when but feel both were 1970`s/80`s.

If I am wrong and Speedy`s VG did get amended, please let me know.

Thanks, John.

 

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Apparently, looking at the web site above (Chris B’s response) Don Young, Don Ashton and KN Harris had a bash at improving Speedy by altering the piston valve dimensions for lap and lead.  I am too much of a beginner in this dept.  but would like to take advantage of any improvement at the early stages of my build. As you say,  wether this was ever documented in ME or LLAS,  I don’t know,  but I bet there is someone who does !!  That’s the advantage of a FORUM like this.

Thanks

            Bob

[David PiddingtonParticipant @davidpiddington35663]

Hello Robert

The Speedy drawings, both original, and the DYD valve gear revision are the copyright of Messrs Reeves 2000 who purchased the trading rights of the former A J Reeves & Co.(Birmingham)Ltd shortly after the latter shut its doors for the last time at the end of December 2000.

I worked on the Reeves staff as Technical Correspondent, Pattern Maker, Designer/Tracer, and other tasks as and when required (I learned to clean toilets too on one occasion) – a wonderful 2/3 of my working life – from October 1970 until that sad day in 2000.

Some time around 1972 when at the original address in Balsall Heath, there was some office discussion on the topic of Speedy’s valve gear and in a fit of inspiration I suggested “Why not ask Don Young if he could do a better version of the valve gear?” Contact was duly made, drawings sent off and in due time the revised drawings were added to the original sets. I can’t remember now if this change was advertised, but I expect it was.

Apart from dimensional differences, the major change was to take the anchor link direct to the crosshead instead just like the prototypes and omitting the crosshead arm/drop link as on more orthodox Walschearts gears.

Both versions have been built to these drawings, but I regret I can offer no actual proof that one is better than the other, though most “Speedys” I have seen running seem to do the job adequately.

Anyway that’s the history of the change.

The original “words and music” by LBSC were published in “Mechanics” for 1950, not long after the prototype locos were built. There was no subsequent article about the DYD alteration to the valve gear as far as I am aware.

 

David P.

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Thanks David.  I now have the sheets 1a and 2a which detail D.Young’s mods (Un dated).  The complete set of drawings are at revision 3.  So I guess this just about closes this thread – unless somebody knows any more !

[Geoff SheppardParticipant @geoffsheppard46476]

Robert

 

K. N. Harris’s mods to Speedy valve gear appeared in ‘M.E.’ Vol 132 No. 3294 p. 310 and N0. 3295 p. 360. These are the issues for 1st and 15th April 1966. Hope this helps.

 

Geoff

[Tony LeemingParticipant @tonyleeming39683]

I am in the early stages of building a Speedy and have read all the above with interest.

 

In “Engineering in Miniature” January 2009, Don Ashton published his design for the valve gear based upon a computer model. As this is the most recent it seems worthy of consideration.

 

At this point I must confess to lacking knowledge on steam valve gear and would like to hear from anyone who has worked to this design or has any knowledge of it. At the moment I have not made any critical components and would appreciate any help before starting. It would be interesting to hear of a Speedy built and running with Don Ashton gear. Does any one know of one please or can put me in touch with someone in the process of building.

 

Thanks, Tony

[John BaguleyParticipant @johnbaguley78655]

Don Ashton is the ‘bees knees’ when it comes to valve gears so you can be assured that his design for Speedy will be good

John

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