Steam Locomotive (page 9)(Back to Page 8) Brakes are something you can work on at just about any time, once you have the drivers in place. The original version of the this locomotive had no brakes. The current kit supplier provides plans and some castings for a brake system. 
...image 27: Brake Shoes and Arms The following link is a drawing for the brake equalizer system I am using. The primary advantages are 1. Equal braking force on all drivers at all times, and 2. No adjustment ever required. The biggest disadvantage is: If you lose any link, you have no brakes. Drawing for Brake Equalizers All parts are made with 1/2" x 1/4" C1018 steel bar. Brass rivets 3/16" x 1/2" packed with oil and compressed serve as pivots. Originally I used clevis pins as you see in this photo. 
image 28: Brake Equalizers installed (frame is inverted) ... Spring clips are little lost wax castings designed to hold the spring hanger pin centered on top of a pack of leaf springs. The drawings say to pin the hanger to the top leaf. But that is hard to do. This stuff is really tough to drill. An easier way is to make the top leaf out of brass, and solder the clips to it. 
image 29: Spring Clips soldered to top springs and painted ... (On to Page 10) |
