New Addition to the Show

[cjmlarson]

Boiler Repair

The first Work Weekend of the winter was held this past Saturday at Larson Welding. Jobs to be done included dome valve repair and rolling flues. Here Tom H is working on the dome valve for the new Marion/Osgood shovel boiler. Mark K, Jason O, and Jace M also worked on this project.

The totally re-built dome valve on the big boiler. Nice sandblasting job Jason!

Back inside, Don B was re-building valves that go on the big Marion / Osgood boiler.

Ryan U. ran the drill on the roller as Clayton helped moved the roller from hole to hole and lubricate the rolling tool. When that was finished, they moved the boiler outside and began beading over the smokebox end of the tubes. This is a very noisy process and that is the reason for doing it outside. Ryan and Clayton had 70 tubes done when their arms started to get tired, so many others got to take their turn and learn how to bead the tubes over. So this was also an educational process for many.

 

[cjmlarson]

In this picture, Erik M does his shift while teaching Josh D how the job is done.

Josh (AKA "Danger Boy") decided the job was way too dangerous to be done without proper protection, so Erik provided him with appropriate "Rookie" attire! Actually, we had to con Josh into wearing it, and he is always such a good sport about stuff like this! That's why we like him around! His first run at beading flues was a resounding success!

The job is finished!

Thank you all who showed up on a day when there was so many other choices on one of the last nice days this year! We will see you all next month.

 

[cjmlarson]

Here is Clayton peening the tubes on the Marion osgood boiler. This picture gives a good idea of just how big the boiler for this steam shovel is.

 

[cjmlarson]

Hydro Test

This past work weekend in at Larson Welding, it was time to hydro-test (pressure test) the Osgood boiler. This was to check all of the repairs that have been made to this boiler thus far and all repairs tested ok. The leaks we had during the hydro-test were some pipe plugs that were installed for test purposes only. Those leaks will go away when we install the boiler on the shovel, with the correct plumbing installed.

This is the first fire in the Osgood boiler. We used a propane torch to warm up the boiler to just over 100 degrees before we could pressure test it. This is the only picture I have, but I believe Louie may have more pictures to post.

 

[louie]

I only got two pictures of work on the Osgood boiler and Clayton already posted one of the so here he is keep[ng an eye on the pressure guage

 

[JOHN PFAFF]

C'mon guys. Go back and look at the last pictue in post #62. How could you possibly think you needed a pressure test with work that looked that good!? Great work guys. I'm hoping to make it to Fargo in February. john

 

[cjmlarson]

Pouring slab

The week before the 2011 show, the Kentucky boys showed up to pour the concrete slab for the Osgood shovel. This project was headed up by Donnie Snow. The slab was poured with large anchors so the shovel can be fastened down.

Harvey sent the following 2 pictures and as I was not around there when any of this was being done, I don't want to start naming people who were involved and leave anyone out.

 

[pelleyh]

Mark, on the last picture on the pouring of the concrete pad for the Osgood Marion, Donnie Snow, of Burlington, Ky. is holding the concrete chute, John Pelley, of Petersburg, Ky. is in the red tee shirt, knee deep in the concrete.

 

[pelleyh]

On the first picture of the pouring of the concrete pad for the Marion-Osgood, Bill Rudicill of Belleview, Ky. is on the left, in the yellow tee shirt, Donnie Snow of Burlington, Ky. is on the concrete chute,(back to the camera), while just ahead of the screec , on the left side, is Capt. David Lancaster, of Petersburg, Ky. and on the right side of the screed is Charlie Utz, also of Burlington, KY. The two large "hair pins" sticking up thru the concrete are stainless steel tie downs ( compliments of Larson Welding) to anchor the machine down, when it is set in place.

 

[pelleyh]

Update on "boom work" from KY

Attached is a picture of work that is ongoing on the boom at Bill Rudicill's Belleview Sand and Gravel Company. Because of the size of the boom, all work has to be outside and that sort of limits when we can work. The original boom was actually wood, covered with steel for reinforcement. The boom is being reconstructed as a welded box boom, but will have apperance of the original boom. There is still lots of welding to be done.

 

[m kerkvliet]

Wow Harvey...

That long bolt laying on top the boom... did that used to go through the wooden center? It looks like it was rusting through close to the edges?

What are you doing to get the strength back? Boxing it in with steel, or maybe doing some trussing?

Curious...

 

[pelleyh]

Mark, did the pictures of the boom reconstruction come through?

 

[m kerkvliet]

I have not seen them Harvey... did you send them to me, or Clayton?

 

[cjmlarson]

This past winter, all of the boiler repairs have been made along with boiler inspection, and all is good to go.

Also this winter, work has continued in Kentucky on the boom for the shovel. The following pictures will show this, along with a brief description from Harvey on what is being done.

The following repairs are being made because the wood beam that used to be in the center of the boom, was either rotten and/or got burnt up during disassembly.

From Harvey:
I've attached a couple of photos of recent work on the shovel boom. We are trying to take advantage of the great weather and get this project knocked out. You questioned what was going on to stiffen the boom. Back by the butt, where the boom attaches to the machine, that area was reinforced with a steel box, make of 3" deep channel iron. Vertical bracing consisted of 6" wide channel iron for the full length of the boom, one stiffener along side of every one of the original vertical,1-1/4" bolts. New 1-1/4"bolts are being added where ever the old ones looked in too bad of a condition. Between the side rails in the butt section, several 3" deep channel iron bulkheads were added, and then the whole section was encased with 3" deep channel iron. Several 4" deep channel iron diagonals were added to create a built in truss system inside the box.

The same thing is happening in the tip of the boom. New skins are being added in the area under the crowd engine and "bull gear" area. New "wear plates" will be added in the areas where the "dipper stick" will rub against the side rails of the boom. Wherever any of the old bolts and rivets were removed, these have been replaced with 3/4" bolts, so that gear guards, ladders, dipper stick operater's control area, can be reattached at Rollag.

 

[cjmlarson]

No one has said anything yet, but wondering if anyone has noticed the welding brand marks in the above photo.

 

[Craig Mattson]

Feel free to hit me if im missing something obvious... But why does the shovel need a slab, Isn't it on wheels so it will meve around?

 

[m kerkvliet]

No one has said anything yet, but wondering if anyone has noticed the welding brand marks in the above photo.

I did, but not sure what they meant. HP Harvey Pelly? R for Rudicell?

Just guessing.

Feel free to hit me if im missing something obvious... But why does the shovel need a slab, Isn't it on wheels so it will meve around?

The shovel will not move Craig. It is on wheels but it would sink in our soils on the hill. It is too big and heavy. It will be operational, but dirt will have to be moved to it just as it is for the existing shovels displayed now.

 

[Craig Mattson]

Well it cant weigh much more than a car hahaha. Makes sense.

 

[cjmlarson]

You were close Mark. Harvey Pelley and John Pelley.

 

[pelleyh]

Marion-Osgood

Work continues on the boom. The areas that were filled with wood blocks are now filled with steel boxes. All the internal welding on the boom rails is completed and the side skins (the area occupied by the dipper stick) are reinstalled. The top and bottom wear plates are installed (again inside the boom rails where the dipper stick will rub). It easier to renew wear plates than to rebuild the boom. The next step is mostly cosmetic work, reinstalling the "bull gear" and the hoisting chain rollers. Painting will follow ASAP. So far, we estimate that we have used about 500 pounds of welding rods .