Step 8:
lgnite
the Burner
(Figure
6)
Caution! Do not work with butane
fuel while
smoking or while near any
flame. All flammable materials
should be removed from the area.
Any
excess butane
gas
should be
blown away
from
the burnerm flue
and chimney.
Open the
gas
valve to its middle
pos-
ition, and carefully ignite the
burner
by
holding
a match or cigarette
lighter to the top
of
the
chimney.
The
flame should
"llash
back" to the
6
Open
the
gas
valve to its full
posi-
tion. lf the burner
has ignited
prop-
erly,
you
will hear a burning sound
from
inside the
engine.
Note: lf the flame does not flash
back, slowly close the
gas
valve
or
open
the hinged
smokebox
door to
let the flame move back to the
burner.
lf
you
let the flame burn at
the top of the chimney for more than
20 seconds,
the
chimney
will be
come abnormally hot.
For easier ignition of the burner.
ig-
nite the
burner
with the smokebox
door opened. Once the burner
has
ignited
properly,
carefully shLrt the
smokebox door.
cylinders, and
this
procedure
may
have to be
performed
a second
time.
Note:
While steam
is being
gener-
ated, some
steam
and
oil enters
the
cvlinders
and
condenses.
This con-
d-ensed
hot
water and
oil is called
"drain".
In a real steam
locomotive,
drain cocks
were installed
to
remove
this,
but
in a small
model
engine,
such
drain cocks
are
not
practical.
Instead,
for safe
and
clean opera-
tion, the
Frank S.
has a drain
tank
f it-
ted inside
the smokebox
which will
moderate
the engine's
natural ten-
dency
to expel
this
condensation
through
the chimney.
After the
first opening
of
the throttle
valve, the drain
tank
will be
filled with
condensation.
In warm
weather,
the
heat from
the burner
will
vaportze
that condensation
in about
20 sec-
onds,
depending
on
temperature.
By the time
you
open
the
throttle
valve again,
the
tank should
almost
De
emply.
However,
the capacity
of the
drain
tank
is only B
ml, and some
conden-
sation
may stillcome
out of
the chim-
ney.
lf a large
volume
of condensa-
tion is expelled
out
of the chimney
during
the second
opening
of
the
throttle
valve, the
time between
openings
may
not have been
long
enough.
With
practice,
you
will learn
to operate
the
Frank S.
without ex-
pelling
too
much condensation.
lf
you
are
not concerned
about
the
volume
of condensation
expelled
from the
chimney
-
and
if
you
are
not concerned
about
the dirt this
condensation
can
leave on
Your
train and
track
-
there
is a technique
to
quickly
expell
the condensation.
Carefully
push
the
Frank S.
forward
or backwards,
in accordance
with
the reverser
position,
as soon
as
you
ooen
the throttle
valve. Be careful
not to
get
hot condensation
on
your-
self or
bystanders.
Step
10:
Adjust the Speed
and
Direction
Once the
Frank
S.
has
started
to run.
you
can adjust the speed with the
throttle
valve.
On a
level track, the
throttle valve does not need to be
opened
fully. Half
throttle
is
often
enough, but this will vary
with
tem-
oerature and other
conditions. Ex-
perience
will teach
you
the best set-
tings.
The reverser controls the direction.
Push the reverser forwards for for-
ward running, backwards
for
back-
ward runnrng.
Note: The reverser can also be used
as a soeed control.
As
the
reverser
lever is moved closer to the
"neutral"
position,
the Frank S. will
go
slower.
Closer
to the
"forward"
or
"reverse"
positions,
the Frank
S.
will
go
faster.
This feature makes simole
radio
control of
the Frank S.
possible.
When the reverser is used to control
both soeed and direction. the throttle
valve should be opened fully.
Step
11 :
Refilling
Water
and Butane
Caution!
Always wear
gloves
while
handling the Frank
S.
when it is in
operation. To avoid eye and face in-
juries,
never look into the
chimney
while operating the Frank S.
The Frank
S.
will
stop
running when
either the butane is
gone
or the
water in
the boiler
is
gone.
With the
recommended amounts of butane
and
water, the typical running time is
15 minutes, but the rate of butane
and
water consumption willvary with
temoerature.
load
and other condi-
tions.
lf
the
water is
completely consumed
before
the butane, the Frank
S.
will
suddenly slow down and stop. Close
I
r+2
In
i(}
Step 9:
Start
the Engine
(Figures
7
+
8)
Gaution! Always wear
gloves
while
handling the Frank
S. when it is in
operation. To avoid eye
and
face in-
juries,
never look into
the chimney
while
operating the Frank
S
After 4
to 8 minutes,
depending on
the temperature,
the
pressure
gauge
will
start
to indicate
around
'I
.B kg/cm'. When
the
pressure
Riickwirts
reaches 1.8 kglcm',
push
the re-
verser forward and open the throttle
valve to the middle
position.
Usually,
the engine
will run
a short distance
(5
to 6 cm) and then stop because
the
pistons
are blocked
by con-
densed water inside the cylinders-
As soon as the engine stops, close
the throttle valve. Wait 10 to 30 sec-
onds, and open the throttle
valve
again.
This
drains
the
cylinders,
and
the
engine should
begin to run nor-
mally.
However,
on a cold day,
more
condensation will remain in the
7
13
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