CMLD : Class 45 news update Spring 03
Update: 26 Apr 03.
No. 1 cab refurbishment is still ongoing. Driver's desk is complete and work is now concentratin on the 2nd man side. The cooker has been removed along with the cabinet which is in the process of being painted.
Electrical cubicle is now virtually complete and awaits testing.
The painting of the ETH room is ongoing and all resistance frames have been removed with no1 frame requiring rebuilding which is almost complete but needs a replacement resistor as one is burned out (someone bodged a repair in BR days by bridging it out with a piece of copper!).
The walls are painted and the pipework for fire circuits is being repaired. Replacement resistors (thanks to 45/1 group) for ETH cubicle have been sourced.
Some pipework has been cleaned down for the engine but apart from completion of overhaul of fuel pumps there hasn't been a lot of progress in this area of late (will probably start in ernest in the summer).
Air has been put into the loco (courtesy of 37324 and 20137) with only a few leaks found and almost all repaired. Got an indicated 120psi on main res. Managed to get all brake cylinders working from straight air brake. Drivers wiper motor runs in no1 cab! Horns are missing but a set of EPB horns were temporarily fitted to check the system - sounded peculiar! Water in air system flushed out using straight air brake and removing cover from auto relay valves on brake frame (not conventional but only way to do it). Haven't managed to get control air yet so no testing of EP valves done yet in main cubicle. Pressure relief valve on six way pipe set to wrong pressure so needs recalibrating or replacing.
Speedo circuits complete and this has been tested to 25mph usind D2069 and 37324. Managed to through vac the loco as needed to tow a mark 1 behind it and needed the brake force with the 03 at the helm. Vac gauges work and chamber held.
Traction motors on no 1 bogie have had their coms cleaned and brush boxes removed for cleaning. Nearly all replaced and have had missing brushes fitted.
Loco will be lifted once more in the summer to shim up one axle and clean off no 1 bogie (no 2 was done last year). Also new insulation will be put on motor cables as some has perished.
