BUFFALO CREEK #43
ALCO HH660
Updates 2019
by Scott H.
April - May 2019
| This spring in WNY has been even worse than last year to work outdoors. Finally on April 29th we had a decent day and picked up where we left off last year. On October 22nd, 2018, Bob M. and Jim L. ran the engine and then drained the crankcase into two empty 55 gallon drums. We now needed to scrape the years of accumulated crud out of the bottom of the crankcase before putting in new fresh 40wt. oil. |  "(c)2019 smph50 - American Refining Group Inc. DDS Plus Engine Oil - SAE 40. (10K) - CLICK to Enlarge") |
 "(c)2019 Robert Martin - Kyle and Rick work on cleaning out the crankcase bottom. (10K) - CLICK to Enlarge") |
We started by removing the crankcase covers and sump filter screens. Using long handle scrapers, we pulled all the crud to the edges and sucked it out using a shop vac. Our newest crew member, Kyle D. got right into the action, literally! After a couple of hours, we had removed almost five gallons of sludge. |  "(c)2019 Robert Martin - Kyle hardly got oily at all! (10K) - CLICK to Enlarge") |
| On May 6th, we continued the process of removing the sludge. Bob M. and Kyle D. removed and cleaned the two "CUNO" oil strainers that remove any large particles before they go though the oil filter. We also cleaned in and around the crankcase dipstick and the drain port below it. Rick B. used his carbide tipped scraper to remove all the old gasket material from the engine and the crankcase cover. He also threw our 24 volt charger on one set of batteries to get them ready for our next start up. |
 "(c)2019 Robert Martin - Rick finishes draining the old oil from the filter. (10K) - CLICK to Enlarge") |
We got rained out on the 13th but were back at it on the 20th of May. We figured it made no sense to put nice clean oil through a dirty filter so Rick loosened the four 1" oil filter canister nuts and removed the old filter. We were happy to see how clean it was all the way to the bottom. A shop rag on a 36" long stick cleaned out all the left over oil and particles. |  "(c)2019 Robert Martin - Looking down the oil filter canister tube. (10K) - CLICK to Enlarge") |
 "(c)2019 Robert Martin - Our prelube pump was used to suck the oil out of the 55 gallon drum and pump it into the crancase. (10K) - CLICK to Enlarge") |
We used our prelube pump to suck the oil out of the 55 gallon drum and pump it into the crankcase. It took almost an hour to empty the first drum. After we switched barrels, we pumped the last 27 gallons in to the engine to give us the specified 82 gallons. The dipstick showed we were right at the top of the "HIGH" line. |  "(c)2019 Robert Martin - Looking down the oil filter canister tube. (10K) - CLICK to Enlarge") |
| May 27th was a perfect day to refill the cooling system. First of all I have to thank "Clyde's Feed & Animal Center" for allowing us to "borrow" 285 gallons of water. Their generosity is greatly appreciated and they have always been a great neighbor. Thank you Jim! We ran about 150 feet of hose from Clyde's over to the locomotive and in under an hour, we had a full water gauge. |
 "(c)2019 smph50 - Rick B. installs a new oil filter. (10K) - CLICK to Enlarge") |
Rick and Kyle installed a new "WIX" oil filter and while the cooling system was filling, pre-lubed the engine and barred it over. This prevented the water pump from blocking the water flow like we experienced last year. With fresh oil and water in the prime mover we were ready for our first start of the season. Rick took the engineer's seat while Kyle and I were ready at the governor to add extra fuel if needed. In less than 20 seconds, the engine came to life two months earlier than last year and ran great. |
June 2019
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On June 3rd we had another productive day. #43 started without a problem and ran very smooth after it warmed up. Up until now, we have been using an auxiliary 5 gallon fuel tank to run the locomotive. At idle, the engine uses between 4 and 5 gallons per hour so keeping it full was not an issue. When the Society received the locomotive, it came with about 30 gallons in the main fuel tank. Little by little, we have drained and recycled most of the old fuel to remove any water and sediment from the tank. We were now ready to "fill her up!"
Interactive Gauge Panel Use this interactive photo of the control stand gauges to see the actual readings on the guages while the locomotive was running. "Mouse over" a gauge to see an enlarged view. |
 "(c)2019 Kyle Dean - Fresh paint on the engineers side of cylinder covers and pony truck wheels. (10K) - CLICK to Enlarge") |
Later that week, Kyle D. applied a fresh coat of black paint to the cylinder covers and pony truck wheels of #4483. Just a little bit of paint makes a big difference. We are all anxious to get more of the engine prepped, primed and painted. |  "(c)2019 Kyle Dean - Fresh paint on the firemans side of the cylinder covers and pony truck wheels. (10K) - CLICK to Enlarge") |
| It had just stopped raining on the 10th when Rick and I reconnected the original fuel and return lines to the fuel pump. We didn't want to chance any sediment plugging up our nearly new fuel filter on the engine so we dropped the filter housing and ran the pump to flush the lines. In seconds, fresh #2D diesel fuel which we added last week poured into a catch bucket. Rick cleaned the filter housing before we reinstalled it. |  "(c)2019 smph50 - Rick B. cleans the fuel filter housing. (10K) - CLICK to Enlarge") |
| While our battery charger was refreshing a group of three batteries we still had some time for other chores. We had around 27 gallons of new SAE 40 weight oil left in the second oil drum. So, for future use, we filled a five gallon contanter and three clean five quart jugs with oil and took the remaining oil down to the BSOR shop. |
July 2019
| Back on June 3rd, we added 53 gallons of fresh diesel fuel to the tank of Buffalo Creek #43 which brought us up to 104 gallons. It takes about three hours of running for the generator to recharge the batteries so each time we started the locomotive we made sure we were back up to 118 volts on the batteries. So far we have logged over 15 hours on the smooth running prime mover this season. To get us to this point, we needed to fully "equalize" the charge on all the batteries which was not happening using our 24 volt commercial charger connected to three batteries at a time. On July 8th, the BSOR came to our rescue again when Pat Connors allowed us to borrow their 130volt - 20amp - 56 cell LaMarche DC charger. Rick Burns set it to "trickle" charge the entire battery bank of 14 overnight to allow every cell to equalize to the same voltage. After 24 hours, we were back up to our full charge of 118 volts. We are now looking to see if we can purchase a similar 130VDC charger to better maintain the batteries over the winter. Before our first move was made on July 15, we weed-wacked both ends of the siding to keep the wheels "dry." We were told how weeds and grass turn into "grease" when run over by the locomotive. We learned this first hand last year when we did not clear the entire siding and had some wheel slip. Appling sand eliminates this problem but we have no sanders. |
 "(c)2019 smph50 - Sanded rigging on South Buffalo #77. (10K) - CLICK to Enlarge") |
In order to pass an FRA inspection the locomotive requires operating sanders. Unfortunately in 2000, when the trucks for #43 were moved from Georgia on a flatbed truck, all the sander rigging was cut off for clearance and left behind. We are now looking for supplies to fabricate new rigging and hoses. This photo shows similar rigging on South Buffalo S-2 #77. |
| Life member Ed Rost paid us a visit on the 22nd and showed us how to time the fuel injector pumps and adjust the governor on the engine. Ed has extensive knowledge of ALCO locomotives and his advice over the years has been greatly appreciated. In 2006, Ed met me in North Collins when the traction motors were still in the weeds, to “megger” the motors to check for shorts. (none were found) We thank you Ed for all of your expertise. Over the last few work sessions while Rick and I have been trouble shooting a small voltage leak, Bob Martin, Jim Long and Kyle Dean have been painting. Jim has one half of the interior of the engine compartment sanded and primed while Bob, Kyle and Rick prepped, primed and painted the pilot of #43. It seems like we just painted #43 but its been over seven years and unfortunately, the catalyzed urethane black paint we used has greatly faded. In the past we have done touch-up using Rust-O-Leum black enamel that has retained its gloss very well. All future painting will be finshed with Rust-O-Leum products at a much lower cost. Rick and I adjusted the timing on the throttle relay that engages the control stand relay for a smoother transition at lower RPM’s moving forward or back when the throttle is pulled. Thanks to Pat Connors for that advice. |
August 2019
| On August 5th, we added a hanger bracket for our pre-lube oil pump so it does not lean on the engine room floor. We also took voltage drop measurements on all the battery cables. Using the advice Ed Rost gave us last month, we cleaned all the fuel pump metering rods and check for smooth movement. This required us to remove a 1/2" nut and bolt in the back of each fuel pump in a 2" space, not an easy job but we got all six cleaned. On the 26th, we set the timing on all six pumps by adjusting the "throw" when it was at "top dead center" on each metering rod to make sure they all injected at the correct time on their respective power stroke. We ran the engine for over an hour and found cylinders #1 and #2 were now firing better. |
September 2019
 "(c)2019 Robert Martin - Fresh paint on the front pilot steps. (10K) - CLICK to Enlarge") |
With highs in the 70's, Bob Martin finished painting the front steps on the pilot. He then moved on to grinding, wire brushing and priming the corner where the hood meets the deck all the way around the locomotive. |  "(c)2019 Robert Martin - Freshly painted corner around the hood. (10K) - CLICK to Enlarge") |
 "(c)2019 RJ Burns - One half of the rear of the cab is now shiny again. (10K) - CLICK to Enlarge") |
 "(c)2019 RJ Burns - Lower half of the cab. (10K) - CLICK to Enlarge") |
Rick Burns in turn prepped the rear of the cab and was able to get one half painted on the 9th and finished the other half on the 16th. The windows were masked and covered to avoid paint spatter. |  "(c)2019 RJ Burns - Rear of the cab in fresh paint. (10K) - CLICK to Enlarge") |
October 2019
| On October 7th, after running the engine for over an hour to fully charge the batteries, Rick and Bob opened the water drain valve and emptied the cooling system. Rick barred the engine over to eliminate any air pockets. We have been flirting with low thirty degree temperatures so no sense in taking chances. Sigh, the end of a very successful season. |
| The WNYRHS greatly appreiciates all the generous donations to this project to date. However, we could still use your help! All Donations to the WNYRHS are Tax-Deductable! If you would like to mail in a donation, send it to WNYRHS Inc., PO Box 416, Buffalo, New York 14231-0416 |
| or Click the PayPal Button to make a Secure Electronic Donation. THANK YOU! |
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