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Hi,

I can't seem to find any place to search for a topic, so apologies if an answer to my question appears previously on this forum.  I need to replace the bellows material in my smoke in tender.  I have the bellows material but my problem is how to remove one of the bellows ends that the material attaches to. Getting the end that attaches via a link to the gear wheel is easy - just remove the screw.  But how do you remove the end that has the small hole in it that is attached to the smoke generator itself? It appears to be permanently attached in some manner, and I don't want to risk damaging it.  Thanks any help you can give me.

Michael

 

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Well, since I work on player pianos, the bellows cloth is a simple repair for me, and I use hot hide glue to glue the cloth to the fiber ends; for the cloth to itself, I like to use "Barge Cement" comes in a blue tube at ACE, and it can even be used for the cloth to the fiber, but it's excellent for the cloth to itself as it stays pliable.

Hi and thanks for the replies.  I am not yet ready to start gluing the fabric to the fiber ends because I still am not quite sure how to get the fiber end free of the smoke unit itself ( have gotten the opposite fiber piece free by removing the small screw that attaches the crank to the gear wheel).  I have been taking a look at the smoke unit from all angles and it would appear there is a nut attached to the metal tube through which the air from the bellows goes through to get to the heating chamber.  I'm pretty sure I need to have both fiber pieces free in order to start gluing the fabric on.  Is this the trick to getting the other fiber piece free?  I have searched everywhere and I cannot find anything that explains how to get that fiber piece free.  Thanks

Think! Take that nut off and the fiber board will come off. What did you think that nut was there for. You will need a small wrench or a small player. Good luck. You would be better off with the cylinder and piston. Much better smoke and a better chuff sound. I have five locos with the conversion to piston and cylinders. 
good luck and think.  Going to sleep now.

Well, I beg to disagree. The piston set up requires fewer parts to stock, and uses parts from the SIB units. A properly restored bellows unit will last some 20 years before the cloth starts failing, and requires less energy to run, it's easier on that little SIT motor. Smoke output is fantastic with supple, sealed bellows cloth. But, that's just my opinion!

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OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

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