December 2005

In conjunction with the dismounted axle of the Deutz OME117 one of the bearing-springs was lost. When I picked up the loco I couldn't find it. After some unsuccessfull trials to use other springs I had to order a new one, formed upon a pattern. An old-established spring forge here in Dresden built an excellent copy, to differ from the original only by some rust holes at the old spring.

Oktober 2005

Since about 10 years the O&K MD1 is nearly complete refurbished, beside the completion of the motor. But the essential workings on the engine are done, for example the mounting of a new cylinder liner and new roller bearings for the crankshaft. Because the motor needed too much space in the workshop i decided to bring him outside on the loco and to finish the workings open-air in spring . For the mounting of the motor I used three pieces of decauville rails and a lifting block as a crane. Not so easy was the transport of the body (350kg) and the fly wheel (200kg) with a sack barrow from the shop into the garden.

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September 2005

There are incidents you may not believe it! Since the moment of its first action after the reconstruction the motor of the "open" RL1a had the feature of blowing out exhaust through all of his wholes. It didn't look good and it was especially bad for the poor driver, sitting close to the motor in a cloud of exhaust. That's why some years ago I changed the piston rings - without visible success. the second step was to replace the cylinder liner with a new built one. But I reached no better results and there was only one possibility: a whole in the piston. I checked it an found a big blowhole below the cover of the Acro burning chamber. With the help of a friendly company that is specialized for welding the piston was successfully repaired. Now the compression of the motor is high and it runs very satisfactory.
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August 2005

After a long time of staying in rather poor condition on a flat truck the Deutz OME117 got her axes back now. A great help was the use of special, old, electrical jacks constructed to lift up tramway cars. That the axes don't originate from the same loco is to see on the different colour. Occasionally gearbox and coupling rods will come back to it's places.

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June 2005

After the MD2 is completed for some weeks the loco could show, that it's suitable for use. Now it was possible to make the planned exchange of the MD2 with another loco from of the old O&K L180 type. Partner in this deal is a mining museum that intends to bring the visitors by train into the old mine. The museum needs a workable loco for this project and doesn't have the opportunity to repair the remaining L180. Also an old benzene driven engine isn't adapted for an every day use. During the active time of the mine they had a MD2 type in service. So we had the idea to change the locos. Even though only the spark coil misses, the reconstruction of the L180 will be a life-task. It is to check how much parts are irreparable and can only be used as a model for new building. But everybody needs challenges!

This was a part of the report of the local press from the arrival of the MD2 in Norway:

April 2005

The some years ago bought Deutz OME117 had wheels with different diameters because the loco was a donator of spare parts for the operating engines and had to give off one of its axes. Fortunately the changed axle was part of the “scope of delivery” when I got the OME117. After a longer period of preparation – we had to purchase some special parts for our engine lathe – we could dress to size the wheels of both axes and adapt the contact surfaces. The thickness of the material is big enough to remove some millimeters of steel without any problems. Now I can mount the OME on its own axes again.

March 2005

The roll out of the MD2 powered of itself happened! But it needed some works to do for the running of the changed motor. It's a Deutz F2L712 type and it got new nozzles and piston rings, the valves are grinded and the cylinder head is overhauled. Furthermore the engine is completely cleaned. For the coupling of the motor with the gearbox an adapter was constructed and mounted. Now the loco looks nearly like in it's active life time, only the paintworks had to be finished, the doors of the bonnet had to be mounted and the electrical equipment had to be completed. The finish will be the mounting of the copies of the manufacturers plates.