A quick roundup of what’s been happening with the HCT..
21 February
News from yesterday (21/02/2009): One of the hydraulic actuator valves which had been found to be leaking slightly last week was refitted following removal and cleaning up by Mark H on Friday. It now works fine with no leaking. The machine was started and the platform raised and then lowered onto it’s stop so it was locked half way up to enable the cantilever drive chain to be removed, and the broken link has brought back to the office in order to source a replacement. Various controls were tested today, including the remote traction wander leads – see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkYBBZFfefc&fmt=18
5 March
Following on from more testing and checking undertaken last Saturday (28/02/2009) a few items were identified as requiring replacement. After having a look around we have found that RS Components have similar parts, so we will be looking into the purchase of these soon, and a split link for the cantilever drive chain should be obtainable from a motorcyle shop. Once these parts have been replaced the machine should be in full working order. Talks have been taking place with Network Rail reagrding the machines use on the National Network.
12 March
The replacement parts mentioned have all been sourced (from RS) and were:
A new inductive proximity switch. This has replaced PX15 – the Cant max out sensor which energises the coil on R1 which breaks the feed to R2 which
breaks the feed to the cantilever motor. In other words when the cantilever is fully extended it stops trying to get it to go further! The original had a broken plug and pins so was inoperative.
There is also a new relay. This replaced the siren isolator relay which Mark H thought was inoperative, and now it has been replaced the blooming buzzer sounds only until the siren isolator is switched rather than all the time as it has with the faulty relay which would probably explain why the buzzer had a wire disconnected.
And finally there are 5 split chain links – we only need one but they came in packs of 5 and it means there are some spares if required. we haven’t had a chance to fit this yet – it’s really a two person job so will probably have to wait until the weekend.
Interfleet Technology are processing a couple of certificates to reflect the change of ownership, and these will enable us to hire the machine out for use on Network Rail metals.