Seems that the flexible staybolts, since they are just that, flexible, that they seem to last a long time. Taking the caps off and inspecting them is just part of annual maintainence.
No, taking the caps off is NOT part of ANY maintenance, annual or otherwise! Flexible staybolts have a hole drilled all the way up the inside to the base of the ball head, thus according to the FRA regulations, they do NOT have to be inspected. Not even on a 1472 day/15 year inspection. The design is such that, if a flexible staybolt breaks, steam/water will exit the tell tail hole into the firebox area.
They get new seals and have to be torqued to a certain torque spec.
Sure didn't know there was/is a torque specification. The caps are tightened against a copper gasket, period.
Nice to see they are actually working on something other than the buildings. Collecting parts for 4014 is half the battle,
None of what they are doing has ANYTHING to do with 4014. They are working on 844, NOT 4014.
having all they need to put it together on hand once the boilerwork and any frame/driving axle box work is done will make the reassembly go pretty quick.
