ClassicOldsmobile.com - View Single Post

67htc · 07-24-2007, 06:59 PM

I don't know that much about locomotives, except that when they let the old steam engines run too low on water; they violently exploded.
Here's a little more trivia about "balls", Joe.
I was raised in the Black mining Hills of South Dakota (Rocky Raccoon; Beatles) and for a time worked underground and surface jobs for Homestake Mining in Lead (pronounced: Leed) So. Dak. back in the 1960's.
At one point I operated and maintained the hoist at the Yates shaft. The Yates shaft had a vertical travel of 5,150 feet.
Your description of the locomotive governors reminded me of the speed governor for the hoists. If the rotating speed of the conical hoist drum exceeded limits, the governor would shut down the hoist motor and apply huge wooden brake shoes to the hoist drum and steel spikes incorporated into the "cage" (man hoist) would fly out an dig into the mahogany guides lining the shaft on either side of the cage. The governor assembly was lubricated, every day, with a very fine machine oil. This rotating assembly of two opposed balls was driven through a gear reduction system linked to the hoist. The fast the hoist operated, the farther centrifical force lifted the balls. The governor system was invented and designed by a gentleman by the last name of "Lilly". Consequently; lubing the assembly was refered to as "oiling the Lillys".
The Homestake Gold Mine ceased mining operations a few years ago, but is now being retrofitted for scientific research.
Back to the hardened seat subject for a moment. Years ago, when I belonged to the Buick Owners Club of America, it was generally agreed and accepted that pulling long steep grades under heavy throttle generated eccessive heat which would eventually cause reccession of the valves into the unhardened seats when using unleaded gas.
Now, I'm hearing a different philosophy in this site. Obviously, SOMEONE is mistaken. But then, maybe the auto manufacturers were just being silly by putting hardened seats in at all ????
You didn't state your age, Joe. I'm 62.

07-24-2007, 06:59 PM	#11 (permalink)
67htc Junior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Northern Cascades Posts: 18	I don't know that much about locomotives, except that when they let the old steam engines run too low on water; they violently exploded. Here's a little more trivia about "balls", Joe. I was raised in the Black mining Hills of South Dakota (Rocky Raccoon; Beatles) and for a time worked underground and surface jobs for Homestake Mining in Lead (pronounced: Leed) So. Dak. back in the 1960's. At one point I operated and maintained the hoist at the Yates shaft. The Yates shaft had a vertical travel of 5,150 feet. Your description of the locomotive governors reminded me of the speed governor for the hoists. If the rotating speed of the conical hoist drum exceeded limits, the governor would shut down the hoist motor and apply huge wooden brake shoes to the hoist drum and steel spikes incorporated into the "cage" (man hoist) would fly out an dig into the mahogany guides lining the shaft on either side of the cage. The governor assembly was lubricated, every day, with a very fine machine oil. This rotating assembly of two opposed balls was driven through a gear reduction system linked to the hoist. The fast the hoist operated, the farther centrifical force lifted the balls. The governor system was invented and designed by a gentleman by the last name of "Lilly". Consequently; lubing the assembly was refered to as "oiling the Lillys". The Homestake Gold Mine ceased mining operations a few years ago, but is now being retrofitted for scientific research. Back to the hardened seat subject for a moment. Years ago, when I belonged to the Buick Owners Club of America, it was generally agreed and accepted that pulling long steep grades under heavy throttle generated eccessive heat which would eventually cause reccession of the valves into the unhardened seats when using unleaded gas. Now, I'm hearing a different philosophy in this site. Obviously, SOMEONE is mistaken. But then, maybe the auto manufacturers were just being silly by putting hardened seats in at all ???? You didn't state your age, Joe. I'm 62.