33 063 : A tale of one step forward and one step backward during summer 2009.
Due to AWS fittings at No2 end not being easily removed, this lift for cleaning had to be a lot higher than the lift for No 1 bogie last year. Prudence dictated we should just raise the loco keeping the bogie under frame at that end, however we still removed masses of caked on dirt, followed by touch up painting. Brake block slack adjusters were also freed off and new bellows fitted. No 4-axle drivers side brake block was flanging so some of the group re-bushed brake linkages were used to restore alignment of the block.
However no sooner was 33063 restored to service, an earth fault appeared on No 1 motor so it was back to lifting again. When the lift was attempted, there was concern for a level lift so it was decided to postpone the lift until such time hydraulic jacks, brackets and designated packing kits for each end are sourced and available. These will be necessary for 065′s lift when the overhaul is attempted.
Some compensation was felt after this setback in that a slack adjuster on this bogie was freed off with another new bellows fitted. All the other TMs have excellent resistance readings and even with a requested 1,500amp load restriction from drivers on the three remaining TMs, excellent performance was seen and heard at the summer diesel gala.
Internally progress has seen all cylinder heads, and turbo exhaust now in aluminium grey. Further tracing of the intermittent control earth fault will be undertaken over the winter. An earth fault on the triple pump was discovered recently but another one is suspected.
It is planned to lift the loco in the spring (2010) to change No1 TM using the new lifting process.
33 065 : The locomotive has been run up over the summer several times and she has moved around the year under her own power to keep mechanical equipment lubricated and exercised and current flowing through the electrics. Permission has been given for shed access which is due early in 2010 and a three-year work program is under development.