Preserving Heritage: A Custom Spring Solution for Steam Engine Maud

Background

Maud is a historic steam engine built in 1883 by William Tuxford and Sons of Boston, Lincolnshire. Originally designed for light agricultural work—such as powering grain lifters and circular saws—Maud now serves as a preserved piece of engineering history.

Like all steam-powered machinery, safety is critical. Regular inspections by a certified boiler inspector are mandatory to ensure safe and continued operation.

The Problem

During a routine maintenance check, corrosion was found on Maud’s safety relief valve spring. This raised serious concerns about the integrity of the component and the potential risk of failure.

Given that the primary and secondary safety valves are set to begin opening at around 35 psi, reaching full flow at 40 psi, it was essential to replace the corroded spring immediately. However, no original design drawings existed for the spring, which meant a custom spring solution had to be developed to match performance and fit.

The Solution

Skegness Springs was contacted due to their proven experience in producing custom springs for heritage machinery. David Johnson from Skegness Springs worked closely with Maud’s restoration team, carefully measuring the existing corroded spring, its housing, and all associated components.

With no technical drawings available, the team reverse-engineered a new safety valve spring based on the original part. This ensured that the new spring would be fully compatible with the steam engine’s existing valve system and capable of operating at the correct pressure.

The Outcome

Skegness Springs successfully manufactured and supplied a new custom safety valve spring that met all required safety specifications. The replacement spring ensures that Maud’s boiler operates within safe pressure limits and remains compliant with annual inspections.

The team behind Maud praised Skegness Springs for their precision, professionalism, and ability to create a bespoke solution that supports the continued operation of heritage machinery.

Looking Ahead

Maud remains on display at Heckington Windmill in Lincolnshire and is operational from April onwards, delighting visitors with live demonstrations of Victorian engineering.

Skegness Springs continues to support the preservation of historic machinery, combining traditional engineering skills with modern manufacturing methods. Whether it’s for heritage restoration or precision industrial components, Skegness Springs stands ready to deliver tailored spring solutions.