Percy’s new main rods follow the same pattern as the connecting rods, with keys holding the rods in place, rather than nuts. I re-used the original crossheads. These have a plain plate to hold the rod in place on its pin and also to keep the crosshead on its guides.
Filing off the end of the crosshead pin, which was used to rivet this plate in place, was the first time that Percy diverged irreversibly from its original form. Up until now, I could have put Percy back together again just as I had received him onto my workbench.
I was fairly sure it would all work. Even so, I breathed a sigh of relief when Percy continued to work with main rods in place.
Pembroke:87 