The Unofficial Mamod and Other Steam Forum

igy569 · Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 12:14 am Post subject: Empire 43 Steam-up

I was at the Flea Market today. Scored a bunch of 78s for my collection, and in one of the boxes was an old cloth covered cord.

Hmmm.. looks about right for the Empire.

Paid 2 bucks for it, took off both ends, cut back and repaired the cord. Checked for continuity in all the right places, and made sure there was none where there should not be.

I rigged up a plug and safety valve.

So she no go Boom.

She is a runner!! Messy! Water and oil all over, but the boiler is good, takes a while to heat, but then stays really hot. Lots of smoke out of the heater at first, rest of the penetrating oil burning off. Unplugged, waited and plugged in again. Took a bit, got hot.
So as soon as I can afford the stack, it will be all set.

I think the cord may be older than the engine.

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johnreid · Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 12:17 am Post subject:

Great deal! You can also find those cords at Yard Sales when people are selling old Coffee Pots or Waffle Irons.
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igy569 · Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 12:20 am Post subject:

Yeah.. you find a lot of the aformentioned cords, but most of them are too small. The plug on this is huge, I was going to make one out of the smaller size, so I am REALLY happy with this one.

Got some really cool 78s, and some new files too.

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rangerssteamtoys · Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 12:27 am Post subject:

Very nice to hear you got it running. I think I have that same engine, but yours is in much better condition. Mine is .........welllll..........a load of scraps.
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igy569 · Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 12:30 am Post subject:

You wanna sell the stack?

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johnreid · Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 12:33 am Post subject:

Have you tried the guy that sells a lot of Empire on Ebay? Dons Parts or something like that?
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igy569 · Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 12:44 am Post subject:

Yup. Sells a repro stack for 30 bux, and 3 bux shipping. this is all fine, but... 1) the repro stack will be new and shiney and will stand out like a sore thumb on top of the old scratched engine.

2) I really don't have the 30 bux to spend on it right now.

There are things I would rather have, still working on either a Jensen, or a Mamod traction or roller.

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IndianaRog · Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 12:48 am Post subject:

Owen, congrats on getting your Empire up and going. The smoke you see upon firing is often just years of oil and goo running down the sides of the boiler and accumulating on the heater. Best if you can run it outside a few times til the stink burns off! Funny, but brand new Jensen blanket heaters do the same thing, they are coated with rust preventing oil which takes two or three long firings to burn it all off.

Ya know...that baby would sure look nice with a fresh coat of paint on the red

cheers,
Rog
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rangerssteamtoys · Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 12:56 am Post subject:

rangerssteamtoys · Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 12:58 am Post subject:

Mister Occlusion · Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 2:31 am Post subject:

Shiny happy people everywhere...

Take a little vid of it if you can. I've not seen one of those running yet

I'm hoping to score the nice B-31 coming up next week.

I don't recall Don charging me $30 for the stack, though I may be mistaken. I had bought some other stuff off him at the same time, so I am probably just confused.
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johnreid · Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 2:34 am Post subject:

I have an Empire on the way, but alas, another secret. All I know about it is that it is a "project" engine. In other words, hours of work lots of four letter words and hopefully an end product to be proud of.
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Mister Occlusion · Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 2:36 am Post subject:

You people and your secrets. I never keep anything from you guys

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igy569 · Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 2:36 am Post subject:

Well.. The silicon lone and the brass fitting make a good temporary SV. Leaks, but the engine will run, and I will not have anything blow up. The silicon with a screw in it is good for about 16 psi, except as it gets hot, it leaks more...LOL

So I should be able to Vid it like this till I can afford the stack, would also prefer a used one.. I can not put a condensor on this tho... steam vents out the end of the moving valve!!

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johnreid · Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 2:37 am Post subject: