The Unofficial Mamod and Other Steam Forum

8_10 Brass Cleaner · Guest

Here is a pic of my Major following sorting it out.

I've had it a long time, stored in bits in a box. The boiler was missing the safety valve, and filler plug, whistle half missing, the engine was pretty complete, but the base was in a fair state. Very rusty, with much of the lip missing on one corner. Also no burner. As loosely assembled

Not wishing to get to involved, or being over picky for originality as the engine was in such a bad state, I decided to use Mamod boiler fittings for the repair.

So 3 new bushes, for the safety valve, whistle, and plug. with the fittings to fill the holes. This meant a soldering job on the boiler with both endcaps off.

Having fixed the boiler, I had a steam up, using a Forest Classics repro minor spirit burner. Initially it was no good, the burner was not doing its stuff. I raised it 1/2 an inch so the flame touched the boiler, and that sorted the problem out.

Once I was happy the engine worked it was time for paint, I decided against repainting the boiler in heat proof gold, and so polished it a little, but I touched up the gold on the engine with some cheap stuff from 'Charlies' in Shrewsbury. The flywheel was tidy enough once it had had a polish on the rim.

Both the firebox and base were devoid of paint, I used a brush finish high temp gloss black in stock, from painting the engine block on my Austin 7, so this went on the firebox.

Being fed up with red bases I chose green for the base. With a derusted base, and half a tube of P38 filler later and lots of sanding restored the shape and lip. Then I araldited on a home made 1/2 inch thick aluminium burner holder for the burner I chose to use. The nit got about 15 coats of green paint. Engine looks like this now. Not perfect or 100% correct, but a super little engine in perfect working order.

IndianaRog · Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 8:53 pm Post subject:

BC...beautiful resurrection of a sad engine to a stunner. That model of SEL was the best in their range IMO.

Great job,
Roger
_________________
Visit IndianaRog and The Temple of Steam: www.indianarog.com

Sandman · Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 8:57 pm Post subject:

A grand rescue job there and another poor engine given a new lease of life.

Also glad to hear someone else sees the value of P38 filler.

Many's the time it's come to my rescue.

I think it looks a treat mate.

_________________
Ouch! Where's the burn cream

Did someone mention Bowman?

Steve_S · Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 10:43 pm Post subject:

Beautiful job BC, you've certainly rescued that one. I don't think there's anything wrong with using non-original parts, and often there's no alternative. It looks great now!

Stitch · Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 11:18 pm Post subject:

Excellent job there, mate. It has come up looking really good.

Mamodman123 · Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 11:20 pm Post subject:

That's come up a real treat!

Looks 100% better now you've worked your magic

Top class job
_________________
Solid Fuel tablets explode

You could get a nice flatbase for that

www.mamodsteam.tk

SillyBilly · Guest

Ditto!

Cranko · Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 2:43 am Post subject:

Xcellent job, what shade of green have you used please?