Mamodman123
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Bowman M158She has arrived 
Since I caught a bit of Bowmania I decided to jump on the bandwagon and get myself a nice little Bowman. I think I paid around 50 something for it, so I've got a few starter pictures and i have a few questions to ask, advice, opinions a bit of both really. first pictures on arrival:
Ok firstly it's not a minter by any strech of the imagination but what Bowman is without a respray?  . A understand on this version there were a lot of painted parts. The piston and cylinder do have paint missing as expected. Do I remove all paint and polish the brass? or just leave it as it is? 
I won't be repainting anything on this model, I want to keep it nice and original and want to run it a few times at least .
I have dismanted the Bowman as far as she will go. I can post up pictures of what I've done as my camera died on me, i'll start the restoration process a little later. The boiler has been cleaned up, but i've not yet removed the solder. 100% confident I can remove it all and make it look brand new though Will have a go when I get time anyway
Burner is also there, and useable by the looks of things Looks like a nice enough engine. The Brass flywheel is of staggering quality and weight  . that's been cleaned, i'll upload pics from my phone a little later so you can see the solder in more detail.
A couple more questions
1) Was it worth it? I like the engine, like it alot, I think compared to a few Bowmans on ebay this was a cheap buy. People were probably (to my advantage) put off by the solder.
2) Would you keep everything totally original? I had to remove the laquer because it would have burnt off with the blow torch anyway
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MooseMan
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D*mn straight that was a cheap buy! 
What's it worth? If you clean up the solder, at least twice what you paid for it, maybe three times on a good day. Having the burner and the box are MAJOR crowdpleasers.
Restore or not restore? Well, you know what i would do. I'd throw everything I've got at that baby, especially considering it's already been repainted at least once.
Great little engine, you're going to love running that - it goes like a bomb.
And I'm going to love watching you work that Mamodman magic on that boiler!
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Mamodman123
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Sounds like a good buy then Mooseman! and nothing too big to tackle for my first Bowman
I'm going to sort that boiler out tomorrow night hopefully! So i'll just upload a last picture of it before the solder is removed. Very pleased with how well the brass parts came up. They are of immense quality!. It's a shame that big hefty flywheel is covered by so much! it's a real looker that one
I managed to remove that mint green paint with T-cut, I've got no idea what it is. Will grab a picture later to show you. If i'm going to run it a few times I won't paint anything  that way It will be more firable! shall do my best clean up though I can guarrentee
Also got an SE3 safety valve in with the Bowman so i'm a happy bunny indeed
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Lewis
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nice buy mm
will need to clean up that solder rond those end caps
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Steve_S
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Its a beauty, and well worth it! Its in better condition than it looked in the eBay picture, and having a good box and burner makes it a bargain. Personally I'd polish the pistons and loose what little green paint may be left on them. You won't harm its value doing that. Bowmans like that just ooze quality... lots of heavy brass. Steam it often!!
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SPOKESMAN
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I do like those boxes - graphically very simple and a strong idea.
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Mamodman123
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| Steve_S wrote: | | Its a beauty, and well worth it! Its in better condition than it looked in the eBay picture, and having a good box and burner makes it a bargain. Personally I'd polish the pistons and loose what little green paint may be left on them. You won't harm its value doing that. Bowmans like that just ooze quality... lots of heavy brass. Steam it often!! |
Thanks Steve i'll polish the piston etc! I can't believe the weight and quality of the flywheel! I will be steaming this as often as I can when ive cleaned up the end caps!
The box reminds me of the hobbies one, same sort of top fits over bottom and quite strong cardboard!
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Sandman
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Even better condition than I thought MM.
The paint on the cylinder is much the same as the one I had to make a decision on. I would polish back to the metal MM as it will match the boiler and the gearing.
The boiler will come up a treat once the old MM magic has been worked and I'm sure you'll have an engine to be proud of when you're done.
Give it the works MM.
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Mamodman123
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I'll get going tomorrow lads can't wait
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John Chapman
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| MooseMan wrote: | D*mn straight that was a cheap buy!
What's it worth? If you clean up the solder, at least twice what you paid for it, maybe three times on a good day. Having the burner and the box are MAJOR crowdpleasers.
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I'll second that, very nice engine MM
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Mamodman123
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| John Chapman wrote: | | MooseMan wrote: | D*mn straight that was a cheap buy!
What's it worth? If you clean up the solder, at least twice what you paid for it, maybe three times on a good day. Having the burner and the box are MAJOR crowdpleasers.
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I'll second that, very nice engine MM |
Thanks it'll probably be my only Bowman
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MooseMan
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| Mamodman123 wrote: |
Thanks it'll probably be my only Bowman |
Yeah, I've heard that one before
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John Chapman
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| Mamodman123 wrote: |
Thanks it'll probably be my only Bowman |
Ah go on, go on, go on
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Mamodman123
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| John Chapman wrote: | | Mamodman123 wrote: |
Thanks it'll probably be my only Bowman |
Ah go on, go on, go on |
Cup of tea, father?
(I reserve the right to remove or edit my earlier comment)
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Steve_S
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| Mamodman123 wrote: | | ... it'll probably be my only Bowman |
It'll be your only first Bowman.
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MooseMan
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....have one of these cakes, father. They have cocaine in them - ah, no, not cocaine....raisins!
Don't get me started!
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John Chapman
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| Mamodman123 wrote: | | John Chapman wrote: | | Mamodman123 wrote: |
Thanks it'll probably be my only Bowman |
Ah go on, go on, go on |
Cup of tea, father?
(I reserve the right to remove or edit my earlier comment) |
Ah y'will, y'will, y'will
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Mamodman123
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Restoration
Ok, been polishing all the brass parts this afternoon and the results have been very good.
The Boiler
I decided to polish up the boiler to the max before I started any major solder clean ups. This was basically so I could see exactly what needed to be done, incase the dirt was hiding any untold truths anywhere. Thankfully the boiler seemed fine under all the dirt and burnt laquer and the picture below shows the potential and the standard of finish that I want.
the boiler all cleaned up, let me just add a couple of the soldered up ends
Ok, that is the last you will see of that horrible solder it will be sorted hopefully tomorrow evening. As you can see, someone isn't very good with a soldering iron (well that's what it looks to have been done with).I will of course test the boiler after the clean up to make sure it's steam tight and pressure tight. I will update a little tomorrow moring with the rest of the engine clean up process [/b]
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Lewis
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nice job mm look forward to the end result
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Wallace
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That's a great buy MM. Looks great too.
So using that T-Cut got you back to original paint? If so, and it looks good don't repaint. Well I wouldn't. But if it's not original paint, then respray, and fire lots to age it
Can't wait to see the end product?
Serious, you think it was done with a soldering iron? Electric one? If so, they are more skilled than me, I couldn't imagine doing that
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MooseMan
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That's not as bad as it looked in the auction....
Look forward to seeing it restored to former glory!
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sparky
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yeh i look falward to that aswell 
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Mamodman123
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| Wallace wrote: | That's a great buy MM. Looks great too.
So using that T-Cut got you back to original paint? If so, and it looks good don't repaint. Well I wouldn't. But if it's not original paint, then respray, and fire lots to age it
Can't wait to see the end product?
Serious, you think it was done with a soldering iron? Electric one? If so, they are more skilled than me, I couldn't imagine doing that |
Not sure what was on the top of the base but it came off when I used T cut on it I think irs original paint now because its got aged paint and in a couple of areas its chipped and there is no other paint under it.
Yes looks to have been done with an electric one as you can see where someone has scraped the solder out
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Mamodman123
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Ok
finally had a few hours spare to work on my Bowman boiler, as you know someone had soldered up the end caps rather badly, but now after a bit of heating and wiping off we finally have from this:
BEFORE
AFTER
Jobs a gooden I'm happy with the work, the whole thing is pretty much done now, just a few finishing touches and a rebuild and I'll get a picture up later hopefully
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Sandman
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The old MM magic.
Great to see.
Will be some looker when rebuilt.
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MooseMan
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Cracking! Good as new! If i wore a hat I'd take it off to you
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Mamodman123
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| MooseMan wrote: | | Cracking! Good as new! If i wore a hat I'd take it off to you |
Cheers Guys!
Just starting to put it back together now, so another 30 mins or more then i'll get a finished picture up
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Mamodman123
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All finished now
I might fire it at a later date when I get some free time. There are lots of fiddly small bits to put back on, it was quite difficult getting it all back together again, but persistance is the key . I'm happy with it anyway, wonder if it will work......
Knowing my luck probably not 
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Steve_S
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Of course it'll work! Its a Bowman! It looks great... what a difference you've made to it!
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Mamodman123
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| Steve_S wrote: | | Of course it'll work! Its a Bowman! It looks great... what a difference you've made to it! |
Thanks Steve, i'll probably give it a test run tomorrow, and do a video for the forums too
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Sandman
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I knew you'd do it MM.
Great job.
Only one thing. Did you run out of back to black??
Would make all the difference.
Just think what you'd have needed to pay to buy it in that condition.
Can't wait to see it run.
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Mamodman123
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| Sandman wrote: | I knew you'd do it MM.
Great job.
Only one thing. Did you run out of back to black??
Would make all the difference.
Just think what you'd have needed to pay to buy it in that condition.
Can't wait to see it run. |
I lost it, but i think I know where it is, will use it tomorrow, what would you pay for it in that condition? I'm very happy with the results and might give it a steam tomorrow
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Sandman
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| Mamodman123 wrote: | | Sandman wrote: | I knew you'd do it MM.
Great job.
Only one thing. Did you run out of back to black??
Would make all the difference.
Just think what you'd have needed to pay to buy it in that condition.
Can't wait to see it run. |
I lost it, but i think I know where it is, will use it tomorrow, what would you pay for it in that condition? I'm very happy with the results and might give it a steam tomorrow |
I went over £100 on one and it was a wreak compared with yours.
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Mamodman123
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Sounds good to me SM! Of course I will be keeping it
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Sandman
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| Mamodman123 wrote: | | Sounds good to me SM! Of course I will be keeping it |
Good on yer MM.
Can't beat a bit of Bowman. (As Mike says)
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Mamodman123
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| Sandman wrote: | | Mamodman123 wrote: | | Sounds good to me SM! Of course I will be keeping it |
Good on yer MM.
Can't beat a bit of Bowman. (As Mike says) |
One question SM the countershaft cog seems to kind of vibrate when i turn the piston over is that normal?
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Sandman
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| Mamodman123 wrote: | | Sandman wrote: | | Mamodman123 wrote: | | Sounds good to me SM! Of course I will be keeping it |
Good on yer MM.
Can't beat a bit of Bowman. (As Mike says) |
One question SM the countershaft cog seems to kind of vibrate when i turn the piston over is that normal? |
Check the cog is meshing properly MM. It may be driving then missing a couple of teeth then driving again.
I've run into this and fixed it by simply moving the large cog along the shaft till it ran smoothly.It does not take much.
Might help.
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Mamodman123
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| Sandman wrote: | | Mamodman123 wrote: | | Sandman wrote: | | Mamodman123 wrote: | | Sounds good to me SM! Of course I will be keeping it |
Good on yer MM.
Can't beat a bit of Bowman. (As Mike says) |
One question SM the countershaft cog seems to kind of vibrate when i turn the piston over is that normal? |
Check the cog is meshing properly MM. It may be driving then missing a couple of teeth then driving again.
I've run into this and fixed it by simply moving the large cog along the shaft till it ran smoothly.It does not take much.
Might help. |
Ok SM I will have a fiddle later and see what happenes, sometimes its ok others it kind of vibrates a bit, thanks for the help
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SPOKESMAN
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The counter shaft pinion and gear wheel should mesh smoothly and relatively silently - if lubricated.
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Steely
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Great resto MM, good as new.
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Wallace
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Excellent Job MM, well done mate!
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Mamodman123
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| SPOKESMAN wrote: | | The counter shaft pinion and gear wheel should mesh smoothly and relatively silently - if lubricated. |
Do you suggest oil or grease?
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Steely
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| Mamodman123 wrote: | | SPOKESMAN wrote: | | The counter shaft pinion and gear wheel should mesh smoothly and relatively silently - if lubricated. |
Do you suggest oil or grease? |
I use normal Mamod oil on mine.
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Mamodman123
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| steely wrote: | | Mamodman123 wrote: | | SPOKESMAN wrote: | | The counter shaft pinion and gear wheel should mesh smoothly and relatively silently - if lubricated. |
Do you suggest oil or grease? |
I use normal Mamod oil on mine. |
Right steamed her up today and will start to upload the video may take a while. i've got some editing to do
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John Chapman
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Looking good. Congratulations on a first class job MM.
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