Mamod TE1A front canopy "dent"

IndianaRog · Mamod TE1A front canopy "dent"

I recently received a TE1a of seventies vintage and thought the front of the canopy had been accidentally dented in at the place where the screw attaches it to the chimney.

BUT, in looking around eBay I notice other TE1a's with this same "dented" area about 1 inch (3 cm) wide directly over the thumbscrew.

Is it possible they came standard with this "dent" to make access to the screw easier??? OR, have more than one owner dented them in themselves???

thanks,
Rog

TRAPPERKEEPER

I'm not 100% sure Rog but I think the one I just got has something like that too. There is a little metal strip thing that attaches it somehow but I don't exactly know because I don't have the instructions or anything to go on. I haven't messed with the canopy yet, but the engine runs fine at least. Spits out a ton of water though.

But I'm just happy it runs, and you were right, Lowes carries tons of meths although they don't know it

I asked about methylated alcohol and wood alcohol and they said... "Uh,,, don't think we got any o' that stuff. But I looked around and found a lot of denatured alcohol which works great and REALLY hot compared to the the tablets my SR1a and D405 take.

Sorry to hijack ur post, I'll check my TE1a to see if it has the dent to =)

Manxman

Hi Rog,
From what I can work out the canopy has (like the rest of the TE) gone through lots of changes. I've had a quick look and most of mine (11 canopies, covering nearly all changes) don't have a dent.
However, the one form that period when they did the lithograph writing on the side (rather than the earlier transfers, or the later stickers) does have a dent and it looks like it was done in the factory.
Hope that helps.

Mamodman123

I'm pretty sure its not meant to be dented Rog! IVe had one or two with a dent but they've looked uneven and messy!

Manxman

Well, I'm going to go for a dent being in the canopy around about sometime after 1973 and upto about 1976.

I had a look through all my TE pics and can only find one pic that may help. This is the front of a Mamod leaflet produced to show the 1973 range and then kept on for about the next 3 or 4 years.

Does this TE have a dent? I think it does.

IndianaRog

Manx, my "dent" in the canopy is in exactly the same place as shown on that literature piece you scanned, second engine from the left. Also, mine has a different sort of decal on the side from my one other TE...this one a bit pink/maroon and looks perhaps like the "lithograph" you mention.

So maybe those with a lithograph received a factory installed "dent" for whatever reason...I suppose it does make accessing the thumbscrew a bit easier...but the more I look at mine the more perfect the dent looks, so I don't think it got that way in a swan dive off some table top!!!

I'm glad I asked, I was about to take a padded set of vice grips to it and return it to "undented" configuration...

cheers,
Rog

Griffin

Rog, the "dent" IS original. I have two TE1a's from the same era as yours that both have the same dent.

It may have been put there to stop the owner from cutting their thumb when doing the thumb screw up, as the canopy edge can be quite sharp.

IndianaRog

Thanks all...glad I didn't bend it back up now!!!!!!!!!!!!!