My first restoration project (1960's TE)

zzubnik · My first restoration project (1960's TE)

I just bought this sorry looking TE from a workmate for a tenner (result). I'm going to use it as my first real restoration project. I've cleaned up a few engines, and replaced parts, but never done it properly. My colleague says it was in the back of his grandfather's garage for the last 20 years, and it shows. I don't think there's much real damage, but it is in a sorry state, and quite a bit of rust.

He says he put water in it, but it kept putting out the fire and coughing out water when hot, so I presume there is a de-zinc leak or hole somewhere, which is a shame, as that means the boiler is compromised, and I suck at soldering!

This thread won't be that interesting, but I thought I'd document my first, faltering steps in the world of restoration.

Plans: Total disassembly, remove all paint, repaint and repair any damage. I might use this as a test run for colours for my Mercer build, which will be early next year.

Initial question: Is this a normal Mamod whistle? I've never seen one like this.

Thanks guys.

Roly Williams

It looks like the remains of a Mamod whistle, but half of it is missing

Timonade

Before you take it apart, steam it. Then you know what to expect from the boiler.

Atticman

Yes the top half has come off Nik, I have one like that

Pete the steam

If the boiler is knackered drop me a PM. I have one that needs the end cap soldering back on which I'm sure you or someone on here can help with

All yours for a small donation to J26 and Rainbows.

ian.allen2

Click on this link and in the pic under the boiler, there is a pic of what the whistle should look like.
http://modelsteam.myfreeforum.org/ftopic45410-0-0-asc-.php
When you come to remove the paint, place the boiler and wheels in a bowl with boiled water from a kettle with washing up liquid in it and let it to go cool. The paint will rub off with your fingernails.
Happy restoring.

zzubnik

Ah, thanks for the whistle info guys. I thought it was whole as there is no sign of damage, but I presume that the top part was pressed onto the base, which is what is left of the whistle.

Pete, thanks for your very kind offer!

I'll post pictures tonight of what I find. I'd much rather be doing this than my day job!

Burnmafingers

Jobs on, good luck with the resto!

TE1DRIVER

I'll be watching this intently nice to see another saved

Wallace

Good luck with it all. I agree with mentioned above, give it a steam to see what the boiler is like. I had a SW1 with a pinholed boiler. Took me ages to work out why it just wouldn't build up pressure. Turned out a pinhole was squirting onto the burner, not enough to extinguish it but lower the flame so steam wouldn't build up pressure

zzubnik

Well, I've worked out why the boiler leaks. It didn't take any massive detective work after all.

Does anybody know if this model would have the scuttle-holder attached by screws, or blind rivets? What should this have originally looked like?

I imagine that the patch of solder is not original?

Thanks guys.

Pete the steam

I think on the early ones (the nut and bolters) had the firebox attached by nuts and the scuttle clips on that. The later ones were rivetted. I once did one were the rivet holes had enlarged and soldered some small brass studs in their place.

TE1DRIVER

I would imagine the studs will be original.

I think the endcap should come off that boiler so you should be able to pop a couple of new studs in.

zzubnik

This is my progress so far. Sorry for low-quality camera phone pictures. It's not very bright in my kitchen, late at night.

I've removed the 99% of the paint that has been occupying the engine, without too much fuss. I've scraped most of the oily filth and rust that was covering most of it. The spiders and dead things have been evicted and I've disassembled her.

Next is to remove the paint from the crevices I've missed. I've been very thankful for the Dremel I was given recently. It is so much better than the £14 copy I bought at Maplins.

I'm hoping to do more to her this weekend, but it's my son's 10th birthday. Not sure how much time I'll get!

Wallace

Great job on the paint removal. That can always be difficult with the old paint.

I have the same era engine (riveted boiler) all original and it also has the studs in the boiler like yours.
Hope you can get it sorted. The plugged ends can be very difficult to remove as they seem to hol on better than normal stationary capped ends. Perhaps solder in a stud from the outside like the other one is?

Pete the steam

Coming up a treat mate I love to see the boilers polished(2 out of 3 of my TE1's have them)

TE1DRIVER

Nice one nik looking mega don't polished brass look the best.

Celsius 100

Looking better already.

zzubnik

Thanks guys!

I have to admit, the more I stare at the beautiful brass, the less I want to paint it. I think I'm going to leave this one naked.

Hopefully I'll get some time this weekend to work some more on it.