Need Help on my "New" SL3

w0mgb · Need Help on my "New" SL3

Gentlemen; I just purchased my first live steam engine off of e-bay. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI....sPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=014 Got around to trying it out this past weekend on a oval of bachman track that I have mounted for our Christmas tree.
I treated it as if it were brand new and cleaned out the boiler etc. Put boiling water in it and lite it off.
Best it did was three times around the oval then it stalled. Fired it off three different times and very disappointed it it's operation. Will not even build enough pressure to "pop off". Since then have spent lots of time on the web and have concluded these aren't the finest running engines ever built. QUESTION. what would you do in what order to make it a "useful" locomotive. I have a Wilesco engine from my youth and it has always worked great. I see where alcohol burners are available and lapping in the "joints" at the cylinders and control valve seems to be a common procedure. Can the fuel tabs get old? HELP!!!!

w0mgb · e-bay number

I see the e-bay listing did not go through e-aby # is 330201105661

Mamodman123

Welcome Bob

Its true that from the box these locos aren't great runners. however there are a number of simple tricks you can do to improve the performance

1. Check for any leaks, anywhere, whether its around the safety valve, on the cylinder or on the block.

2. See picture below, all the yellow arrows are where these locos are likely to leak. Lap all these areas with some fine emery paper then when in steam apply some steam oil to these areas and it should keep leaks to a minimum. The red arrows are where I have added an extra spring to the block and where there should be a steam tight joint (where the steam pipe enters the block) The best thing to do is put it up on blocks and get a mirror under so you can see.

3. Buy a meths/alcohol burner, they do supply more heat for your loco and generally give you a better run. These locos do however run on solid fuel

4. Buy an uprated safety valve, this will give a higher working pressure. It seems yours isn't getting up to pressure so that suggests a leak or not enough heat.

5. keep running the loco. These locos more often than not were not used much and require running in. Try running the loco in about 20 or so times on blocks not on the rails and you should get an improved performance!

Bare with it. They do come good!

Welcome to the forum

MM

CCairns

Yes the solid fuel tablets do go off with age as they are not stored in an airtight bag in the old boxes, and soak up moisture from the air. They then become somewhat lively and when the water content boils they tend to explode showering small bits of tablet everywhere. Be careful with this because if not cleaned off properly this used fuel is corrosive to your loco.

With only 5 tablets missing from the original box then this loco is not even run in. So sitting around since the 1980s probably has done nothing for it.

Make sure you have lubricated everything well (the instructions you have should show you the oiling points on the loco), and then finish off the tablets by running the loco on blocks (two convenient size pieces of wood under the smokebox and cab still allowing the cylinders and wheels to rotate smoothly). Alternate your runs in forwards and backwards directions, and also alternate from nice slow running to full throttle runs. Make sure you still keep lubricating each time.

The photos are not clear enough on the ebay listing, so I cannot tell if the cylinder backplate is held on by screws & nuts, or rivetted on. To lap your cylinders if they are rivetted you will need to drill out the rivets and replace them with 6BA Cheesehead screws and nuts.

I have the instructions for the SL1K (the kit Mamod loco) plus some other useful files on the Mamods if you are interested. Just PM your e-mail and I'll send them on (total size about 1.7Mbs for 6 PDF files).

Welcome to the Forum, and I look forward to your loco progressing and seeing it in action.

Titan

Welcome to the forum!

The key to getting these locos running well is as said above getting rid of all the leaks, and as there are more places for these locos to leak from than any other Mamod it means that they often do!

You may not need an uprated safety valve, but taking this route is often easier than getting a standard one to be leak free and blow off at the correct pressure of 15 psi.

shaygetz

Now we're talking...trains...TRAINS...

I'm sure you'll get her up and running with these folks leading you on.

w0mgb · Further info on my Locomotive

Gentlemen; thanks for all your help,ideas on my little gutless wonder. Yes my cylinders are held in place with screws so they should not be to diffucult to "lap in". Also my address is mgbsforever@conninc.com I would apreciate any info that anyone could head in my direction. I shall set her up on blocks and run her in as advised. Will keep you posted on my progress with her. thanks Bob

Les

Welcome to the forum.

CCairns

OK Bob, I have e-mailed you my Mamod PDF files.

If you need anymore help just post here again, and one of us will give you the solution hopefully.

Rob

ill email you later about what i have done to my loco, which i have not long had and had very little use.

Need Help on my "New" SL3

e-bay number

Further info on my Locomotive