Zippitydodah
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Newbie has a couple of questions.Hi everybody as a newcomer both to the forum and steam in particular I would appreciate your guideance. I have just purchased a Mamod Traction engine for my grandson's forthcoming birthday as he has been a Fred Dibnah fan from the age of 18 months.
My questions are.
Is there a sight glass available which can be fitted in place of the overflow plug and secondly do I need an alternative burner to the current meths one in order to use solid fuel.
Any replies would be most appreciated
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Zippitydodah
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Roly Williams
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Hi, and welcome to the forum.
Unfortunately, in order to fit a sight glass, you'd have to replace the whole boiler.
I wouldn't advise using solid fuel tablets with a standard meths burner. I suspect it would not work too well and there is also the risk of the tablets falling off with the vibration. You'd do better buying a proper tablet burner tray.
My advice would be to buy a more modern TE or roller for your grandson and keep the old one for yourself 
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barry1946
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I'm with Roly on this!
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MooseMan
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Welcome!
To be honest, I would stick with the meths burner, as it is both safer and cheaper to use. Solid fuel tablets are very smelly, quite poisonous, the fumes are harmful to small animals and they have a nasty habit of exploding when damp, scattering burning fragments over a surprisingly wide area.
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robertosala
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| Quote: | | Mooseman wrote:To be honest, I would stick with the meths burner, as it is both safer and cheaper to use. Solid fuel tablets are very smelly, quite poisonous, the fumes are harmful to small animals and they have a nasty habit of exploding when damp, scattering burning fragments over a surprisingly wide area. |
 Honestly... I didn't know this. I only have Jensen electrics and one single Jensen 75 which uses Esbit solid fuel, all stationary engines but I use this last one with Esterno because Esbit is not available in my country.
I have never used solid fuel tablets ever. Don't even know how they smell... yet.
Glad you posted this.
Thanks to all and to Zippitydodah for asking.
Rob
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Zippitydodah
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Thank you everyone for your quick responses. I thought that perhaps solid fuel would be safer so I am happy to continue using meths.
Zippitydodah
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Les
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Solid fuel if wet can explode and send little bits everywhere so I would stick to meths where possible.
And welcome to the forum.  
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IndianaRog
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Welcome Zippity from Indiana, USA. Good advice above...I side with the camp that you keep the older Mamod TE for yourself and perhaps buy the grandson a newer one with the built in sight glass...then you two could have races!!!
cheers,
Roger
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Burnmafingers
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Welcome to the site.
I agree with the old hands on here, meths is preferable to solid fuel for the reasons mentioned.
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Mark-One
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I thought that the general consensus was that the switch to solid fuel was motivated by political factors more than for safety reasons.
I've never had trouble with a mamod vap burner. I think they are nigh impossible to have over flow unless you do something daft like have meths sloshing around on top of the screen.
The lack of a sight glass isn't a problem so long as you remember to refill the boiler every time you refill the burner. I like having the glass myself, but it is in no way a problem or a hazard to operate an engine that hasn't got one. Just remember that the boiler gets filled when the burner does
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Sandman
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A big Scottish welcome.
I agree with the meths guys.
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Zippitydodah
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Wow what a friendly reception. I am most impressed. Thanks to to everyone who has contributed. I am still getting used to the various aspects of the site and have just noticed the "jump to" links in particular the meccano one as I am in process of putting a collection of pieces together for my grandson's future education. What a great site!
Cheers
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Bugsy
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Welcome Zippity from chilly Sweden.
This is a great place for Granddads!
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Alf
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