So many questions!

MTA · So many questions!

Having never taken apart my MSS loco before, I have a few questions:

How do I remove the clips that hold the coupling rods on?
What size (in BA) nuts and bolts will I need to replace the rivets?
How do I remove the boiler?
How do I remove the wheelsets from the frames?
How do I remove the combustion chamber?

That is about it for now

tmuir

Assuming MSS locos are built the same as Mamods I can help you out with some of it.

The coupling rods are held on with circlips, just put a flat screwdriver in the gap between the two ends and twist to open it out a little and they should come off. Be careful not to send them across the room though.

To remove the wheels you need to first take the body work off then remove the rear bracket that the buffers fit onto, the centre spacer and remove the screws that hold the cylinder onto the regulator.
Then just push the side frame closer to each other and the wheels should fall out.

Sorry not sure what size nuts and bolts to use.
Thats a start I'll let someone else give you the other details as I'm not sure how to remove combustion chamber

MTA

Thanks for the help Tony

I may have to get new sleeves for the wheelsets as one has made the frame where it sits slightly oval, hence why I asked about removing the wheelsets

syrtismajor

All the Bolts are 6BA, if you use Metric M2.5 they'll be too loose and if you use M3 you'll need to enlarge the holes ever so slighty.

If the steam pipe isn't soldered into the boiler, all you'll have to do is unscrew the dome and remove the spring / washer thing. The steam pipe should then be pushed out.

I just dived in a guessed how to take it apart, just be careful and good luck!

Mamodman123

Rob

to take my boiler and comb chamber off, i drilled out the rivets on the boiler back plate, the ones on the comb chamber in the cab and the ones on the smokebox. the chassis had already bee removed. so when they are all done, i removed it all from the side tanks which are held in to the smokebox. i removed the smoke box by gently tapping a large flat screwdriver against the sticky up bit all the way round where the boiler joins in (if you know what im on about) this left me with the boiler and comb chamber. i then, very jently bent the steam pipe (from the bottom of the boiler) away from the boiler. this allowed me to slide the boiler forward, and then you can lift it up and slide it back out of the comb chamber. all has to be done when you put it back together aswel.

to hold it all back together, i re-riveted it to make it look like it hadnt been messed with. the boiler was done with copper rivets (and are steam and water tight) and the comb camber and smokebox where both done with standard rivets.

hope this helps you simon. if you need more info just send me and email or pm me, and ill try to help you.

cheers

MTA

Thanks for your help lads. Will have a go at him again tomorrow

CCairns

If you look at my posting which has been moved to the Steam Reference Library, you will find the instructions for the Mamod SL1K which is very similar to the current MSS sidetank locos - http://modelsteam.myfreeforum.org/about5164.html

This file has now been produced as a PDF file, so if you PM an e-mail address I can send a copy, plus my other Mamod files if you are interested (in total about 1.8MBs so if you do not have broadband I can send as several e-mails)