The Unofficial Mamod and Other Steam Forum

Steve_S · Last edited by Steve_S on Mon May 04, 2009 9:20 pm; edited 1 time in total

While we were at STL James gave me this engine to sort out. ("Do you want a project meyart?"

) I wasn't sure what it was until I had a close look at it today and found the Weeden name on the safety valve. A bit of Googling convinced me that it's a Weeden 672, but other than that I know very little about it. What I could do with are some more pictures of how it should look, particularly the fittings on the top of the boiler. Also, I have a couple of questions, probably the first of many. Is the paint original? To be honest I think I'd prefer that it isn't. It's not a very attractive colour! Secondly is this a rare engine? Again, I hope it isn't because I won't feel so constrained. My initial thoughts are to convert it to be a meths burner. I'd be very grateful for any information or pictures.

This is a picture I found on the net:

igy569 · Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 1:00 am Post subject:

I recognize that engine!! I sent that with the Jensen five last year. I know it originally had a disk type heater in it. But it will make a nice chunky type engine. I am thinking a lot like an Empire B30, it has a very similar cylinder set up.

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rangerssteamtoys · Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 1:04 am Post subject:

I know from experience that the pulleys and some cranks were made from soft diecast materials. I melted the pulley and flywheel on my vertical by accident.

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Nick · Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 3:52 am Post subject:

Steve, I have a complete one and may have some spares. I can't get pics to you today or tomorrow, so remind me on Tuesday and I'll see what I can get for you.

Roly Williams · Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 8:28 am Post subject:

If it was me, I'd try to keep the electric heater if the element is there (it doesn't look like it) or if you can find a replacement somewhere. If you can get hold of even a knackered one, you might be able to get it rewound. It's unusual to see an electricaly heated vertical.
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Steve_S · Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 11:57 am Post subject:

tmuir · Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 12:52 pm Post subject:

Weeden did use lead for a number of parts
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Steve_S · Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 4:00 pm Post subject:

tmuir · Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 12:15 pm Post subject:

I know on some models the feet on the stands were cast lead and the steam dome.

There have been many upset people who have tried to solder up the steam dome get a nasty surprise on Weedens.

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James · Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 8:47 pm Post subject:

Good luck with it Steve!

I decided, since it had sat in a box for around a year, that I wasn't going to get round to doing something with it. I thought Steve would be just the man

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Steve_S · Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 9:14 pm Post subject:

I'll have to get it going now!

Sandman · Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 9:19 pm Post subject:

Steve_S · Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 10:00 pm Post subject:

I've been fiddling with it this evening, and, to put it diplomatically, it's not the best engineered engine I've ever seen. The castings aren't very good and don't fit together very well, and the materials it's made from are far from ideal. And I still don't like the paint! On plus side it's a big vertically boilered slidevalve with an impressively sized flywheel, and I'll bet it looks great when it's running. There may have to be a few slight modifications... we'll see.... but I'm getting to like it!

Nick · Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 5:15 am Post subject:

Sorry for all the pictures, but hopefully you get something out of them. By the looks of it, you have almost everything needed.

Sight glass can be purchased on forum member Weedensteam's website:

I also have 1 1/2 spare 672's (On the closer one, you can see someone's attempt at a regulator, might be worth trying on yours):

This is the heater out of the more complete spare:

And tonight is the first time I realized the 672 had 2 designs for the boiler shroud and the prongs on the heater:

Unlike your engine and my complete engine, the prongs fit inside the shroud (Maybe it was a design change for safety):

Here you can see the steam dome and SV, not sure how to repair yours.

And some of my Weeden spares:

If I were you, I would convert your engine to meths firing. It's not a rare engine (I think I got mine for about $60). I would also finish removing the nickel on the boiler and polish the brass. And then re-paint in colors of your own choice.

If you need any more pictures, just ask.

And this just shows the engine moving by hand:

Nick · Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 5:19 pm Post subject:

Steve, I just tried steaming mine and had no luck at all.

The heater was too weak to even make enough steam to blow the whistle.

My new plan is to take the junk one you see in this photo, and make it into a working engine:

I will strip the nickel since it's patchy and will repaint the red. I also found out that my 3rd one is actually a 670 (horizontal boiler), but uses the same engine.

I will then probably sell my complete one with a working heater. I'm not sure if there's a way to get more heat out of it or not.