The Unofficial Mamod and Other Steam Forum

Caprice · Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 8:56 pm Post subject:

I agree with xlchainsaw, I'm not a engineer but if you get the grip of the functions of a mechanical thing, you can often come up with your own solutions/changes(if the plans don't match.).
This thing seems complicated though, ...but not "impossible just difficult".

Roly Williams · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 3:20 pm Post subject:

Section 6 - Final Assembly - was, as is to be expected, quite a lengthy one (4 pages) and not without it's problems. I've said so many times already and at this stage it's obvious that these instructions were never used to build an actual model. Or, at least, if they were, no attempt was made to correct them because it just won't go together as described.

I've already mentioned one of the problems, that the drip tray just won't fit where the instructions say, or anywhere near there. Having drilled two holes in unusable positions, I decided to continue assembly without the tray and I will decide where to put it at the end (that may be the bin

).

Another was that reservoir platform fouled the beam as it was. There wasn't much choice in how to mount it so I shaved a few mm off it to clear.

The reservoir tank and the water valve are connected by a length of 1/4" brass pipe. This pipe had to be bent in two places. the pip didn't fit my miniature pipe bending tool or any of my miniature pipe bending springs, so it was a case of careful bending by hand. I managed one bend ok but, needless to say, one of them produced a slight kink. It's not too bad, though. The pipe had to be glued at one end and soldered at the other. Because of the surrounding woodwork, it was not possible to solder in situ, and it was impossible to install after soldering with the platform in place, and impossible to insert the screws holding the platform in place with the tank in place! AAARGGG!!! In the end, I had to partly dismantle what had already been done and reassemble it with the tank in place. Changing the order of assembly wouldn't have helped because it all had to be temporarily in position on order to cut and bend the pipe. A template for cutting and bending the pipe might have helped but I'm not so sure.

There was one step, concerning attaching one of the chains, which was not very clear and included the instruction note "(the position shown in the diagram)", but it didn't say which diagram - certainly not any of the ones on the same page. To complicate matters, the attachment of the same bit of chain was described (much more clearly) in a later step. I suspect the first step should have been deleted but wasn't.

There was another bit concerning another of the chains that I'm not convinced is correct. However, it will only require shortening the chain if it is wrong so that's no major problem.

The next page starts with a description of how the engine works, before setting up. It would have been helpful if that had been earlier, or if I'd known it was there. Oh well. It's easy to say you should read the instructions from begining to end before you start, but after you read the first few pages and they mean absolutely nothing to you, it doesn't encourage you to carry on to the end. There is a table of contents but the same applies - even the headings make no sense till you're actually doing it, so I didn't read even that to the end (who does anyway?). After this description is the setting up instructions. This is where the fun really starts

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Regards
Roly Williams

"God is not dead - he is alive and well and working on a much less ambitious project" (MRFS)

Les · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 3:26 pm Post subject:

It looks good Roly and good luck with the setting up.

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Keith S · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 3:51 pm Post subject:

Fingers crossed over here.
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Wasserstand beachten

Bugsy · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 4:32 pm Post subject:

It certainly looks the part, Roly.
I know you'll get it to function.
The video will be a hit!

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Si fractum non sit, noli id reficere.

tmuir · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 4:35 pm Post subject:

It looks impressive, but I still don't know what most of those parts do.
I hope you get it running without too much trouble.
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A nice example of an Australian made Scorpion Donkey Engine

Steve_S · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 11:30 pm Post subject:

It looks very good Roly!

Graham-Jilly · Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 12:30 am Post subject:

looks impressive

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verithingeoff · Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 1:59 am Post subject:

Great build Roly, I'm toying with the idea of one of their beam engines, so may be looking for a little

. Really looking forward to the video---

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Geoff
Growing old disgracefully in Queensland

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27ace27 · Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 2:04 am Post subject:

I can't wait to see it going!

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metalhead100 · Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 2:08 am Post subject:

Roly best of luck with that one.

Nice looking machine!

There looks to be a mountain of adjustments and lengths to get right...

You would think they could call out a start position (TDC BDC ect)for the machine and give you hard dimensions on various parts or at least a benchmark,to get it going .

This one I want to see the video for.

All that stuff moving and clanging would make anyone wonder just how the heck it works and even what its doing!

Jim
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duncandumpertruck · Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 8:42 am Post subject:

Great job mate! Sorry for all the trials and tribulations that you suffered on the way, it's a very interesting and informative read and it'll be great to see it running!

steamyjim · Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 10:58 am Post subject:

Burnmafingers · Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 1:44 pm Post subject:

It looks most impressive

Good luck with getting it to run.

Ross · Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 1:54 pm Post subject:

Thats great Roly

It will be so satisfying once you get it running!
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