The Unofficial Mamod and Other Steam Forum

IndianaRog · Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 3:35 pm Post subject:

Hey Tony,

That is pretty sophisticated for an 80 year old toy...wonder if anything similar exists for modern meths fired locos other than vaporizing tray type burners which I suppose would contain liquid when tipped, unless filled to brimming.
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tmuir · Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 3:41 pm Post subject:

I'm not aware of any modern ones that do so but my knowledge on modern meth fired locos is limited to the 'Project' loco and Mamod locos. But even the project loco can loose no more than half a tank if completely filled and falls on its side. It will loose only a ml or two if goes upside down and the main fuel tank is in the tender away from the flames.
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A nice example of an Australian made Scorpion Donkey Engine

Mamodman123 · Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 4:32 pm Post subject:

IndianaRog · Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 4:39 pm Post subject:

I wonder if a person could build a loco meths tank with a custom fit sponge inside. It would need to be course enough sponge material so that the meths would be sucked OK by the burners, but maybe it would slow or eliminate spillage should the loco leave the tracks.

In concept it would almost be like the fuel cells they use in race cars for fire prevention. Gotta give that a bit more of a think

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tmuir · Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 5:21 pm Post subject:

I think just a screw cap with a 1/16 inch pipe a couple of inches long and bent which would still allow breathing but would considerable slow meths spills could be useful
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A nice example of an Australian made Scorpion Donkey Engine

mc_mc · Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 7:03 pm Post subject:

Maybe you could try something like this. Make some circular round caps with a hole in, the wick would go through the cap and the cap would then go on the large burner wick holes. The wick would then have less surface area and produce less heat and the burner would last longer. This would save you having to modify what you've already done too much.

I have attempted a picture of what I mean:

Black is the burner, yellow is the wick and blue is the meths.

H2o vapour · Junior Member Joined: 16 Feb 2007 Posts: 282

Hi Rog,

Nice bit of kit that Rog, really looks the part!!

Just to say, some time ago , I had a similar type of burner - But the difference was that the wicks were inside the vertical tubes and there was like a cap on top with holes drilled in.

The wick just pretruded through the holes and the burner was used in the normal way, I got rid of it because it wasn't much cop, the flame was very short.

Hope that helps!!

H20Vapour

mc_mc · Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 7:06 pm Post subject: Re: An old Burner?

IndianaRog · Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 7:20 pm Post subject: Rog's Meths Burner...round 3

OK...shared a Bowman version of a meths burner a few weeks ago and found it produced way to much flame/heat...borderline bonfire.

Yesterday I revamped the burner converting it to Mamod like version with bottom feeding tube and four upright burner tips made from .44 caliber shell casings. I loaded the shells with packed strips of asbestos sheeting (cut carefully outdoors with wind at my back). Load was such that they stuck up above the casing edge 1/8 inch or so.

Results of Mamod style 4 tip burner with exposed wicks:
1) flames were too high...2 inches or more in height
2) flames burnt out in 5 minutes due to not large enough hole in the vent plug...burned 30 min or so with enlarged vent hole

Tall wicks...

Results of Mamod style 4 tip burner with wicks cut flush with burner tops:
1) flames were much better controlled...about 1 inch in height
2) flames burned for 34 minutes before I snuffed them out (still had fuel in tank), way more time than boiler would have lasted...cut flush wicks and proper fill plug venting did the trick...very happy with results now. Just need to calibrate proper meths volume to match a boiler of water.

Flush wicks...

I think I've got it...thanks to all for help and suggestions, I might still play around with idea of slightly larger caps with perforations in them to further throttle down flames, but frankly 1 inch flames seem about optimum compared to torches I had in previous high wick experiment.

cheers,
Rog
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Chris · Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 7:22 pm Post subject:

Great job. Looking forward to the video of it all in action.
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oldstuff · Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 7:56 pm Post subject:

Great looking burner, Rog, really well done. Glad you solved the flame height problem.
The vent hole tip will help me fix a problematic burner I recently made!
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Mamodman123 · Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 9:08 pm Post subject:

Looks good Rog!

Glad you got it sorted

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You could get a nice flatbase for that

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IndianaRog · Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 9:55 pm Post subject:

Wallace · Posted: Wed May 23, 2007 7:36 am Post subject:

Good to see the flame height got down Rog.

Nice one.

If all else failed I was going to suggest small caps made out of fine mesh (I use termite mesh) to put over the top. So it's kinda a cross between a wick/evap type burner.
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