The Unofficial Mamod and Other Steam Forum

SillyBilly · Guest

Hi,
I recently borrowed my friends Mamod loco meths burner (which I belive is of Mike Chaney origin), to compare it with my I.P one, and it is mutch better. I lit the burner up in my PoW (has a I.P regulator) and after the SV was blowing off it set off not going to good. It fell on it's side and meths went all over the cab and caught fire!!!! After extinguishing it ran with out fault, and when I stopped it to check the water level, the SV was blowing off full blast after just stopping for 5 seconds. And of it went again!

I'm quite certain that therfore the I.P burners need a little tweeking. The most noticalble diffrence in the burners are that the wick holders on my friends one are lower. So I think I'll remove the wicks from my I.P one and cut the wick holders down to the same height as my friends one, and duly trim the wicks. I think that the I.P ones must be to close to the boiler. What do you think, should I or shouldn't I???

Mamodman123 · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 1:39 pm Post subject:

Mine is an I.P burner and it works fine...

Maybe just trim the wicks down a bit more and try again?

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SillyBilly · Guest

The wicks are already very close to the top of the wick holders.

Mamodman123 · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 1:46 pm Post subject:

SillyBilly · Guest

No, 'cos when I fitted the new regualtor, I made sure it was set over to the side. The wicks are only about 5mm from the boiler I reckon if I lower the holders about 5mm and have the wicks protruding about 3mm I'll get a vast improvment in steaming. I'll let you know on the progress of it.

tmuir · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 1:54 pm Post subject:

I've often thought the flames are a bit close to the boiler.
I just had a look at my burner and you could probably get away with removing 3 to 5mm as long as when you fill it up you stop when the meths reach the top of the tank not the top of the fill hole.

But before you cut it fit it back in the loco and see with the wicks being lower whether wind could be a problem then.

If you do trim them let us know how you got on.
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Mamodman123 · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 1:58 pm Post subject:

You've just got to make sure you keep the wicks a tiny tiny bit higher, or at least level with the top of the tank.

Let me know how you get on

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SillyBilly · Guest

Thanks Tony, your words of advice sparked a idea. Perhaps the limit sould be the pointless holes in the frames? I will let you know how I get on.

steamyjim · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 2:01 pm Post subject:

When i first ran my MSS loco it was having trouble getting a decent flame and eventually they started charring. Then when i got my SL1 in bits i tried the meths burner and it burned much better. Didnt notice anything differant until i read on here about the wicks need to be low and now the one with my MSS burns much better

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Chris · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 2:02 pm Post subject:

My IP burner tubes are also very close to the boiler. Too close in my opinion.

The other day I was getting meths fumes igniting above the engine!

Not that I could see it happening due to the bright sunlight, but I figured that must be what was happening as when the loco went under some overhanging grass and the grass caught fire.

I had just put long wicks in, so I think I need to trim them short again.
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tmuir · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 2:11 pm Post subject:

Mamodman123 · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 2:13 pm Post subject:

You need to find a happy medium with wicks!

Enough wick to create pressure, and not too much so it lasts long enough

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SillyBilly · Guest

I've done the deed, and chopped 5mm (unevenly!) off the top of the wick holders and duly trimmed the wicks so they are now very similar in height to my friends one.

My friend's burner in front and my I.P burner at the back before i cut it down, showing the diffrence of around 5mm in height of them.

My friend's burner is now at the back and my I.P one at the front showing that the wick holders and wicks are at a similar height compared to before.

I haven't tested it yet as it's raining at the mo, but will inform you of how it runs.

Mamodman123 · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 6:06 pm Post subject:

Aslong as they are higher than the meths tank it'll be ok, but if you go down a hill expect a meths pourout

Especially with that one nearer the camera

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SillyBilly · Guest

I think the holders are just a bit higher. I eased out the gradient on my railway the other day so it should be ok.