The Unofficial Mamod and Other Steam Forum

toxx · Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 12:40 pm Post subject: Opening Mamod boiler

Yo, dear friends! Received my Mamod SR1a yesterday. Bought her for 70 Euros via ebay. She's used, but in good shape. The water level sight glass is a tick foggy, though. Is it safe to take out the screws, remove the key-hole shaped frame and clean it? Is there any trick or complication I should be aware of? Don't want to spoil anything ...
Thank you guys for your advice!
Says Tom

_________________
Says Tom

... keine Wunder sind vollbracht.
No miracles ... yet.

tmuir · Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 1:08 pm Post subject:

You can buy replacement sight glasses for Mamod boilers either off ebay or from forest classics but once removed they can be a bugger to reseal.
Only remove it if you really have to and if you do I recommend to go buy some high temp plumbers silicon and put a tiny bit on each side of the gasket before you refit it
_________________
http://www.freewebs.com/ozsteam/index.htm
http://members.iinet.net.au/~tmuir1/

A nice example of an Australian made Scorpion Donkey Engine

mj · Guest

You could try a 50/50 mix of of vinegar\hot water in the boiler & soak the glass for about an hour. This can have quite dramtic results in cleaning the limescale from the glass. Doesn't always work , but is worth trying before removing the sight glass.

Mamodman123 · Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 2:48 pm Post subject:

I wouldn't recommend moving the sight glass unless its screwed into the boiler! If its rivets then leave it in there!
_________________
Solid Fuel tablets explode

You could get a nice flatbase for that

www.mamodsteam.tk

toxx · Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 6:31 pm Post subject:

... thank you for your tips and hints! I got the fog out. First, I let a bit of "Durgol" (water stain remover) soak in the boiler for an hour. Then I rinsed it out, took a Q-Tip, bent it into shape and stuck the swab into the whistle opening. The misty fog wiped away nicely!
Kind greetz,
Tom
_________________
Says Tom

... keine Wunder sind vollbracht.
No miracles ... yet.

toxx · Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 12:36 pm Post subject:

Dear friends! Fired up the SR1a after thoroughly cleaning her - she worked like a charm! Though I have to get used to the osciliating cylinder. How far should I fill up the boiler? This first time, I filled it to the lower rim 'o' of the keyhole shaped glas. And still, when I toot-tooted the whistle, I was rewarded with a hissing sound not unlike a cat whose tail has been stepped on (just guessing, as a canine unit and feline unit fan) and a decent spray of boiling water. Later, as the pressure sank (bubbles in the sight glas now beginning in the very lower section of the glass and reaching up to about the 'o' of the keyhole) she whistled quite nicely.
Thanx for your advice says
Tom
_________________
Says Tom

... keine Wunder sind vollbracht.
No miracles ... yet.

IndianaRog · Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 12:40 pm Post subject:

toxx...I never fill boilers more than about 2/3 full of water, otherwise you get water spitting out your whistle and drowning your piston periodically until it gets down a bit. I guess that was the logic behind the inclusion of steam domes on some engines...get the steam pickup as high above the water as possible so as to avoid pushing water thru the lines.

Experience usually teaches the above pretty quickly...each engine is a bit different, but 2/3 full is a good starting place.

cheers,
Rog
_________________
Visit IndianaRog and The Temple of Steam: www.indianarog.com

Mamodman123 · Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 1:24 pm Post subject:

fill it up to the mark on the sight glass where two metal pieces almost meet. ITs about 3/4 of the way up on the glass!
_________________
Solid Fuel tablets explode

You could get a nice flatbase for that

www.mamodsteam.tk

toxx · Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 1:35 pm Post subject:

Mamodman123 · Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 1:37 pm Post subject:

Perfect! exactly the right amount of water in there!
_________________
Solid Fuel tablets explode

You could get a nice flatbase for that

www.mamodsteam.tk

rangerssteamtoys · Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 1:39 pm Post subject:

Thats where I fill my steam car up to.In the beginning it wont run because theres water in the lines but after about 2 minutes it works.
_________________
Best Regards, Ranger Moore

tmuir · Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 2:17 pm Post subject:

rangerssteamtoys · Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 2:19 pm Post subject:

Mamodman123 · Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 2:24 pm Post subject:

Best thing to do is just work it through the system on a loco by going backwards and forwards for a few seconds then you're ready to go!
_________________
Solid Fuel tablets explode

You could get a nice flatbase for that

www.mamodsteam.tk

tmuir · Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 2:31 pm Post subject: