The Unofficial Mamod and Other Steam Forum

syrtismajor

Welcome to the ongoing saga of syrtismajors rather fool hardy attempt to modify an early nineties Mamod TE1a without the aid of a lathe, milling machine, a pillar drill or any previous engineering experience.
The challenge I set myself was to turn it into a reasonable likeness of a showmans engine including a dynamo and working lights (diodes). I also decided to ‘up’ the power by increasing its operating pressure, designing and building a brand new cylinder, gearing down with gears rather than the ubiquitous ‘steel band’ and installing a regulator. All using nothing but a Dremel, a junior hacksaw, a few thousand sheets of wet & dry and a bit of hard work.
I basically wanted to turn this:

Into this:

After a few months of mental planning, something arrived in the post from the magical land of ebay:

And lo, the engine to be known as ‘Sovereign’ was in my possession.

The first mission was to strip into component parts and give a deep clean, after assessing engine:

Mechanics assessment would have been, ‘Whoah, you bought this? *laughs* Nothing but a paperweight!’

Well, it wasn’t that bad, just a bit of scorching, loaded with grease rather than oil, absolutely filthy and by some paranormal action, a 10mm wide lump of loose solder in the boiler. Luckily it wasn’t as thick as it was wide and came out after some careful persuasion (Shaking vigorously and swearing).
The hub caps came off like a dream (after more swearing, wrenching, mild injuries and a hacksaw) and the wheels were cleaned. The piston eventually came out of the cylinder, along with a black mass that could be classified as another life form.
The final result was this rather sorry pile of brass and steel (those with a weak stomach, look away now):

Some paint is missing as I am currently stripping it for the future repaint. The chimney is missing as I have already done a swap for the solid flywheel seen in the picture. The canopy isn't there as I'm not planning to use it, but will need some restoration if I'm to pass it on to someone.

From now on, I plan to update with every major completion of a stage. But will give loads of updates with any little thing. I’m trying to do the cylinder first to convince people that I am not mad. I am borrowing my step dad’s drill to finish off the cylinder blocks this weekend, and I have also already decided to build my own regulator and lubricator.

Dear lord, what have I let myself in for?

I will also have a running total to show cost. The mission is to do this for less than £200.

Cost so far = £40.00 for engine and £7.00 for blowtorch = £47.00

(ps) I have been working on this for a while now but am taking the opportunity to do this first post today as I am off work. My partner had a car accident yesterday due to someone kindly driving their car into the back of hers, she’s perfectly fine but we didn’t get out of the hospital until 2:00 am so work today was the last thing on my mind.
_________________
Worrying the populace since '82'

Steve_S · Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2007 12:01 pm Post subject:

That's a very interesting project syrtismajor, I'll be watching with interest. I'm a big fan of making things without having the proper tools or facilities... it makes it more fun, and very satisfying when any success comes along!
I'm glad to hear that your partners OK!

tmuir · Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2007 12:06 pm Post subject:

Thats a big task you have set yourself, looking forward to your posts.
_________________
http://www.freewebs.com/ozsteam/index.htm
http://members.iinet.net.au/~tmuir1/

A nice example of an Australian made Scorpion Donkey Engine

SillyBilly · Guest

Cool. I guessing your making a new chimney then? Also are you planning on sending the exhaust to the chimney? There are some photo's of a lubricator on a TE1a on here: http://petes-mechanical-toys.photos.gb.com/p27677594.html

Graham-Jilly · Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2007 7:06 pm Post subject:

Great project there syrtismajor will be eagely waiting future post and updates

_________________

http://www.freewebs.com/aclr

Mamodman123 · Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2007 7:57 pm Post subject:

ITs a plan

will it work?

_________________
Solid Fuel tablets explode

You could get a nice flatbase for that

www.mamodsteam.tk

Wallace · Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2007 10:21 pm Post subject:

Nice one, going to be great to watch the progress

_________________

http://www.freewebs.com/mamodsteam/

wyvern · Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2007 7:47 pm Post subject:

The best of luck.

You could make use of standard size brass tubing for the cylinder and piston valve and use standard size rod for the piston, sealing with carbon string to keep things steam tight. Just a thought!

I am sure there have been piston valve engines made in the past with similar machinery to what you have so I am sure you'll succeed.

IndianaRog · Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2007 2:03 am Post subject:

Syrtismajor,

Well done...you have a plan...that is half the battle...you have a Dremel...what more does a guy need!!!

Seriously, a fascinating project we will eagerly await updates on and the final unveiling. I know it will work and work well...all you gotta do now is deliver!!!

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

syrtismajor · Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2007 10:28 pm Post subject:

Just an update for you patient lot:
I'm still awaiting the loan of a powerful drill (I forgot to pick it up

)
In the mean time I'm experimenting with soldering. My question for the boards are:
What solder and flux would you recommend? A while back I was told that soft solder would do the job of soldering pipes but am unsure of what ones to go for (that and the people at B&Q were staggeringly unhelpful). I have a mini blowtork that happily melted the existing solder on the TE1a so I assume that will be up to the job.

So far I have drilled a hole through the boiler, decided to use brass piping for the cylinder rather than a hone out brass block and further experiments in using a dremel and a vice to produce a lathe have been rather successful!
Progress is slow, but when things get going, lots will happen quickly,, I promise!
_________________
Worrying the populace since '82'

Mamodman123 · Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2007 10:32 pm Post subject:

syrtismajor · Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2007 10:53 pm Post subject:

Mamodman123 · Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2007 10:58 pm Post subject:

Wallace · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 7:08 am Post subject:

syrtismajor this is the solder I use. It's french or spanish, so if they sell it in OZ then they should sell it in the UK.
As you can see it's for car radiators, and I only have a small blowtorch, and it does the job

As MM said, lead based solder. But don't get stuff for electronics, and just use anything that is a regular flux paste.
_________________

http://www.freewebs.com/mamodsteam/

syrtismajor · Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 7:42 pm Post subject:

I've drilled the cylinder block!

Not much of an update I know, bit I'm just rather chuffed than it 'seems' to have worked on a first try. Isn't perectly air (steam) tight, but hoping a seal of some sort can be used. Speaking of which. . .

What is this 'Carbon String' I keep hearing about? What is it, how much is it? And where can I get some

_________________
Worrying the populace since '82'