The Unofficial Mamod and Other Steam Forum

shaygetz · Junior Member Joined: 19 Jan 2008 Posts: 187 Location: USA

...and this time, I am the new guy. I'm am a 47 year old, happily married father of a 6 year old boy and 11 year old girl. I've been in model trains now for many years. I've always had an itch for at least one working steam engine to tinker with, a wish fulfilled two years ago when I purchased this Mamod TE1a off of Ebay for $75.

It has never been fired and, as you can see, is in excellent condition. I now wish to run it and have purchased the necessary fuel, steam oil and drive band. For safety's sake I also purchased a new safety valve, feeling that it was a wise thing to do on an engine whose age is unknown.

I'm looking for a more detailed How-to on firing this engine up. The folks at Mamod were very helpful but, alas, the instructions sent were written with the assumption that I was someone who knew what I was doing. Any help will be greatly appreciated, my children will be delighted and I won't look like this poor chap...

I hope to stop by often as I see plenty of tinkering that is right up my alley.
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Kritika · Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 7:12 pm Post subject:

A big welcome to the Forum from the South of England.

I like that TE1a a lot.

I am sure someone from the forum has a scan or copy of some simple steaming instructions they can send you.

You will like it here, lets see a video of that beauty when you get it running.
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Les · Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 7:27 pm Post subject:

The tractor looks really smart on it's base. Hope you enjoy steaming it.

from Bournemouth
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James · Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 7:42 pm Post subject:

Welcome to the Forums mate!

How to steam the engine?

Well:-

1) Oil the piston/cylinder and all moving parts well. Unscrew the safety valve and take it out
2) Boil up some water in a kettle (or you can use cold water)
3) Get either a small funnel or syringe and fill the boiler with the water through the safety valve hole. If it has a sight glass in the back of the boiler, on the firebox, it needs to be filled to where the 2 sides meet the closest together. If it has a plug, unscrew it and fill it until water comes out and then screw it back in. Screw the SV back in aswell
4) Fill the burner with either meths or solid fuel (depending on type)
5) Light the burner
6) Put the burner under the boiler, in the firebox
7) Wait a few minutes for it to build up steam

Spin the flywheel and off it should go! If it doesn't, just wait a while for it to build up pressure!

Hope this helps!
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johnreid · Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 7:54 pm Post subject:

I love that base for your engine.
Welcome to the forum.
What State do you live in? I am in Indiana, near Cincinnati Ohio.
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Mamodman123 · Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 8:07 pm Post subject:

These should be of use

Welcome to the forums

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Solid Fuel tablets explode

You could get a nice flatbase for that

www.mamodsteam.tk

shaygetz · Junior Member Joined: 19 Jan 2008 Posts: 187 Location: USA

Thanks you for the welcome, gentlemen. The base came with it in the sale, I haven't seen another like it. It wasn't even in the picture in the original Ebay post. It has a strong steel magnet under the firebox that holds everything in place quite well.

Thank you, James and Mamodman, for those instructions. I assumed that the plug was used to tell water level but playing with steam under pressure makes me want to be sure that I'm walking in the right direction. A video will be forthcoming once she's fired up.

John, I live in Northwest Florida.
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My Blog>>> www.misterbobsmodelworksemporium.blogspot.com

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Mamodman123 · Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 8:29 pm Post subject:

No problem!

Look forward to the video

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Solid Fuel tablets explode

You could get a nice flatbase for that

www.mamodsteam.tk

IndianaRog · Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 8:30 pm Post subject:

Bob, another welcome from Indiana...glad to have you on board. I really love that customized wooden display base, that is unlike anything I have seen before for display.

You are amongst plenty of folks who can get you and your Te1A up and going...we all had a first firing!!!

If no one else mentioned it...use distilled water only, helps avoid liming inside boiler and clouding of sight glass. Walmart around here sells it for 67 cents a gallon!!!

cheers,
Roger
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Manxman · Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 8:30 pm Post subject:

Welcome Shaygetz. Nothing to add but hope you enjoy running the Traction Engine. I

agree they do look good but they are even better when under steam.

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barry1946 · Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 8:46 pm Post subject:

from Bonnie Scotland!
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shaygetz · Junior Member Joined: 19 Jan 2008 Posts: 187 Location: USA

Thank you gentleman. Appreciate the head's up on distilled water, Rodger.

The base at one time had an engraved plate on it...you can see the evidence of it in the top picture.
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My Blog>>> www.misterbobsmodelworksemporium.blogspot.com

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Steve_S · Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 11:17 pm Post subject:

Welcome to the forum! That's a very nice engine you have there, and it should run very well. Let us know how you get on!

erikl · Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 11:33 pm Post subject:

Welcome from the Netherlands!
That's alovly engine you have there! and I too like that wooden plate you have for it.

Good luck with the first steaming of it! make sure you don't do it on a nice carpet, because it might spit some water and oil around.
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bessytractor · Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 11:40 pm Post subject:

welcome to the forum

my number one engine of choice is Bessy the TE1A, its only failed me once, and a quick overhaul chronicled here had it going again.

Hope you get a lot of fun out of your engine!