The Unofficial Mamod and Other Steam Forum

Mamodman123 · Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 11:41 am Post subject:

Glad you got it going titan!

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Ive got tomorrow off too, need to make sure I have everything and pack everything carefully!

Titan · Full member Joined: 19 Jul 2006 Posts: 751 Location: Derby

Well got the RC sorted, seems to run very well on it. However in true mamod style it is a little sensative and needs a light touch!

The dynamo is not looking too hopeful though, the other wire snapped off whilst I was trying to fix the first. if I cannot fix it I might still have it on the loco, even if I cannot light the lamp I can hopefully have it just purring away on the front!
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Mamodman123 · Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2007 8:54 pm Post subject:

It'll be a shame if you can't get it to light Titan, good luck anyway

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steamyjim · Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2007 9:31 pm Post subject:

did you make the dynamo or is it made comircaly and were does it get the steam from the boiler from

Titan · Full member Joined: 19 Jul 2006 Posts: 751 Location: Derby

Bad news on the dynamo front - it threw a rod! Not really that serious though, the crankpin worked loose and fell out, followed quickly by the piston being blown out of the cylinder in a cloud of steam!! Nothing has actually broken, but it does mean for now it is just a talking point,especially as I am not too confident in the wiring.

As for being comercially made, well I suppose parts of it are, but not assembled in the way I have to run a dynamo!

The engine itself was part of a very small minature working stationary engine. I bought the parts for the project seperately so that I did not have to waste money buying a boiler and burner I did not need. I am not sure where the dynamo came from - it might have been a motor from an old walkman - this could be an issue as I may need to replace it to get the thing going properly again, and if I cannot find the same or very similar motor it might not work - or at least need to be reworked with a different mounting to fit something else!

The only parts I actually made was the engine/dynamo mounting, and the flywheel.

It takes its steam supply from a 'banjo' fitting sandwiched underneath the water filler valve with a fibre gasket either side. This is a very good way of getting additional steam feeds to things - the pressure gauge uses another banjo fitting under the whistle. Therefore there is no need to mess around with modifying the boiler with extra bushes or manifolds, or introducing much extra pipework. You do have to file a vertical groove up the threads of the valve or whistle mind, as it is necessary to provide a route through the threads and past the first gasket for the steam, otherwise not much more than a tricle of steam can get out.

I will take it to STIA so anyone interested can have a look, although it won't be on the loco. I will try and fix it so next time we have a get together you can see it running for real!
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Mamodman123 · Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 8:49 pm Post subject:

Sorry to hear that Titan, I was quite looking forward to seeing how the dynamo worked etc, but never mind. Titan is more than enough for a talking point

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Titan · Full member Joined: 19 Jul 2006 Posts: 751 Location: Derby

Well, one year on and still some of the afore mentioned jobs are outstanding...

I have taken the valve block out of Titan with a view to lapping it in to cure the steam leak, and in so doing have revealed the true cause of the leak.

The valve I have is a special aftermarket one, which is fatter than the standard block, and has the holes for the cylinders drilled at an angle so that the front face of the block when assembled in the loco is completely vertical. The idea behind it is that it lines up better with the crank on the radio control gear, resulting in less play. Not sure if it really makes that much difference but hey.

Anyway, this block is unfortunately porus, and due to the previously mentioned rocket ship milage coupled with frequent use due to the RC, it has worn away the face to reveal an 'ole wot should not be there and is allowing steam to escape.

So the bad news is that no amount of lapping will make this steam tight - and it would have been a hell of a lot as the grooves are worn quite deep!

The good news is I happen to have an unused spare.

Which unfortunately needs finishing as the threads for the cylinder bolts to screw in to are not cut.

Still, a quick job to sort with a 6BA Tap, only I have not got one!

But e-bay is my friend - 6BA Taps already ordered!!

I have also fitted the replacement motor to the dynamo, and machined the flywheel to suit. Just need to reassemble, re-wire and fix the headlamp and fingers crossed...
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Mamodman123 · Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 11:05 pm Post subject:

All worth doing Titan!

Can't wait to see it fly around the track once again, hopefully with a working headlamp

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steamyjim · Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 9:06 am Post subject:

Can't wait to see it!
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Sandman · Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 10:25 am Post subject:

Looking forward to seeeing it myself, and hopefully get a better clip for this years DVD.
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Titan · Full member Joined: 19 Jul 2006 Posts: 751 Location: Derby

Just a little update:

Titan did not get run as much at STIA in contrast to last, this was partly due to having many more visiting locos, and also due to me having a new loco to share the load!

However the performance at STIA was still somewhat lacklustre, especially compared to the Titan of old.

It still seemed to be using much more steam than it should and I still suspected that the reversing valve at the front was in some shape or form the culprit.

So with a recently aquired air compressor, I removed the water filler valve and fitted an adaptor so that I could put it on air - the idea being that I could have it upturned and inspect the area around the valve more closely to determine exactly where the leak might be.

With the air turned on it soon became apparant exactly where the leak was - it was in fact the safety valve!

And fortunately it was an easy fix - a good clean of the ball, a very gentle clean up of the seat with a small round grinding stone bit as you would use in a dremel - but only twisted between finger and thumb - reassemble and hey presto no hissing until the prescribed pressure is reached!

Further testing seems to show no more leaks anywhere else, but I hope to give it a good steam test before Sunday just to be sure.

The remaining 'to do' list:

Cosmetic stuff to tender - basically finish the top and sort out the body mounts
Fix dynamo and make new headlight (Still

)
Sort out pressure gauge - I think it might be knackared and a new one aint cheap!

Clean and polish!
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James · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 11:19 am Post subject:

Wow, Sunday is gonna be GREAT

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Titan · Full member Joined: 19 Jul 2006 Posts: 751 Location: Derby

Well I did not get time to steam test Titan before the show, but fortunately all was well! Titan performed extremely well - absolutely storming around the layout and at long last is well and truly back to the performance levels of old!

I might want to look at adding some more ballast mind - the wheels must have done about 3 x the miles the rest of the loco did - gives a whole new take on the phrase 'taking the loco for a spin'

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steamyjim · Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 1:44 pm Post subject: