The Unofficial Mamod and Other Steam Forum

steamgranny · Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 9:11 pm Post subject: SEL major

Nothing Earth shattering, simply the arrival at long last of my SEL major purchased last year. Mentioned in other SEL threads & was UK delivery only but most relieved it went to my brother first, as required new bushes & pistons. He also replaced the in-line lubricator with pipes exiting at top. Don’t know whether it’s an improvement, as never ran it in original configuration but there’s usually some oil still present at end of run & not sucked through instantly, as apparently the case with normal config.

It clatters; it’s mucky & hardly my smoothest runner but does have original fittings & gilt paint (no burner). Was also the right price & one more for the collection of old British engines.
A vid at full speed (scary!) & a vid with burner damper in place & some form of control. It seems to ‘suffocate’ from time to time, missing a beat, and then expels a stream of exhaust from affected cylinder. Not sure whether that is normal but expect new pistons require some running in.

johnreid · Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 9:43 pm Post subject:

It sure seems to be running nicely in the videos.
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Steve_S · Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 9:53 am Post subject:

Very nice, it's a good runner! Does the whistle work? I've never heard a SEL whistle.

steamgranny · Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 12:22 pm Post subject:

toxx · Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 12:30 pm Post subject:

... it works and looks great, Alicia!

Now that I've seen it run, I'm gonna have to get one, too. This is so addictive ...

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oldstuff · Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 1:24 am Post subject:

Yeah SG, I thought it ran quite strongly. I always think of SEL's as being small.
That seems to be a pretty nice twin, but I wonder how big the boiler is?
1.75 in, 2"?

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steamgranny · Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 12:25 am Post subject:

kusuchi · Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 1:24 am Post subject:

Very nice, Steam Granny,

Or may I call you Alicia, it's been many, many years since I had Grandparents.

Nice looking Major.

It's not often you see one with the original gold paint intact.

Mine is missing the burner and also the whistle, so I would be intrigued to hear what it sounds like. I am using an esbit burner but have used the burner from the Standard with great results.

All mine are really speedy little things. So much so that I am
reluctant to connect them to the smaller accessories I have, without some kind of speed regulator.

The Junior is currently undergoing a small repair but on it's return I was planning to post an SEL quartet video.

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steamgranny · Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 2:38 am Post subject:

Sandman · Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 3:41 pm Post subject:

Runs fine SG.

The whistle on mine is exactly the same.

More of a splutter than a toot.
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Les · Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 8:04 pm Post subject:

That runs very well.

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CCairns · Posted: Wed May 07, 2008 11:30 am Post subject:

Looks like you finally ended up with a great little runner there.

Your replacement pistons seem to work very well, and you have less exhaust water/oil coming out from your engine than I get from mine.

Must see how easy it is to modify the lubricator to get it working in the proper sense, rather than being emptied just after starting the engine.