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CCairns
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Joined: 24 Apr 2007
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Location: Glasgow, Scotland
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 Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 12:12 pm Post subject: MSS Saddle Tank Revealed |
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Having got my MSS Saddle Tank loco to run on track, I was curious to find out what lay underneath the false steam chest, and to answer whether this loco can be upgraded like other Mamod/MSS locos.
The bodywork is held together by rivets so removing the rivets holding the running plates, side tanks and cockpit front plate together, and the second set of rivets holding the cockpit front plate to the side tanks revealed all!
The second boiler fixing has had an insert soldered into it making it very difficult to return this to a normal boiler fitting without some major surgery.
So for now this loco cannot be fitted with the useful upgrades until either another Mamod/MSS boiler with 2 fixing holes is fitted, or some major surgery is done on the above boiler.
Chris Cairns
Last edited by CCairns on Sun Feb 24, 2008 5:35 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Mamodman123
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Joined: 19 Jul 2006
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Location: Midlands, UK
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| Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 1:08 pm Post subject: |
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Great to see Chris! Like you said not easy to upgrade, but far from impossible!
Would a normal PPS safety valve fit under the steam dome though?
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Chris
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Joined: 13 Jan 2007
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Location: Hampshire
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| Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 6:02 pm Post subject: |
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You can get replacement boilers fairly cheaply.
I was going to go along the lines of having the upgraded safety valve at the front (it sticks out slightly above the saddle tank), and having the water top up at the back with a steam dome fitting over the top of it.
You can't then fit the IP/PPS regulator though.
But that was before I sent it back for falling to bits. 
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SillyBilly
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| Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 6:12 pm Post subject: |
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| Chris wrote: | You can't then fit the IP/PPS regulator though.
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If you changed the boiler, then you can put the top-up on top of the reulator union. |
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steamyjim
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Joined: 27 Oct 2006
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Location: Pensford Somerset
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| Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 6:33 pm Post subject: |
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I like that.
Can you fit a meths burner??
Id get a new boiler. Put a regulator/safety valve at the back. Then altering the front tank so its easily removable (there are instructions somewhere) with a water fill valve in the front fitting.
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Mamodman123
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| Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 6:59 pm Post subject: |
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To be honest guys its not a lot different from a normal loco...and you pay through the nose for it  .New boiler will be 20 quid!
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steamyjim
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Chris
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Location: Hampshire
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| Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 8:12 pm Post subject: |
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You can fit meths burners, they are the same in most respects to the normal MMS or Mamod locos - just more money.
I wouldn't buy one new though. Well, actually i did. Sent first one back and got a replacement, then sent that one back and got my money back.
Look good. Built like rubbish (sorry Chris). I would buy another one, but only second hand and only if it was cheap enough that I could chuck away all the running gear and start again (as in just keep the body work).
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Graham-Jilly
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Joined: 04 Mar 2007
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Location: Brisbane Qld Australia
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| Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 9:34 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the pictures and info Chris. its always good to see how they are put together
cheers G-J
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CCairns
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Joined: 24 Apr 2007
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Location: Glasgow, Scotland
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| Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 11:24 pm Post subject: MSS Saddle Tank Revealed |
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Yes you can fit a Meths Burner, as this is exactly what I am doing with this loco whilst it is running in.
I do have a couple of used boilers, but these need some work before they are usable as I would like to have the option of being able to unscrew the sight glass for replacement, etc and not replacing rivets instead.
By the way anyone know what is the right size screw to use to fix the smokebox fitting to the boiler (I have 6BA nuts and bolts for the rest of the bodywork).
Chris Cairns. |
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Graham-Jilly
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| Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 12:10 am Post subject: |
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on my sl1k the screws were self tappers not realy sure if they are original
cheers G
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Mamodman123
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| Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 9:30 am Post subject: |
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| Graham-Jilly wrote: | on my sl1k the screws were self tappers not realy sure if they are original
cheers G |
Yeah they are self tappers on mine too!
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alan2525
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Joined: 02 Feb 2008
Posts: 462
Location: Essex, UK
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| Posted: Wed May 07, 2008 3:48 pm Post subject: |
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| Chris wrote: |
Look good. Built like rubbish (sorry Chris). I would buy another one, but only second hand and only if it was cheap enough that I could chuck away all the running gear and start again (as in just keep the body work). |
Why do you say it's built like rubbish? Mamod's are built to a price but in my experience the loco parts seem to be of reasonable quality and finish. |
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CCairns
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Joined: 24 Apr 2007
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Location: Glasgow, Scotland
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| Posted: Wed May 07, 2008 6:25 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | Mamod's are built to a price but in my experience the loco parts seem to be of reasonable quality and finish. |
If you read through the various earlier postings on this Forum by other Mamod/MSS owners, then you will see you are in the minority. Once you start fitting uprated safety valves, meths burners, etc. you will soon find out the limitations of these locos. Areas to look out for are loose wheels, badly machined cylinder backplates & reverser/regulator valves, and the weak soldering process that is used to construct these boilers (use a paste that is then heated).
However once corrected they can provide hours of fun.
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