The Unofficial Mamod and Other Steam Forum

igy569 · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 6:19 pm Post subject: Newest arrival - Help?

This is the empire I just got in todays mail. It is a 43, but different from the one I have. Boiler is a wreck, but running gear seems pretty good. The cylinder is rather different. Here are the pics I just took. Any help in Identifying this beastie? I really want to take my 2 empires, and make one really nice one. The base on this one is definalty better than my other, but the boiler on the other is a lot better. Due to the way the emipire valve works, I dont think I can use either one for a pump.. Dang!
I am guessing this one is older than my other 43.

Any input appreciated!!

I will probably go take it apart now, as it is soaking in PB Blast right now.
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rangerssteamtoys · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 6:22 pm Post subject:

If you mean the cylinder is different , by the size of it. Thats just a metal cover. It will pop off.
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igy569 · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 6:53 pm Post subject:

OK. I know that. That part of it is the same. Here are a few pics of the 2 side by side, look at the linkage. Valve set up is the same, but cylinder is very different. Also, bottom, and heater plug very different.

Also, position of the whistle is different. I blew out the crud from the boiler... lots of green crud.
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rangerssteamtoys · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 7:01 pm Post subject:

The new one is a single acting, because there is no bowl type thing in the other one. The new one was made before the other one, I believe they modified the design to go double acting. Or they just put the bowl thing on. Take out both slide valves, that will tell you if one is double action or single action.

This is just my guess, I really dont know much about empire.
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johnreid · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 7:08 pm Post subject:

I have yet to get an Empire, although I might have one in the works to acquire but am unsure when I would get it.
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igy569 · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 7:12 pm Post subject:

The vavles are the same on both engines.. hence my confusion.

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rangerssteamtoys · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 7:17 pm Post subject:

Well..... I guess they just wanted to put the bowl at the end to make it look like a double action.

One was made earlier than the other though.

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igy569 · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 9:46 pm Post subject:

I think I am having an attack of the stupids. What "bowl" are you refering to?

Here are some pics of it apart. I am soaking the metal parts in a rust removing solvent now. I think I may turn this in to a full restore. Have not done one of them yet. Maybe a little custom paint work for the flywheel, and all the linkage. Also depends on which cylinder I end up using. Probably the older one, cause I like the way it works. Its cool.

Thanks all!!
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rangerssteamtoys · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 10:01 pm Post subject:

This is what I mean by the bowl.

The end cap on the cylinder, it looks like a bowl that I have here.

Also, your newer empire has a connecting rod on the piston. Versus the straight rod in the old one. The rod is just a piston rod like on a gas engine, it can make its own stroke without having another connecting rod.

The new one needs the "bowl" to hole the piston rod in palce while the connecting rod connects

to the crank shaft.
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Mister Occlusion · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 12:20 am Post subject:

According to the Empire book, the round con rod that pivots at the piston and 350watt heater denotes a late version of the number 43 engine, produced between the end of the war and 1963.

The older version dates from the late 30's until possibly the late 40's.

Not that any of that helps you any, but apparently the model saw some variation over the years, and was their most common model.

No mention of a double acting version...
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igy569 · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 8:51 pm Post subject:

Oh! So the one with the 350 watt heater, and the one piece con rod is the newer model?

Cause the shiny one has the 400 watt heater, and the 2 piece con rod. Valve gear looks the same.

Cause I like the one piece con rod

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rangerssteamtoys · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 8:55 pm Post subject:

igy569 · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 9:09 pm Post subject:

The bases seem to be identical, except for a few more holes in my first one.

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