Get a Mamod Steam Engine Going
Problems in getting your Mamod engine running properly? Whether you have a Stationary Engine or a Mobile Engine learn how to get up a head of steam and see your engine run just as it should.
Contents
Steps
- Buy a Mamod engine. These can be purchased cheaply on eBay and if you look there over a period of a month you will see many different types in various states of repair. They range from "ready for restoration" to "immaculate unused".
- Decide upon either one that remains in a fixed position, known as a Stationary Engine or one that moves along the ground known as a Mobile Engine.
- Know that there are some basic things you now need to do starting with "getting it running" like getting water and fuel.
- And always - ALWAYS take your alcohol or dry fuel engine outside to run it. The possibility of accidental fire in the home is just too great and easily avoided.
- Make sure that water is to be carefully poured into the boiler through the hole in the top where the Safety Valve is located. Do not fill the boiler. If there is an overflow hole on the end opposite to the chimney. Leave this open while filling and stop when water comes out. Use HOT water to minimise start time and maximise running time.
- On the boiler back plate, either look at the Water Level Glass or as with older engines, the water level hole, and stop filling when the correct level is reached. There needs to be some air space left in the boiler above the water to allow pressure to build up.
- If you have a Water Level Plug type, this is the time to screw it, finger tight, back into the hole. Make sure all the filler and overflow holes have their caps screwed back into place before fueling.
- Fuel next. Now let's look at what to do about fueling up. There are two types of fuel. Present day fuel is in solid tablet form which are placed into a burner tray. It may be necessary to cut these tablets down in size to fit your particular burner as they do differ in size in accordance with the boiler size. Older models have spirit burners which contain either non replaceable gauze or replaceable wicks that soak up their liquid fuel.
- The liquid you need here is Methylated Spirit or methyl alcohol. With old type rectangular shaped gauze style burners you should pour an amount of Methylated Spirit directly into the top of the burner. The burners were sized to be filled until you can just see the alcohol on top of the gauze. There will then be enough fuel for a good run of the boiler, but not enough to boil it dry. Do not refill the burner without topping up the boiler again. If you have an even older type of engine it will have a round tank burner with wicks numbering between one to three. Again, just fill up the tank through the filler hole and refit the brass screw cap finger tight.
- Now you are nearly ready to fire up. But wait, you need to squirt oil onto the moving parts. To put it simply, any moving parts that are in friction contact with another need some oil. You can but Mamod oil although any oil is better than no oil! Castor oil is one of the most effective options available. You can use car engine oil, handyman oil or the real thing. Don't use grease as it will not flow and so will not lubricate fully.
- Now check that your Safety Valve (and Water Level Plug) is tight and your water level is correct. Spin the flywheel using your finger to get the oil around a bit and to ensure everything runs smoothly.
- Place the burner close to the engine and ready to insert under the boiler. Just practice this once before light up. And then, the action begins! Using a box of matches, ignite the burner and using the burner handle, place the burning burner neatly under the boiler. From now on, do not leaving your engine until the burning process is completed and the hot boiler is not in harms way.
- Gradually the water will begin to get hot and then raise a head of steam. Steam will begin to hiss in the area of the piston. Now you can gently flick round the flywheel. It revolves in a clockwise direction as seen when looking at the piston side of the engine.
- Everything should now be running smoothly and you can let it run until the fuel runs out. If you want to stop it running very temporarily you may place your finger into the flywheel to restrict its movement. If you do that, the Safety Valve will fizz with boiling steam and water until you allow the flywheel to run again. This is not a dangerous thing to do and can be quite fun but just be wary of the very hot spitting steam!
- When you have had enough of running the engine, drain the water and just put it away - clean it if you want to but it's not absolutely necessary.
Tips
- Some suppliers offer a free advice service which can be a lifeline to new Mamod model enthusiasts.
- When considering whether to buy brand new or secondhand you need to decide if you want a challenge or a ready to run model. As with most purchases, the more you spend, generally the better the value for money.
- A word of wisdom and experience: Be prepared to be disappointed with your purchase from eBay but don't lose heart because 90% of non working engines can be economically restored without any experience. If your engine turns out OK you have got yourself a lovely model like kids enjoyed over 50 years ago.
- Mamod parts do wear out and so if you find the Safety Valve does not allow adequate steam pressure, or the Piston/cylinder Assembly is losing excessive steam it will be necessary to replace the offending part. New parts can be cheaply obtained from Internet web sites and eBay sellers.
- Any faulty or broken part or even a new boiler can still be easily obtained on line.
- Most engines exchange owners on eBay. You will get pretty good value for money with some engines being rare and immaculate. You will get what you pay for and will always need to spend at least £35 to get something that is ready to run or maybe needs a small amount spent on it to make it run perfectly.
Warnings
- Make sure that when you refill the burner device (solid or liquid) that you always refill the water boiler. If not, you could damage the rubber washers on the Safety Valve in which case a new valve will be required. The soldered joints in the boiler bushes could also melt, which would need skilled repair to make the engine serviceable again.
- Take care not to look down at the Safety Valve - it will take your eye out if it breaks! There has been at least one instance of a Safety Valve hitting the ceiling.
- When refilling with meths, make sure the fire is out before beginning to pour, which is not always easy if the machine is being used outside as the flame is virtually invisible in sunlight. In 1976, there was a dreadful accident when a child was seriously burned while refueling an unextinguished burner. Mamod's sales collapsed after the case was featured on the "That's Life" TV consumer programme, this is what led to the meths burners being replaced with solid fuel burners now supplied.
- Be careful when using Methylated Spirit or methyl alcohol because it easily spills and so can catch fire and burn where not intended. Anything that got wet with alcohol while you were filling the burner should be moved far away before you light up. The fumes of the alcohol can collect in a calm and enclosed space, so always light up in a well ventilated place.
- Do not let young children near a hot engine because little fingers can get hurt or in the worst case, burned.
