Steaming a 50 year old Mamod Traction Engine

[@Tolpuddle581]

Looks so familiar my late father was a steam era fireman on British Railways at Derby. So getting a static Mamod for Christmas in the mid sixties was only natural. I later saved up and bought myself a traction engine, nearly five quid was a fortune back then.

[@DenWhitton]

I love early industrial technology, especially canals and anything steam. I have some little Wilesco stationary steam engines.

[@ronaldlake5592]

Growing up in the 60s and 70s.my father had a Wilesco D16 stationary steam engine that was manufactured sometime between 1950 and 1960 and Wilesco Old Smokey D365 steamroller that we used to play with, and back in August I was at an antique store when I discovered a Madmod Steam Wagon that was manufactured sometime in the early 70s, according to the paperwork in the box. This reignited my passion for live steam models, and I went to my father's home and found those old steam Models and I was hoping to get them running again before he passed, unfortunately he did pass at 101 on August 27th at his home. While cleaning out his house, we found a Mamod Traction engine which has never been run that I didn't know He had. Now that I have his house cleaned out, and things pretty well squared away I'll get back on track to getting them running Plus I've also started collecting these old steam models and started to get quite a collection. Look forward to watching your next video on the restoration of first Mamod Engine.

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

My follow up video hit a snag - my oldest model wont hold steam and just gurgles out of the chimney so I guess the wall at the front of the tank has failed. I am in two minds about trying to fix it or accepting it as a showpiece only.

[@ronaldlake5592]

Sorry to hear that your oldest model won't hold steam. It may not be the boiler but if it is you would be better off replacing it for safety reasons. If it's Madmod the good news is that you can still get parts and you live a lot closer to them than I do here in Pacific North West of the U.S. The bad news is you would have to learn a whole new set of skills just to take it a part and your friend Allen would have to help you de-solder every thing and then Sliver solder every thing back together. So I under stand your two minds of trying to fix it or putting on the shelf but might make a great video. @@lifeat2.3milesanhour57

[@philiph6488]

Excellent. I was given the same model around the same time. Unfortunately, I spilt the burning meths and set the carpet on fire and was frightened to use it again. Hence, mint condition! Just enjoying it fully all these years later!

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

Meths indoors can be a bit dangerous!

[@Mike-nf5pt]

Fascinating video. I have just acquired an old stationary engine and ordered a set of seals. I note that you're using mineral oil, doesn't that rot rubber?

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

Possibly, but they often stand idle for several years between steams which probably does more damage. I view the seals as consumable items.

[@DrRogB]

They are neoprene, which is widely used for car engine parts.

[@donlarson3884]

Will a mamod engine run at slow speed?

[@neilrose8618]

Yes i was born 1963 and i didnt get one but one off my posher friends had one and brought it into school and under supervision in the small hall we watched it run ,this as brought back many memories , my old school was Sir Theodore Richards .. Druids heath

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

I trued to bring a 60 year old one back to life this weekend but it wouldnt hold pressure - another challenge for the autumn.

[@danensis]

@@lifeat2.3milesanhour57 - it may be just a persished washer under the safety valve.

[@simoncroft9792]

Brilliant, I bet there is a story in who manufactured these and where. If not in Binns road then maybe in Birmingham?

[@danensis]

Geoffrey Malins in Birmingham, hence MaMod, from Malins Models.

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

There is more to follow on this topic. In fact I was filming an attempt to fire one for the first time in 50 years which failed. I fear a ruptured boiler to next winter I will take it to bits and see if is fixable.

[@DrRogB]

Nice video but full of bad practice. Mamods instructions required that excess meths was poored from the burner, you actually spilt some. The chimney is diecast and not appropriate to solder, well done for not melting it. The usual solution is epoxy. Its great to see you having such fun and even involving the grandkids too.

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

I found out about melting the chimney the hard way! I resorted to epoxy because I ran out of other options. Luckily the wrinkle i created was filed off and looked ok after repainting.