Hello everyone

shirlthegirl · Hello everyone

Hi, I have joined the forum as we bought our son, age 12, a Mamod steam roller for Christmas. This is a fairly old model, no forward and reverse, with the Birmingham logo on the front. It has a meths burner thingy (sorry, new to all this live steam) but my dad has loaned us an engine with a solid fuel tablet burner until we find out more about how much meths to use.

Any tips on the best way to clean the roller up and make sure it is good to go (and any user manuals that folks are prepared to post) would be very welcome. Thanks folks.

Mamod Collector

Welcome to the forum Shirl Very Happy

Now your a member we'll expect some photos of your roller Very Happy

Im pritty sure someone will post a pic of the instructions for your roller
They where usualy printed on the box.

shirlthegirl

Thanks for the welcome. The roller came in a toaster box so the instructions printed on the box were not much help Laughing

We have had it fired up and got a good bit of steam going. However, we have used up the whole pack of fuel tablets we had and I am reluctant to try the meths without first knowing how full the burner should be - do we fill it to the top of the 'mesh' or just put in a tablespoon or so?

Will take some pics next time it is running and endeavour to post them.

joiner

Welcome to the Forum.

fcrammond

y usual technique is to fill it till it overflows, tip out a little so it's not splashing about , mop up all the spillage and light up and insert into the firebox BUT make sure you have filled the boiler first.
Fred

Spokesmann

Shirley,

welcome to the Freesteam Forum, we hope you will enjoy your stay here and post as often as you can.

With regard to your roller, a Mamod SR1 - many of us own one and can give you any advice and directions you need to make your roller safe and a valued possession for your son. We can advise on parts, running and general renovation of the model.

For information, the SR1 was introduced in 1961 and was gradually updated until 1967 - when it came the SR1a - with a reverse lever. I wont go into all the details now, but anything you need to know can be answered by the team here.

Mike
Admin

old_timer

Hi shirlthegirl! Welcome to the forum.

I hope your son is really pleased with his Mamod SR1 steam roller - that's how we all started with just the one steam engine. Oh dear, this may become expensive! Laughing

Fred has described the prescribed way to use the meths lamp, but a less messy method I have always used is to decant the meths into a jar so that the lamp can be completely submerged in meths. Once the bubbles stop emerging, you can be sure the lamp is fully loaded and then you can remove the lamp from the meths and with a quick shake whilst it's still in the jar, you get no drips! Very Happy

Any small amount of meths left on the outside surface of the lamp will very quickly evaporate or can just be wiped off.

Personally I prefer to use meths than the solid fuel tablets not just because it is much cheaper, but also burns with a cleaner flame (so it won't mess up the steam engine so much) and does not emit such a bad smell as you get with the solid fuel.

As for the complete instructions, I'm sorry I don't have them for the older SR1 that your son has but do have them for the newer SR1a.
The 2 models are very similar save that the SR1a has the added speed/reserve feature that the older SR1 does not. The other difference is the whistle - your older SR1 should have a brass whistle that is sounded by turning a small lever on the side (mind your fingers - it gets very hot!) as opposed to the more user friendly spring whistle shown on the SR1a.

Anyway, in the abscence of the original instructions, I hope these help - if you need any clarificaction for your son's own SR1 please ask again - there are many of us who have both versions and will gladly offer further help and advice if needed.

Hope these help

Happy steaming!

shirlthegirl

Thanks for the advice folks. My dad brought round a TE1A which has been marginally cannibalised (water plug, whistle and drive belt) to enable Sam to get the roller running, the TE1A needs more repair than the roller as it has either been used more or neglected more (hard to tell which) and needs its funnel re-attached and a brass pipe replaced. All in all we have one very happy young lad as he went from wishing for a live steam engine to having two in one day!! Dad is now trying to find out where my brother's Mamod lorry has vanished to (not seen for about 10 years) in order for Sam to further expand his collection.

We now need to get new seals for the plug where the water goes in and we are considering buying a newer style of whistle for the roller to reduce the risk of burned fingers!! We will keep the old whistle and put that on for display times though. Must get pictures later and upload them.

Spokesmann

Shirley...

a few Mamod roller images for you and your son . . .

An SR1a from 1967:

1961 SR1

1965 SR1

John Chapman

Welcome aboard Very Happy

shirlthegirl

Thanks for the pics.

Quick query - is it worth paying 14 quid for the Mamod oil can? or do you have recommendations on easiest (cleanest for a 12 year old) methods of oiling?

old_timer

A small oil can is a very good investment to keep your steam engine well lubricated - but I wouldn't pay £14 for a Mamod one, especially not a modern Mamod one (unless it was just for show)

Keep your eyes open on ebay under 'oil can' and older style, small oil cans can usually be picked up for £5-£7. Sutcliffe is the favoured make, but any similar one will do.

There's nothing really available at present except this one which will probably attract a lot of interest anyway because of its ornate finish

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280186885486

but keep looking and I'm sure one will be available cheap soon - they appear quite often

Fred's website has some very useful information on small oil cans by Sutcliffe & others - cue a timely plug! Laughing

http://www.fcrammond.clara.net/oilcans.htm

newts

Welcome to the forum Very Happy

Here's a pic of the sutcliffe oil can mentioned by OT

They look great with the engines & post xmas may be at a good price on the bay of E.

Mamod Collector

Another set of instructions for you Shirl
Just in case your son gets a traction engine Very Happy

Spokesmann

Interesting graphics/box . Always good to see the printed stuff.