I would like to run my Mamods on compressed air for test purposes. Have read that this is not a very wise thing to do. I would have thought that if I fed the air into the whistle hole and kept the pressure from a compressor down to about 12 PSI, that should be OK? Any excess pressure would escape via the safety valve. My car tyre compressor would do I would have thought!
Any help would be appreciated
Thanks
Brian
Kevin made me adaptors for all my engines that replace the s/v and I couple them to an aibrush compressor. No need for steam oil a light one will do.
MODEL ENTHUSIASTS sell an adaptor if you need to buy one, £7.99 with freepost - extract from their website as follows :-
Run your Mamod engine from a foot pump or with compressed air
For testing your engine prior to steaming
This adapter fits into the water level plug hole (3/16 bsf)
The outer thread is the same as a car tyre thread
Provides a quick and easy way to test your engine
I have seen them listed on ebay as well. I use the type that screws into the water level plug as this means the safety valve is not removed.
Stuart
I don't have a water level plug but obviously have a whistle. What sort of PSI pressure is recommended?
I would like to run my Mamods on compressed air for test purposes. Have read that this is not a very wise thing to do. I would have thought that if I fed the air into the whistle hole and kept the pressure from a compressor down to about 12 PSI, that should be OK? Any excess pressure would escape via the safety valve. My car tyre compressor would do I would have thought!
Any help would be appreciated
Thanks
Brian
Just make sure the regulator is turned down, I have a separate regulator on my bench I installed after I forgot I had turned up the one on the compressor to use my nailer and 90 PSI blew the bottom seam in an old Doll boiler I had been working on.
Hooking up air lines to Mamods "Have read that this is not a very wise thing to do."
Perhaps due to:
Wet steam does provide some lubrication while dry air does not...
Wet steam does provide some lubrication while dry air does not...
Which has nothing to do with this post.
Hooking up air lines to Mamods "Have read that this is not a very wise thing to do."
Perhaps due to:
Wet steam does provide some lubrication while dry air does not...
I can only speak for myself, before applying any air I oil everything up well and I run the engine only long enough to make adjustments, check for leaks and see how it performs usually a matter of minutes.
If one was not applying air to the boiler but directly to the engine an attachment to the compressor line could supply oil to keep it lubed.
I don't have a water level plug but obviously have a whistle. What sort of PSI pressure is recommended?
From memory, mamod SV lifts off at 15 psi.
A 1/4 bsf brass bolt with the head cut off, a 3mm hole through the centre, makes a cheap and simple adaptor for the whistle hole.
If it helps, send me a PM and I will make one and pop it in the post.
Stuart
Thanks very much everyone for very informative answers. Food for thought. Thank you for the offer of the adapter. Just bought one that screws into the whistle hole, the other end has a screw thread the same as car tyres. So my little electric car tyre pump screws onto that. Haven't tried it yet though.
Brian