Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines

Ah, that's a better idea - though as fast as its going now forward I don't need to worry about it. 

To get the "most" out of it, this is what I do:
1. Prop up the back and get her steamed up real good and fast.
2. Stop the engine, pop out the scuttle, blow out the fire and re-fill the tray with denatured alcohol.
3. Steam her back up on the desk and then put the engine on the floor to haul ass!  I get a bit over a minute at a good deal of forward speed.
4. When it stops, put the cylinder in the "sweet" spot to build up steam.
5. Repeat until fire goes out.

Seems you only get max fire/heat/steam for a really good 1 or 2 runs.  Basically after those first two runs it goes a little slower and for a shorter amount of time.  Though once there isn't enough fuel to make steam, there really is very little water left in the tank.  I have to say, the steamroller is pretty well balanced out not to run out of water with a fire still burning.