Runs pretty darn good going forward now but still runs MUCH better/faster/longer going in reverse.
Put a twist in the belt to reverse direction
Interesting tip, though you would burn the F**K out of your fingers trying that - the steamroller get's HOT
I think I am now pretty close to max speed... or as fast as I'd like it to be. I am getting older and don't want it to get away from me LOL
Here's the little guy drifting really good!
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/anyw2ZsI08M
Haha, no… I was suggesting twist it before the run, that way reverse now becomes forward since you said it runs better in reverse.
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.
Neat videos, Rich! You could teach a seminar.
I love how the roller would go into a tight side-skid -- imagine a full size road roller doing that!
Next project: Obtain a small servo to attach to the front steering stem, for remote-control steering. You can do it!
Paula
Thank you
@Paula that is a very nice compliment!
Many years ago I worked for a company that made automation software for broadcasters (i.e. your local CBS/NBC/PBS stations). My first couple years I traveled all over the US, South America, and Europe installing our software product with various vendor hardware that went along with our software. So I would install the equipment in their facility, train the engineering staff ,and then operators. So I had to be able to talk with well educated engineers, upper station management and then lower skilled operators and schedulers. Even though I'm a pretty serious introvert, I'm pretty good at it (kind of weird if you ask me).
Anyways, it is interesting you brought up servos, I thought the same thing. I used to have tons of that stuff but gave it all away. But after playing with the steamroller a bit I discarded that idea - the engine gets way to hot and I doubt it could handle the added weight.
Thank you @Paula that is a very nice compliment!
Many years ago I worked for a company that made automation software for broadcasters (i.e. your local CBS/NBC/PBS stations). My first couple years I traveled all over the US, South America, and Europe installing our software product with various vendor hardware that went along with our software. So I would install the equipment in their facility, train the engineering staff ,and then operators. So I had to be able to talk with well educated engineers, upper station management and then lower skilled operators and schedulers. Even though I'm a pretty serious introvert, I'm pretty good at it (kind of weird if you ask me).
Anyways, it is interesting you brought up servos, I thought the same thing. I used to have tons of that stuff but gave it all away. But after playing with the steamroller a bit I discarded that idea - the engine gets way to hot and I doubt it could handle the added weight.
Excuse not excepted Rich ..... R/C gear weighs nothing these days and you could put it all in a water tender trailer away from the heat, with sleeved, flexible control rods actuating the mechanisms you wish to control.
Of course, if you really do prefer "Free Release" on the steam roller, or other mobiles, then that is a perfectly valid choice as well.
You guys are a bad influence LOL
I think I'll keep it original as possible. Though 20 years ago I would likely have gone Frankenstein on it!
Oh, in case anyone watched the videos and saw I swapped parts from my MM2 - it does run just fine with the SR1a's cylinder :-)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciHqFT2AVWU
Here is a pretty boring video (though perhaps my others ones are too) of the engine going in a circle for as long as it can. I got about 8 minutes 20 seconds. I have no idea how long it would run new but for me this is more than enough :-)
I have read they go 1/3 of a mile in a 10 minute run. Assuming that is true, losing 1 1/2 minutes isn’t bad for a ~55 year old toy. Heck it is hard for me to get to the mailbox and back in under 10 minutes! So I think the little roller is doing okay for its age :-D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hb1ajELYmr8
Hi Rich,
Congratulations on bringing this Mamod roller back from the brink. Your persistence paid off in spades!
As far as being boring, I'm pretty sure that most people think everything we do here is boring. And I'm fine with that. (More engines for us!)
Anyway, nice job!
Paula
The new rivets came in from the UK yesterday and got them installed. My Arrow rivet tool kind of sucks ... I really need to get a better one and one that has more fittings for smaller rivets too.
The install for backplate of the cage to the boiler needed a bit more than installing the rivets. This is because the roller had a
very hard hit from the back, which pushed in the backplate into the boiler - so it has a pretty bad indention. Perhaps the rivet would have seal it okay but I didn't want to try a 2nd time if it didn't.
- Permatex 90 Minute High-Temp #34628 on the boiler around the rivet holes.
- Red Fiber washer with Permatex on both sides for both holes.
- A bit of Permatex on the Rivet itself before inserting it into the backplate.
- After pushing the rivets into the backplate I put on a 3mm x 1mm O-Ring - this was to make up the slop between the inner washer and outer rivet.
- I also put some Permatex on the boilier/backplate just under the drain hole to help keep water from getting between them.
After waiting 90 minutes did a test run, perfectly sealed and runs great - j
ob completed! YAY! [ Guests cannot view attachments ]