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

I ordered a Miniature Steam Models 4 inch boiler. I was watching the tracking and saw that it was going to be delivered today. I was so excited, and then it showed that I missed the delivery since I had to sign for it. That was right before I left work. I got home and the tag on my door had a note from the mailman with his number and stating to call him since he would be in the neighborhood for awhile. I called and met him a few streets down and got my boiler. It was extremely well packed.I got it unpacked and put water in it and the sight glass was leaking. I snugged up the nuts and it still leaked. I took the glass out and added a slice of silicone tubing and that worked. Alas it was time to fire it up! Unfortunately when it started to heat up all I got was steam out of the stack and water out of the burner. Evidently a cross tube is leaking. I sent him an email with a little video clip of it, and have to wait until later for a reply due to the time difference. I went from being the kid on Christmas to really bummed out!😂😂😂😂

Ahh jeez that's a major bummer John

I've had a lot of dealings with MSM over the years and I'm sure that they will look after you.

My MSM 4" boiler is terrific.

That is totally unacceptable.
Who the hell makes boilers with out testing them .
The cross tubes are inside the  flue which is inside the boiler .
There is no easy fix for that
 The central flue and cross tubes should be hydraulic tested before inserting in the boiler shell
They should be sending another one promptly and paying you to send the dud back

Cheers
Dennis

They've sold a lot of these, I can't understand how it wouldn't have been pressure tested.

Silver brazing should have been able to withstand even rough handling in the post.

John, I'd be asking MSM to send you a new one whilst yours is going back you shouldn't have to have the added wait of two mailings back and forth.

I also offered to transfer all of the fittings from the current one to a new one if he wanted to save the return postage, and if it was going to be scrapped. He said he wanted it back to see how it failed after being tested. I hope no one is going to be n trouble.

Ahh jeez that's a major bummer John

I've had a lot of dealings with MSM over the years and I'm sure that they will look after you.

My MSM 4" boiler is terrific.

Jim watching your videos is what got me interested in it. I’ve looked at them several times over the last few years. With them giving free shipping for orders over $500, and the current exchange rate between the US dollar and Australian dollar made me pull the trigger on it. I sent the original back today and the shipping is outrageous $99.30 USD.

I never owned a center flue boiler like this and I’m wondering how much steam to expect. Will I be able to drive the Perseus under a good load with the PM Research generator? It is so small compared to what I have owned in the past.

I’m really not happy with this company. I went to the post office and shipped the boiler back the next day Dec.13. I came home and sent them a picture of the package with the postage amount and gave them the tracking number. I have not heard anything back from them after 2 weeks, and I haven’t been refunded the return postage yet. I sent an email a little while ago and requested that they send me my new boiler or refund my money. They may make nice products but they have horrible customer customer service. I don’t see myself ever dealing with them again.

That is possible. I would think that when I was told to send the boiler back, that it would have been good to inform me of that, if that’s the case.

Got a message a little while ago and John said that he is sending it out as soon as the post office opens. I think that I will ask him to throw in the $90 gas tank instead of refunding the return shipping. I could use it and I don’t really want him to lose money on this. It would be nice if we had more suppliers to the hobby and I like to support the ones that we do have.