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

Quote from: Nick on May 01, 2025, 06:16:48 pm

Haha I had to say it after the very descriptive smell 

On larger vertical boilers with tubes, the boiler is filled all the way to the top to prevent damage and as it’s heated up the water is drained down to operating level, but I’ve never had an issue on small vertical toy/model boilers.

Interesting… so I need to be filling it to like 80% or more? I am doing like 50-60%

Sorry you are still having 'odor' problems.

Does it still take an abnormally long time to reach operating pressure?
Does the stink come from the steam exhaust or the flue?
If it is from the exhaust, try to condense/capture it for testing purposes,
the more the better.

Could it be some leftover soldering flux?

Have you tried cleaning the boiler out with an environmentally safe fluid,
namely a few ounces of grain alcohol.  It dissolves an awful lot of organic
stuff.  Pour it into the boiler and shake it as best you can to agitate it a
bit - maybe let it sit a while, pour it out, and see what you get.  Just do not
blow yourself up - it is not a tennis ball cannon.

Good Luck,
Wayne