Choppercook
Registered
I need help with my kit built MSS side tank loco lots of problems, water leaks, no steam , will not run at all. Is there anyone out there who has good knowledge of this loco who can help ?
help with my MSS side tank
- Thread starter Choppercook
- Start date
I'm sure lots of folks can help, but.......
Did you build the kit yourself? When you say no steam, do you really mean that? Obviously no steam, no go! If you've got leaking bits, try tightening them or replacing the O rings if applicable. If the water is leaking from the boiler, that will be a disaster.
Maybe that you're not getting enough heat to the boiler, is it gas or block heated? If it's gas, you may have a blocked jet. I've never used the Mamod type blocks, so I can't comment on those.
TBH, I'd try and get to a local 16mm or other steamy type group, actually seeing the problem is worth more than a thousand words and of course you'll get all the advice you need.
I'm sure your problems are easily fixable, if this is your first steamers, like all things, practice is all
Did you build the kit yourself? When you say no steam, do you really mean that? Obviously no steam, no go! If you've got leaking bits, try tightening them or replacing the O rings if applicable. If the water is leaking from the boiler, that will be a disaster.
Maybe that you're not getting enough heat to the boiler, is it gas or block heated? If it's gas, you may have a blocked jet. I've never used the Mamod type blocks, so I can't comment on those.
TBH, I'd try and get to a local 16mm or other steamy type group, actually seeing the problem is worth more than a thousand words and of course you'll get all the advice you need.
I'm sure your problems are easily fixable, if this is your first steamers, like all things, practice is all
Choppercook
Registered
Thanks Paul M for getting back to me . I do have a Roundhouse silver lady which now runs well so I thought I would try to build a MSS loco, I got the kit from Dream steam , the build plans are not very good, I put it all together as good as I could went to fire it up with no success ,No steam there was not enough heat from the tablets which came with kit & it was leaking from the front & rear of the boiler. I have just found a site that I am finding very helpful . I now know that the sight glass seal is not good in the kit so I will have to get one from somewhere . Plus I also found out that I need to flush out the boiler with water & vinegar mix to remove any debris left over from when it was soldered at the factory . I am now in the process of doing this . so lets just see where it goes from here.
Choppercook
Registered
Just flushed out the boiler & fired it up ,NO STEAM, tablets only burn half way & still leaking front & back .
Greg Elmassian
Guest
So, the cleaning was to get gunk out of the inside, that could clog things, but you have not worked on the leaks from the boiler, and cleaning it would not fix leaks. Are the leaks from the seams in the boiler or fittings into the boiler? Also, as you stated the sight glass seal needs replacement.
I don't know about this kit if you build up the boiler or it comes all built, sorry.
Greg
I don't know about this kit if you build up the boiler or it comes all built, sorry.
Greg
Choppercook
Registered
Yes the sight glass seal needs replacement that is the mane leak . with all the cleaning of the boiler firing up I now have the one leak
ebay mike
Retired, but still hoarding. (GOF)
Paul I have a selection of O rings and fibre washers of various sizes. I'll put some in the post - they might do the job.
Choppercook
Registered
Greg Elmassian
Guest
wow, I am no expert, but I thought most sight glasses were just a tube with o rings at each end, that's big! no wonder it can be problematic.
Good luck, keep plugging at it (no pun intended)
Greg
Good luck, keep plugging at it (no pun intended)
Greg
Lancer
Registered
Paul, I bought the same kit and experienced severe leaks at the front and no forward motion. On inspecting, I found the soldering on the forward/reverse valve to be very poor (a gap nearly 5mm wide on the seam). I tried resoldering this but it still leaked. I have now bought a new valve and will be fitting soon. Also a good idea is to lightly grease the o-rings to aid a better seal.
Larry
Larry
Choppercook
Registered
What gets my back up is that i bought a live steam loco kit (OK, MSS, only £200) with good intentions of building a good little loco to run around my garden, only to find that the kit is not up to scratch and to get any performance from it I have to upgrade it with a 3 Wick Meths Burner ,The 20-25 psi valve & Water Top Up Valve. That is a extra cost of £70. Why are we not told this when you first buy the kit. I have now found on the web a 16mm-egroup Handbook notes on Mamod loco operation Compiled by Rob Guinness March 2001 that show all the pros & cons of this little MSS side tank loco. But, I will persevere & get it running. All comments greatly welcome.
Gizzy
A gentleman, a scholar, and a railway modeller....
I believe Rob G is a member of this parish....
Choppercook
Registered
IF Rob Guinness is a member of this forum I would love to talk to him to get some advice.
Greg Elmassian
Guest
I did some research on this inexpensive loco, and yes, it can be made to run, but shortcuts to make it inexpensive also affect the ease of running and steaming, as you have unfortunately found out.
Seems to be pretty consistent on contamination in the boiler, one person indicating he rinsed his 12 times, leaks in some of the soldering, leaks in cylinders, pressure valve too low in some cases, the pipe in the steam dome too low, and many comments on conversion to meths.
There were also many recommendations to spend double or triple for a better setup out of the box. Kind of you get what you pay for unfortunately.
Fortunately, seems all of these issues are addressable, and you still have a low cost loco.
Greg
Seems to be pretty consistent on contamination in the boiler, one person indicating he rinsed his 12 times, leaks in some of the soldering, leaks in cylinders, pressure valve too low in some cases, the pipe in the steam dome too low, and many comments on conversion to meths.
There were also many recommendations to spend double or triple for a better setup out of the box. Kind of you get what you pay for unfortunately.
Fortunately, seems all of these issues are addressable, and you still have a low cost loco.
Greg
maxi-model
UK/US/ROW steam narrow gauge railways 1:1
Here is the problem. The limitations of the MSS product are well documented in various forums but at what point does the buyer/owner cry foul ? On one hand a vendor can say that as the loco is supplied as a kit it is up to the buyer to use their "best" skills to produce an operable final product. But as related here by its owner it seems that there are deficiencies in the manufacture of some of its component parts and sub assemblies. Not to mention a set of assembly instructions that leave it difficult for the novice to complete the build without the need for further clarifications and elaborations. To top it all I am getting the impression that the base product, as sold here, needs various enhancements, at extra cost, to achieve a satisfactory and useable working engine.
I'd be tempted to have words with the supplier in this instance - Consumer act, formerly known as the retail sale of goods act might apply. Of merchantable quality or fit for purpose ? I know the Mamod steam loco in its various forms has its champions, but why ? Max
I'd be tempted to have words with the supplier in this instance - Consumer act, formerly known as the retail sale of goods act might apply. Of merchantable quality or fit for purpose ? I know the Mamod steam loco in its various forms has its champions, but why ? Max
Gizzy
A gentleman, a scholar, and a railway modeller....
Gizzy
A gentleman, a scholar, and a railway modeller....
Also you could PM Gartenbahner, as he has brought one of the MSS engines....
www.gscalecentral.net
New Beattie Loco from Mamod
After a 3 month wait, I've finally got my hands on the new live steamer from Mamod.
www.gscalecentral.net
Choppercook
Registered
Hi all , I have now got my MSS live steam loco up & running , I had to get a 3 wick meths burner & upgraded high pressure safety valve for more steam, now it runs fine. A move is on youtube https://youtu.be/AxlnpizEINI
Rhinochugger
Retired Oik
Might be worth experimenting with some weight in the tender - a bit of drag will slow it down a tad 
Choppercook
Registered
I know that I need to work on the tender as it sometimes come off on the points but the loco slows down on the bends. But so far I am pleased with the little loco.