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Running pressure
Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 5:28 pm
by DLRdan
Can I ask why everyone is running at such high pressures ? My red Mamod is set at 26 PSI and will move as much as grip allows, James and Christopher will remember this at Elsecar. What pressure are you running at and what performance do you get ?
Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 6:24 pm
by DolwyddelanLightRail
I remember very well! You almost created perpetual motion as well!
At the moment Britomart is set to 40psi, but will run very happily at lower pressures now it's run in, which I try to tend to do.
Re: Running pressure
Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 6:58 pm
by Sir haydn
DLRdan:60429 wrote:Can I ask why everyone is running at such high pressures ? My red Mamod is set at 26 PSI and will move as much as grip allows, James and Christopher will remember this at Elsecar. What pressure are you running at and what performance do you get ?
and it tackled my spiral with its train at that pressure without blowing off!
Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 7:46 pm
by dougrail
I'm running at 40-50 psi. Usually at about a nice 45psi on Swordbreaker, and 25psi on Deep Thought.
Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 8:51 pm
by bessytractor
50 on my gas fired loco, and 25 on the meths fired one. The gas fired one has a high pressure boiler and my reasoning is whats the point of having one if you don't run it at a high pressure? I've also ballasted the loco out a bit to get more adhesion, due to the Mamod design being nose heavy.
Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 8:53 pm
by dougrail
Surely 50psi running wouldn't bork cylinders mind...?
Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 8:54 pm
by bessytractor
dougrail:60443 wrote:Surely 50psi running wouldn't bork cylinders mind...?
safety valve is adjusted to 50 psi, in practice it settles to about 35 -40 depending on what the locos doing/hauling.
Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 8:57 pm
by dougrail
Aye but I'm just wondering, given the latest twist in my own saga...
Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 8:59 pm
by bessytractor
without sounding like an bottom, my cylinders weren't made by Dream Steam :lol:
Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 9:08 pm
by dougrail
Who made yours?
[and be nice. The nice chaps at DS are willing to rebuild it and p-test it upto 80psi
]
Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 9:30 pm
by bessytractor
thing is Doug, I have had two piston heads go, and one end cap go too. The problems seem consistent with DS cylinders.
Orinoco has old Jane cylinders.
Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 9:34 pm
by dougrail
I see. Cheers for the info Matt.
Can't complain - Swordbreaker's cyls are a year old [kept in storage during the year] and DS are willing to help, so.
Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 9:44 pm
by bessytractor
oh yeah DS are superb for customer service, its just a bit annoying these things even happy. I silver solder piston heads on now to be sure.
Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 9:55 pm
by anythingsdr
I tend to run me mamod at 45-50 psi... but that will change when the o-rings on one side are nicly bedded in!
Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 10:02 pm
by DLRdan
So thats the question of pressure, now how about performance
Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 10:31 pm
by dougrail
Right, sorry Dan
With 'Phantom', the performance is pretty sweet. Standard Mamod boiler, higher pressure SV. Goes like a demon.
'Deep Thought' is an awkward one at the moment...
'Swordbreaker' went very nicely last but one weekend at 40-50psi..next week, not too sure, couldn't say if it was the pressure or what.
Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2011 4:34 pm
by bessytractor
the gas fired mamod will pull a lot, I've not yet exceeded its pulling power, most ive had was 6 heavy coaches.
the meths fired one will happily trot round on two accucraft IoM's