More on the Mamod Brunel locomotive!

TTHLRMatt · Post by **TTHLRMatt** » Thu May 22, 2014 10:10 pm

Thanks Chris. The whole knob came off a number of times even after loctiting. Then when we tried to braze a new one, the thread on the spindle ect is buggered! I got rubbish service from dream steam when I got it a year back. They said they would set up a contact thing between me and them and even after I emailed ect, they did nothing about a refund so I have it and will have to fix it!

mikewakefielduk@btinterne · Post by **mikewakefielduk@btinterne** » Fri May 23, 2014 7:55 am

If you look closely at the photo of my Brunel you may notice the regulator boss is identical to the one on the gas control valve. Mamod have used the same fitting for both and I like the thread they've chosen as it seems to be a good compromise between controllability (needs a finer thread) and ease of use (needs a coarser thread). Depending on the age of your Brunel, yours may well be the same.

When I first purchased my Brunel the regulator control was a small circular brass knob soldered onto the end of the shank. I really don't like circular regulator handles, much preferring ones in the shape of a crank which I find easy to use and give a visual indication of how open or closed it is.

It was a simple matter of unsoldering the Mamod knob and fitting a regulator handle from Accucraft which is held with a grub screw so no need for solder.

Its a pity that Mamod don't use grub screws themselves.

Mike

Chris Cairns · Post by **Chris Cairns** » Fri May 23, 2014 11:45 am

Mike,

The regulator fitted to Brunel's is the bit that Mamod keep changing. If you look back at our photos here ( http://gardenrails.myfreeforum.org/ftopic6329-0.php ) whilst mine has the same style used as fitted to the Mark I/Mark II, yours & Kirill's are clearly the gas valve style. And looking at the current Mamod Brunel Mark II Facebook photos they've gone back to the earlier style with the shaft retained by that screw down bolt - https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =1&theater

So it looks to me that these regulators may have a different diameter shaft - mine is 1/4" diameter.

Chris Cairns

mikewakefielduk@btinterne · Post by **mikewakefielduk@btinterne** » Fri May 23, 2014 1:12 pm

Chris

I've just unearthed the brass regulator knob that was fitted to my Brunel. The shaft diameter is 13/64". I suspect the change to the Brunel steam regulator was about the same time as they changed to fitting copper gas pipes instead of nylon.

So as you say, frequent change.

Its a pity the marine engines have disappeared from the Mamod web site as I'd have liked another look at the regulator fitted to the free standing vertical boiler.

Chris Cairns · Post by **Chris Cairns** » Fri May 23, 2014 1:31 pm

Mike,

The vertical boiler that Chris Instone (TMS) bought for his MEC 2014 project looks like a Mark II regulator with the black plastic wheel - http://modelsteam.myfreeforum.org/ftopi ... 0-asc-.php

Cannot get the Wayback Machine to work for the Mamod website archive at present.

Chris Cairns

mikewakefielduk@btinterne · Post by **mikewakefielduk@btinterne** » Fri May 23, 2014 2:42 pm

There's also another view here:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =1&theater

but you can't quite see the steam regulator

Bill/Rubery · Post by **Bill/Rubery** » Fri May 23, 2014 10:08 pm

Hello Mike, I had a great think about my Brunel down the shed and decided before the 7/8" scale conversion got anymore advanced that I had better make a decision! I ordered a new Mamod Brunel today making it plain on the factory order form that I wanted the locomotive with the new gearing etc. The old Brunel may be kept...I am not sure yet as my line 'history' on my web page allows for only two live steamers! I now see on the message form the attachment button, I will post some close up pictures in due course.

mikewakefielduk@btinterne · Post by **mikewakefielduk@btinterne** » Sat May 24, 2014 2:14 pm

The whole knob came off a number of times even after loctiting

The regulator knob gets pretty hot. You'd be better off using solder or a grub screw to secure it if its made of metal. If heated Loctite and superglue soften.

I ordered a new Mamod Brunel today

It would be really interesting if you could post a video of the old and new running together so we can compare the difference.

Apparently some Brunel owners fit a false chimney over the existing and run the steam exhaust up between the two. Others drill a hole near the top of the original and run the exhaust through there.

You'd have to use some sort of condenser to remove the waste steam oil as you wouldn't want that getting on the ceramic of the burner. Again I'm told some owners have made the condenser out of a 35mm film container although such containers must be pretty rare these days.

I've toyed with making a condenser out of a spare lubricator from a Mk11 but haven't got around to it.

Mike

Bill/Rubery · Post by **Bill/Rubery** » Sun May 25, 2014 8:04 am

Actually one of the things I hope to do is run a exhaust pipe up to the chimney top so the spent steam looks like its coming out of the locomotive chimney. Putting on a higher chimney is needed as regards to the scale change. The steam outlet will be below the chimney top. I purchased a condenser to fit to the engine so its (hopefully) pure steam coming out of the pipe. Not sure if I need three live steamers so may sell the other Brunel cheapish.....

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