Mamod piston fastening tips

[Joe]

Hi all, one thing ive found very difficult with my mamod is trying to put the piston back on the pivot bolt (with spring) as the spring pushes back and its very hard to get the tiny thread of the bolt to enter the hole int he cylinder. Any tips you have would be appreciated.
cheers
Joe

[DLRdan]

Look for a set of nut spinners. I got mine from Maplins, they are sold as metric but fit the bolts on Mamods just fine. A nut spinner is like a screwdriver with a socket on the end which allows you to compress the spring and screw the bolt back in at the same time.

[Joe]

Ok thanks Dan, how would you manage to get the nut spinner between the frames to tighten the nut though?

[Sir Clothem Cap]

remove the piston assembly from the loco, sort out the piston then reassemble. it is very fiddly to do it on the loco.

Some locos have 2 nuts and bolts and 2 screws holding on the piston assembly others have a mix of rivets and screws. If yours has rivets these can be drilled out and replaced with nuts and bolts

[Joe]

ok, well after fixing the steam leak etc it ran well but when i tightened the nuts holding the cylinders to the frames the cylinders fell off (and nuts and springs) it was all working so well so now im left with this:



at least i know when its all tightened and fixed on correctly she will steam very well its just now a case of putting the cylinders back on and i dont really want to take the frames apart as im not that knowledgeable on these matters.

[Joe]

ive ordered a set of nut spinners so should get it sorted by the end of the week

[Big Jim]

i dont really want to take the frames apart as im not that knowledgeable on these matters.

You seem to be going about gaining experience quite well. A mamod is a good way of cutting your teeth on steam engines.

[dougrail]

Joe, you can lift the plates that the cylinders are attached to on said trunion, off the frames separately. They cna be fitted and unfitted without needing to dismantle the chassis.

Where in the West mids you based?

[Joe]

Yeah thanks Doug , I realised I could do that after suddenly having a rare eurica moment , just waiting for a nut spinner set to come in the post and then I should have it sorted by this weekend for a steam up . I've got my short circuited diesel to Contend with next
I live near halesowen at the mo, how about you ?

[Joe]

A quick question-is there any difference (apart from price ) from dream steam mamod pistons or rwm pistons as im considering getting a pair.
Cheers
Joe

[Chris Cairns]

Both the Dream Steam ( http://www.dreamsteam.co.uk/mss-mamod-u ... nders.html ) and Roy Wood Models ( http://roywoodmodels.co.uk/mamods ) upgrade cylinders are the same price - £50

The Dream Steam ones have an advantage that they are fitted with a 2nd end cap, thus making it easy to replace the 'O' ring on the piston if necessary. I have no experience of the Dream Steam upgrade cylinders and I do not recall anyone having problems with them (that was their previous upgrade steel wheels, and I know someone had a problem with the end caps popping off on PPS Steam upgrade cylinders).

I have a set of RWM upgrade cylinders fitted to my PPS/RWM De Winton project and they work very well indeed. They have lots of power available and there are no steam leaks between the cylinder & the back plates.

Doug (dougrail) is probably the best Forum member to ask regarding the current Dream Steam upgrade cylinders. My experience is limited to Mike Chaney, MGM Engineering, IP Engineering, PPS Steam & RWM upgraded 'O' ring pistons & cylinders.

Chris Cairns
(edit - added IP Engineering to the list)

[Joe]

ok thanks chris