Garden Railway Forum

Hi, i have seen that a few companys do gas refills and wondered if any would be suitable for my live steam butane/propane fired modified mamod to run of:
http://www.wickes.co.uk/Rothenberger-Mu ... x/p/118729

or

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/p ... nformation

or

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/p ... nformation


I also found a canister of this in the house and wondered if that would be suitable?:

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=butan ... %252F%2524(KGrHqZHJEMFD13VdogGBQ-4V63%252B4!~~60_35.JPG%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.ebay.co.uk%252Fitm%252FSwan-Lighter-Fluid-Extra-Refined-100ml-petrol-cigarette-lighters-zippos-100ml-%252F360569716971%3B300%3B300

cheers Joe

Joe:106867 wrote:Hi, i have seen that a few companys do gas refills and wondered if any would be suitable for my live steam butane/propane fired modified mamod to run of:
http://www.wickes.co.uk/Rothenberger-Mu ... x/p/118729

Would work.....................

or

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/p ... nformation

Would also work....................

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/p ... nformation

Would be difficult to handle as it's so big.

I also found a canister of this in the house and wondered if that would be suitable?:

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=butan ... %252F%2524(KGrHqZHJEMFD13VdogGBQ-4V63%252B4!~~60_35.JPG%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.ebay.co.uk%252Fitm%252FSwan-Lighter-Fluid-Extra-Refined-100ml-petrol-cigarette-lighters-zippos-100ml-%252F360569716971%3B300%3B300

That brings up pictures of lighter fluid definitely NOT suitable!

Most of the above use adapters which merely push on and are not as good (in my opinion) (though I'll use it in the summer when you can pick canisters up for 99p) but most of us use gas like this: http://www.diy.com/departments/gosystem ... 060_BQ.prd which has a screw-on connector which is much better. You CAN buy iy from B&Q, but you will usually find at least one stall at a garden railway show selling the stuff at a discount. At this time of the ear, you WILL need mix - butane won't crawl out of the can into the loco!

ok cheers, b and q doesn't seem to have any in stock at the moment but i will get one of ebay or amazon instead, will i need an adaptor for that?

Does anyone know of any other options for a butane/propane mix?

Whatever gas you buy, you will need an adaptor - roundhousse (among others) sell screw-on ones.

Had you thought to go to the upcoming Model Engineering Show at Alexandra Palace? You're sure to get sorted there!

You will need 2 types of adaptors depending on which cannisters you use.

The screw on type is for EN417 self sealing cannisters, and as Brian has said they are sold by Roundhouse (http://www.roundhouse-eng.com/parts.htm - scroll down to GFA), Chuffed2Bits (http://www.chuffed2bits.com/page9.html - Std gas can adapter) plus others and do appear on eBay (none listed at present).

The other adaptor is required for the camping stove bayonet type cannisters and you have 2 options. Either the New style gas can adapter from Chuffed2Bits (http://www.chuffed2bits.com/page9.html) or the Chinese adapter which allows you to use the EN417 adapter. There are 2 versions of these and you need to get the one which has a non return valve fitted (the screw portion in the centre is brass coloured, the other wrong type has a silver coloured screw portion). None available on eBay from UK dealers at present (like this one http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Picnic-Burner ... 1510400883) however Mike Ousby of Acme Engineering was recently offering these on Facebook for £5 plus P&P - www.acmesteam.co.uk/

As to your gas suggestions -

You need to use a mixed butane/propane gas with temperatures below approx. 5° C with a recommended maximum content of 30% propane. The Rothenberger Multigas is 35% Propane/65% Butane so I would not use it. The Campingaz CP250 would work but is butane only. The Campingaz CV300 is not suitable.

Lighter fluid will not work. What you want is Lighter Refill Gas (like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/33124705 ... 108&ff19=0 ). You can usually pick up something similar at the £1 shops but again they are usually butane only. The advantage of these is you would not need a separate adapter (if the canister nozzle does not fit your gas tank refill valve there are usually a selection of converter nozzles supplied as well).

Chris Cairns

Ok thanks very much for advice, ive already got 460 lubrication oil now and i am going to get wd40 and 3 in1 oil today so the gas is the only bit i need now
cheers
Happy new year
Joe

For oiling your motion, there's no reason why you shouldn't use normal car oil as 3 in 1 is a bit on the thin side, and doesn't "stick" as well to where it's supposed to be lubricating. Use the WD40 to wash down the motion after a run, but be SURE to re-oil after you've done that, as the WD40 effectively washes off all the lubricating oil.

Ok cheers, i brought a can of WD40 today and will have a look for car oil but may have to use 3 in 1 as a temporary measure. Thanks for advice its much appreciated