Fuel for Mamond tractor ?

[Pete LaBelle]

Guys -

Purchased an older Mamond steam tractor toy for my kid. It has the liquid fuel tray instead of the alcohol tablets.

What fuel is used for this? Appears at one time there was some sort of wick in the tray too. Suggestions on the material?

Thanx.......

Pete

[JBoogie]

pete,

im not familiar with the mamods, but i have a couple wilesco engines. i tried esbit tablets once.... they really dont do it.

SO, my dad had the idea of taking an old sock and cutting a long strip for a wick, folded it on itself, stuffed into tray, cut off excess and dipped it in denatured alcohol. make sure to let excess run off.... place in "firebox" and light with a bbq match.

it should burn long enough to run on one filling of water, and the sock/wick will last quite a long time. make sure the wick is not smoldering before dipping for the next round, or better yet have a couple of extra trays to use in rotation.

[William Engelmann]

Hi from over the pond
The fuel we use for Mamond is methylated spirit
don't over fill it as you only want a small fire!

[LeRoy IHC]

Dear Sir

I have both the traction engine and the road roller that mamod built back in the late 60's. At that time they were sold in the Sears Christmas Catalog and they were advertised to run on ordinary Rubbing Alcohol. I played with mine for years and they worked really well. Just make sure the cotton wick in the tray is usable and fill the tray up to the screen which covers the wick. and light it. Once lite carefully insert the tray into the firebox. I always filled my engines with hot water from the tap so they'd run longer. If you've done everything correctly the fire will go out before the boiler runs out of water. It's been a long time that I've fired them up, but I'm sure I've got the directions around somewhere.

LeRoy

[Andrew Mackey]

I have several Mammod steam toys, including a car and a tractor. The original wicking is long gone, and I have re-stuffed the fuel boxes with of all things, dryer lint . it lasts a long time, and is a free re-newable resource . For fuel, denatured alcohol seems to work just fine. I also have 2 home made paddle wheel boats, one Mammod powered, the other Wilesco, and they both use the 'lint special' fuel set up as well.

One caution on using the alcohol fuel - BE CAREFUL . Alcohol burns with a pale blue flame, not easily seen in daylite Do not try to handle the fuel container or the fire box until you are sure the flame is OUT!!! Alcohol fires are hot enough to cause severe burns (as with any fuel), so take care when using.

As a last note, be careful using rubbing alcohol for fuel - it is usually only 70%alcohol, and burns a lot cooler than the straight alcohol. It also leaves a nasty coating on the nickle plated boilers, as well.
Andrew

[ListerDiesel]

Originally Posted by Pete LaBelle

Guys -

Purchased an older Mamond steam tractor toy for my kid. It has the liquid fuel tray instead of the alcohol tablets.

What fuel is used for this? Appears at one time there was some sort of wick in the tray too. Suggestions on the material?

Thanx.......

Pete

Methylated Spirits or Methyl Alcohol, the wick is a woven coarse material which is also used for the older paraffin (kero) lamps.

The solid fuel blocks are probably safer than liquid fuels, might be worth trying to convert the model to those if you can.

We just sold a Mamod steam roller which we have had in the family for 25+ years.

Peter

[Craig A]

I've always used (USE ) Esbit tablets and like them........

[John Newman, Jr.]

As a cheaper alternative to Esbits Fuel Tablets, look for a military surplus outlet and see if they have:
"Fuel, Compressed, Trioxane"
Ration Heating
F.S.N. 9110-263-9865
3 Bars
Specification: MIL-F-10805C
These are vacuum packed in foil 'bars' and were used for field heating (before the days of MRE's) of rations. Each bar measures approx. 3-1/2" X 1-1/2" X 3/8" thick and there are 3 to a cardboard box. They would probably need to be broken into bits that would fit the firebox tray.
The ones that I have (which are probably 20 yrs old) were priced at $1.00 a box.

[Allen]

Originally Posted by John Newman, Jr.

"Fuel, Compressed, Trioxane"
Ration Heating
F.S.N. 9110-263-9865

Been there, done that.... the stuff burns too hot and too fast. Yes, you'll have LOTS of steam, but not for very long. IMHO You're better off to use the right stuff, you'll get better run times. If you want to get more bang for the buck and longer run times too, then start with as HOT of water as you can safely handle. A microwave and an insulated pitcher are dandy for this.

The solid fuel tray isn't that expensive, and the fuel runs about $6 a box.

One tip for the alcohol, if you intend to use it, is to add about 1 tsp of baking soda to a pint of alcohol. It will make the flame burn yellow so it is easier to see.

[JBoogie]

Originally Posted by Allen

One tip for the alcohol, if you intend to use it, is to add about 1 tsp of baking soda to a pint of alcohol. It will make the flame burn yellow so it is easier to see.

that is a VERY good tip.

[Pete LaBelle]

Thanx for the tips !

[Anthony J. Wiegand]

Originally Posted by Allen

Been there, done that.... the stuff burns too hot and too fast. Yes, you'll have LOTS of steam, but not for very long. IMHO You're better off to use the right stuff, you'll get better run times. If you want to get more bang for the buck and longer run times too, then start with as HOT of water as you can safely handle. A microwave and an insulated pitcher are dandy for this.

The solid fuel tray isn't that expensive, and the fuel runs about $6 a box.

One tip for the alcohol, if you intend to use it, is to add about 1 tsp of baking soda to a pint of alcohol. It will make the flame burn yellow so it is easier to see.

yes it is, I may try it. I havent tried using alcohol but I probably will.
Thanks, Anthony

[steamblacksmith]

Originally Posted by Pete LaBelle

Guys -

Purchased an older Mamond steam tractor toy for my kid. It has the liquid fuel tray instead of the alcohol tablets.

What fuel is used for this? Appears at one time there was some sort of wick in the tray too. Suggestions on the material?

Thanx.......

Pete

If you fancy going really up to date have a look at www.forest-classics.co.uk they do a range of refillable butane gas burners to suit mamod/wilesco/jenson etc. - they also supply all styles of mamod burners
Jez