Wilesco Steam Roller
Discussion
Picked this up from EBay for £70 this week (got a 10% discount code for some reason). So much better engineered that my Mamod TE1a:
Looks almost new. After oiling it, and connected the safety valve hole to a bike track pump, it ran like a sewing machine:
There’s no roof or chimney, but I don’t want the roof, and more realistic chimneys are available for little cost. My plan is to strip and repaint it, and add a load of upgrade parts to make it look more realistic. I was amazed at how much ‘aftetmarket’ stuff is available for these, and Mamod traction engines.
Looks almost new. After oiling it, and connected the safety valve hole to a bike track pump, it ran like a sewing machine:
There’s no roof or chimney, but I don’t want the roof, and more realistic chimneys are available for little cost. My plan is to strip and repaint it, and add a load of upgrade parts to make it look more realistic. I was amazed at how much ‘aftetmarket’ stuff is available for these, and Mamod traction engines.
Yertis said:
As a former Mamod owner I now have valve-gear envy 
On the other hand, my folks could afford to buy me a Mamod – I don't think they could have stretched to one of these in early '70s Britain.
(Actually, unless Mum has given it away, I still am a Mamod owner...)
I'm also a Mamod owner - I recently unearthed it and put it on display.On the other hand, my folks could afford to buy me a Mamod – I don't think they could have stretched to one of these in early '70s Britain.
(Actually, unless Mum has given it away, I still am a Mamod owner...)
Got the Mamod Roadster, a Mamod stationary engine and a Wilesco Traction Engine. Bought for me as presents when I was a kid (really Dad presents I guess) they sat in my parents loft for about 30 years until my kids were old enough to want to play with them. The Roadster and the Wilesco have survived pretty well but the stationary engine I had to fix a bad leak on the sight glass and it still doesn't run very well, suspect I need to service/replace the cylinders as they seem to leak a lot.
55palfers said:
Yes, that's the one, along with some hand rails, boiler bands etc. There's a place called Forrest Classics that supplies original parts for Wilesco and Mamod as well.dr_gn said:
100SRV said:
Me too! The quality of the engineering is much better than a Mamod.
I'll have to get mine steamed up too!
To be fair they retail at about £100 more than a Mamod.I'll have to get mine steamed up too!
hairy vx220 said:
I found my TE1 at my mums house a few years ago. I was worried that the boiler or safety valve would be unsafe so after a bit of random lubrication I set it on its first run in around 40 years and it went perfectly.
I used a track pump to run the Wilesco Steam Roller. Working pressure was about 20 psi. I just shoved a hollow, tapered rubber bung in the safety valve hole and the pressure needed to run the engine didn't even push it out.I guess you could test a small boiler by filling it with water, and pressurising it with the safety valve in place. If nothing blows, up to the valve venting, I guess it's likely to be OK - at least cold?
toastyhamster said:
Plenty of spare time (redundancy) so this thread prompted me to google for fixes to limescale on sight glass so this is currently sat with malt vinegar in the boiler for half an hour, already much better. Don't tell the wife I've used her syringe though. 
Nice! Have a look here for upgrades:
http://www.cjwsteam.com/userimages/procart11.htm
And here for standard spares:
https://www.forest-classics.co.uk/wilesco/wilesco-...
This thread makes brings back so many memories.
I wanted a mamod steam car when I was young but could never quite afford it or something else I wanted more would appear.
I know my childhood mamod roller ended up being given to one of the kids next door to my parents a few years back when my dad was still alive.
Luckily he didn't find the box with the old dinkys and corgis in though.
I wanted a mamod steam car when I was young but could never quite afford it or something else I wanted more would appear.
I know my childhood mamod roller ended up being given to one of the kids next door to my parents a few years back when my dad was still alive.
Luckily he didn't find the box with the old dinkys and corgis in though.
dr_gn said:
toastyhamster said:
Plenty of spare time (redundancy) so this thread prompted me to google for fixes to limescale on sight glass so this is currently sat with malt vinegar in the boiler for half an hour, already much better. Don't tell the wife I've used her syringe though.
Nice! Have a look here for upgrades:
http://www.cjwsteam.com/userimages/procart11.htm
And here for standard spares:
https://www.forest-classics.co.uk/wilesco/wilesco-...
Vinegar did a great job of clearing the sight glass, think first time that had been done in 40 years. Found the purchase details, bought (by postal order!) for £21 pus VAT from HHA Sanders in the Midlands in Feb 1976, looks like it was a kit my Dad assembled. Remember using this every weekend for about two years so it's had some use, showing it a bit too, steering problem, whistle lever snapped and regulator lever too loose to stay in position (looks like a solder job so I can live with it).
Next is the stationary engine, might be beyond me though as the cylinders need replacing I think.
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