MSS Kit Built Locomotive First Run

Following a comprehensive build report on an MSS Side Tank Locomotive kit in the Garden Railway Forum in myfreeforums (UA-cam does not allow URLs so use a search engine), you join me for the 1st run-in session of this locomotive.
You will have to watch this video to find out if it actually ran any better than other MSS kit built locos which have been posted on-line.
Thanks for watching this video.
Chris Cairns.

[@grahamflinton4846]

Very informative review . That's s handy tip adding a drop of meths to the solid fuel. Yes very good review.

[@russellwaite2768]

When I was a lad, as far as I remember we only had meths burners . The last model I had, quite a few years ago, was a mammod traction engine and I think that was the first model I'd seen with solid fuel.

[@Tocsin-Bang]

I've built two of these with no issues. I have also made all the updates, and have changed over to meths firing.

[@rckingracer]

This vid was well done and takes about what you were doing witch helps us hobby people unlike other vids were they just try to force the wheels instead of working the water out of the pistons,.

[@ChrisCairns59]

Make sure you flush out your boiler. I use a 50%/50% water/vinegar solution to about 2/3rds boiler full. Heat this up towards the boil with the safety valve removed. Lots of agitation and let it cool down. Then flush out the boiler several times with cold water until you get no signs of any deposits. Gets rid of all the excess solder paste, etc. that causes your priming problem. My factory built MSS Saddle tank was really bad for priming when I first started running it.

[@RockyRailroadProductions_B0SS]

Nice demonstration of the MSS loco! Neat little things they are too, I see the Merioneth And Lanticilly Rail Traction Co. Ltd. might be getting one ;)

[@eliotreader8220]

its a very nice vido reading about the praming plodlems is ver starge because when I go mine the boiler never had that the engine ran like clockwork

[@GreyTheFloydianSergal]

awesome. I'd love to built one of those kits but I reckon, knowing my luck, it'll just go bang haha

[@gammr3227]

i dont understand why my MSS loco ran so terribly. It never worked right and even after spending more than it actually cost on repairs and upgrades it still sucks

[@logotrikes]

How well would it scale up to 2 1/2 or 3 1/2 inch? I had one always wished it was bigger. Mine was a kit from Dream Steam bought in bits for me in Australia...

[@ChrisCairns59]

To fix the whistle problem on the kit version you need to shorten the screws used to hold the cab back retaining clip to the cab roof - MSS have supplied the wrong length screws. Is the clip on the factory built version held on by screws & nuts, or rivets? Rivets may need to be carefully filed down.
The steam leak could be due to some tightness with the pistons/piston rods. Try rotating the piston rods by 180 degrees and give it some more running in going backwards.

[@steamcollector2996]

Unfortunately, my new ready-built one was an excessive primer. It dumped half of it's boiler contents in 3 seconds flat. Ah, well. It will settle in, soon.

[@ChrisCairns59]

Was that a MSS kit or a factory built MSS? And how old is it as MSS quality control seems to have dropped in recent years?

[@tonywright8294]

No D in the word locomotive 😀

[@schlooob]

it isnt gonna run
:(

[@skilpaddegamer5239]

Z