Running and Lubrication Requirements
Most Mamod engines lack lubricators to store oil and feed it to the moving parts such as the piston and bearings. The very early pre-war engines such as the SE3/4 and some of the marine engines (including the Meteor boat) were the only ones to have them. Instead, oil is applied manually to the necessary parts before each run.
Up until 1976/77 all Mamod engines used methylated spirits (known as "denatured alcohol" in some countries), which was either stored in a reservoir burner or vaporising spirit lamp. With the introduction of stricter health and safety laws and the European Toy regulations the use of liquid fuel for use in steam toys in the UK was outlawed from 1977. Malins decided to switch to solid fuel after the infamous 'exploding fuel lamp' story of 1976 The engines were then 'converted' to burn dry hexamine solid fuel in redesigned burner trays, which at the time Malins manufactured on their own premises. The solid fuel was, in some respects, much safer, although it gives off unpleasant and toxic fumes whilst burning and giving a reduced heat when compared to "meths".
When steaming a Mamod model, distilled or soft, clean water should always be used.
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