Lionel Smoke Unit

[Anonymous]

New C&O Pacific Steamer run in command mode. First day-smoked fairly well-ouffing away with medium density smoke (even a few rings!), then it tailed off-added more smoke fluid-nothing. A few days later still the same-more fluid added-let sit over night etc. Now it only has whispy smoke-barely visible[:(]

Any ideas? Too much fluid?/needs to absorb more?/should I get it serviced

Please help. Thanks

[ChiefEagles]

Lionel straight from the box has never smoked the freatest. I find that most people are not puttting enough fluid. If you run one a lot, it will take the fluid. Try blowing down the stack [hold you mouth a way from the exhaust] and see if it has an air lock. Also if fluid comes back out of the exhaust. Besure the smoke is turned on [not accidently truned off]. Now there are some things to do to modify these units to make them smoke more. You will have to be comfortable with disassembling the smoke unit. [note: Lionel has been know to wire their fan motors backwards]. If you feel comfrotable in doing this, let us know and we will give you instructions. Try the above first. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Could you please post the instructions anyway?

[ChiefEagles]

An add for Kalmbach [the forum owners]. Get *** Teal's new book on Repair and Maintenance of Modern Toy Trains. Will answer a lot of questions. Worth the $$. Ther is a web site that tells most of this. Some from out own experimenting. *** Teal found this: Most Lionel smoke units are suppose to have their fan turning clockwise. Shell off. Take top off of smoke unit. Turn on voltage [with smoke on]. Fan should turn clockwise. If it does not, the red and black wires from the motor need to be reversed. Unplug plastic connector where red and black wires are coming from motor to the unit] Take a pin and pry out the small pin from the white plastic holder for the red wire and the black wire. Reverse the holes they were in the plastic holder. You can also unsolder and resolder the wires [black where red was and red where black was] but this can be tricky.

If fan motor is turning correctly, remove top of unit [4 screws]. Save gasket. Take an exacto knife or sharp knife and cut the cloth looking cover from element without damaging the fine wires on the element [element will be "hanging" down from the top printed board]. I replace the wicking with pink insulation [yes that used in your house]. Soak it with fluid. Be sure the air passage from the fan chamber to the fluid/wick chamber is not blocked by wicking. Put top back on making sure the now bare element is touching the wicking. Remember the gasket goes between the unit and the printed board. Shell back on. Fire her up. She will take more fluid as it will burn it up faster. Good luck.

Example:

[Anonymous]

Thanks Chiefeagle, however, this is NOT a fan driven unit. It is a "puffing" steamer unit without a fan. Any ideas? Thanks

[ChiefEagles]

Fluid? Blow down stack. If that doesn't work. Shell off. Look to see if piston is freely going up and down inside bottom of unit. Wires are connected OK. If all OK, then remove unit. Remove piston from bottom of smoke unit. Use tooth pick and be sure hole in bottom of smoke unit is open and air can be pushed through. Try and see if that works. If not: Then take top off unit and do simular to it as above. Besure that air can pass through when reassembling. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, I'll try it soon

[zwbob]

Are you using lionel fluid? If so throw that junk out and get JT's Megasteam smoke fluid. This stuff is the best. http://www.megasteam.com/

Try it you'll like it.

[Anonymous]

Smoke unit on K-line caboose is no longer working' what do i replace it with?

[LS1Heli]

I hate smoke. I feel your pain. I just got the PWC 6557 smoking caboose. Fill it up per the instructions and nothing happens. Warms up fine, blow the stack nothing works.

How can it get hot and not smoke is absolutley beyond me.