How do you improve smoke output in Lionel steamers?

[Anonymous]

I have a couple of those Lionel 4-4-2 starter set steamers made in the 1990's. Both of them have anemic smoke units that barely spit out smoke. Is is there any way to improve the output or is there a better smoke fluid than what Lionel makes?

[lionelsoni]

One trick is to lower the voltage to the motor by putting resistance or back-to-back rectifiers in series with it, then turn up the transformer voltage to compensate, thereby getting more voltage to the smoke generator.

[wrmcclellan]

J. Fred,

Many of the 1990's Lionel sarter set smoke units have a plastic housing for the smoke unit. If you increase the smoke output by raising the voltage, you will melt the smoke unit housing (which by the way produces a lot of smoke - but smells really bad). So before you do anything, take the shell off (be careful not to lose the felt washer that seals the smoke unit to the shell) and see what the smoke unit housing is made of. If it is black plastic, I recommend you leave it alone.

This plastic housing material is similar to the smoke units in Lionel modern smoking cabooses that many have experienced the melt down when used in a full voltage TMCC environment and the unit is not oiled regularly with smoke fluid which helps cool the unit.

Regards,
Roy

[1688torpedo]

Hello J.Fred- Smoke Units in Starter Set Engines are self-contained units meaning that if they go bad or smoke output is low then they cannot be fixed. They must be replaced at that point. If this is the case here then your best bet would be to look up a Lionel Parts Dealer & order a new Smoke Unit for your engine. Take Care.