MTH smoke unit making noise

[overall]

I have a Railking Berkshire with a motor driven smoke unit. Tonight, it started making a high pitched squealing noise and not pushing the smoke as high. I have been using LGB smoke fluid in it with no problems for a couple of years now. Anyone have any ideas what is going on?

George

[csxt30]

I hope I'm wrong, but I think I recall a post a while back that said not to use LGB smoke fluid in our smoke units. Should use MTH , Lionel & JT's Smoke fluid . That may have been for the Sueth smoke units, I don't know . I hope we hear from more guys on this.

Thanks John

[otftch]

I've had two of these where the wick had gotten into the fan chamber and wrapped around the fan.They usually just stopped the fan but i guess it could be straining it.

                                                                                                      Ed

[ChiefEagles]

Easy to take apart, I'm sure.  I've only messed with diesels.  Take shell off and then remove screws on top.  Check for the above.  I have powered them up with top off.  May have to do this to see [hear] exactly what is happenimg.  Good luck.

[pbjwilson]

Searched this thread because my MTH Commodore Vanderbilt was doing the same thing. The fan motor was making noise, especially at low speed.  I took the body off the engine and removed the motor/ fan assembly. In the space that is between the motor and the fan, I put the tiniest drop of oil with a needle oiler. The smoke unit is now quiet. Easy fix.

[daan]

LGB smoke fluid shouldn't have any influence on the fanmotor. The fanmotor is not in the wick chamber, and the wick is the only thing which should make contact with the oil.

Indeed a tiny drop of oil on the bearings of the fanmotor should do the trick.