I'm a little at a loss here.
I did a search but didn't find anything quite like this so, please excuse me if already discussed.
I have a 2037 that does not produce smoke. I am using the new production smoke pellets sold through trainz.com.
It seems that the heater element is working as the pellet melts but no smoke is visible. The air hole through the smoke unit is clear and the piston moves up and down easily.
I'm not sure what the can still be except for the pellets not actually producing smoke.
Any advise is appreciated.
Daniel
If the piston is moving and the small air hole in the side is open, and the pellets melt, there should be smoke. If its melting but NOTHING comes out the stack I would guess that the element is not heating up properly anymore. What happens when you turn the voltage to max(with train in neutral)?
Roger
The other possibilty is that you got a bad batch of smoke pellets. Try using an older pellet if you have one and see what happens.
Lee F.
Make sure the felt gasket between the smoke unit and the inside of the boiler shell is still present and in good shape. Otherwise your smoke could be going somewhere other than up the stack.
A common problem with the smoke units is that the track voltage that the smoke unit needs to put out a reasonable volume of "smoke" is less than the locomotive needs to pull its train at the speed you want. The straightforward cure for this is to run the train faster than you wanted to. Another workaround is to give the locomotive a train heavy enough that you will need to turn the track voltage up high enough to get your "smoke". Some people advise removing some of the resistance wire from the smoke-unit heater, to boost its current. I like the idea of instead putting a voltage-dropping element in series with the motor.
Bob Nelson
Ok, it works. It takes several (or a few) minutes to start work but once the train has operated for a while the smoke works very well.
Thank you all for your responses.
I put in a new smoke unit yesterday and guess I didn't test it long enough.
Here is a tip: Too much smoke material will actually reduce the amount of smoke generated. Make certain that what is in the smoke unit is consumed before adding another pellet.
Glad its working for you, another thing you can do is hold the engine just above the rails and power up. That will clear the chamber. You can also use smoke fluid but just 2/3 drops at a time.
"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks
Charter Member- Tardis Train Crew (TTC) - Detroit3railers- Detroit Historical society Glancy Modular trains- Charter member BTTS
WOW.....smoke units 101. You guyz are way ahead of the game. Do you actually have any experience with this?
BTW.......any of you guys using the newer smoke pellets or are you all on the sauce?
Jack
IF IT WON'T COME LOOSE BY TAPPING ON IT, DON'T TRY TO FORCE IT. USE A BIGGER HAMMER.
Jack wrote (among other things:
WOW.....smoke units 101.
Why do you ask, did you have a differing experience with the pellets being made by Trainz?
What does "on the sauce" mean?
Can't speak for anybody else. When I post, I either specify the source, or have direct, personal experience. For the record, I've tried the Tranz pellets. I couldn't recommend them without doing so. I've also tried the smoke pellets made by Kline some time back. They work too, but I found their odor to be rather unpleasant.
cwburfle Jack wrote (among other things: WOW.....smoke units 101. Why do you ask, did you have a differing experience with the pellets being made by Trainz? I have had no experience with smoke pellets for the past 20+ years, was wondering if the new ones might be a better choice with postwar steamers and their original elements......longer run vs. the fluids between reloading? More smoke from one or the other at a given voltage? What does "on the sauce" mean? The smoke fluids. Can't speak for anybody else. When I post, I either specify the source, or have direct, personal experience. Appreciate the following advice, CW. For the record, I've tried the Tranz pellets. I couldn't recommend them without doing so. I've also tried the smoke pellets made by Kline some time back. They work too, but I found their odor to be rather unpleasant.
I have had no experience with smoke pellets for the past 20+ years, was wondering if the new ones might be a better choice with postwar steamers and their original elements......longer run vs. the fluids between reloading? More smoke from one or the other at a given voltage?
The smoke fluids.
Can't speak for anybody else. When I post, I either specify the source, or have direct, personal experience.
Appreciate the following advice, CW.
For the record, I've tried the Tranz pellets. I couldn't recommend them without doing so. I've also tried the smoke pellets made by Kline some time back. They work too, but I found their odor to be rather unpleasant.
Later,
The new production pellets seem to work great.....
Hmmmmmmmm.......can't see pics or open them, Daniel. Thanks for trying.
Here you go.....
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