Lionel Mikado steam video

[bigdogjeff]

IF anyone knows a fix for the smoke unit to work better let me know

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[Kooljock1]

The problem is in the design.  There are ball bearings in the plunger mechanism, and then stick.  So when the plunger drops to begin the upward cycle, it sucks air down and out of the smoke bowl and leaves it under the unit to leak out elsewhere.

Solution?  Lionel nees to design a small fan-driven unit worthy of this fine locomotive!

Jon 

[KEVINK22]

What a great engine you have there. I see what you mean about the smoke. That is one problem Lionel has is the smoke unit should be fan driven. Short of replacing the unit i say just deal for now. It seems to have a lot better smoke output than my sons Polar Express berkshire. Have fun with it!!

[bigdogjeff]

i think i am going to sell it i really dont like lionel i love mth

[KEVINK22]

I see your a man after my own heart. I think MTH engines, specifically steam engines are the best on the market especially when it comes to the smoke units. Not that i have a problem with Lionel; but i think they would benefit from replacing there smoke units with fan driven, and not just on the expensive Legacy engines. Having a fan driven smoke unit in the starter sets would also be a plus in my book. Just my opinion though. Well good luck selling it, and i hope you get what your looking for in road names. I'll have to post a picture of my MTH 2-8-0 Pennsylvania steam engine with matching 60' streamlined cars i got the day after New Years at one of my local hobby shops.

It came with the engine and tender, and four matching cars for 350, and i added two more to the set. It's a real smoker. And in my mind a pretty good deal for the most part. I'll try to get that up as soon as i can.

[Seayakbill]

i think i am going to sell it i really dont like lionel i love mth

 

Bigdogjeff, all the manufactures have pros & cons, Lionel's smoke units have been troublesome over the years but I think they have made some changes in their top line steamers.

[laz 57]

BIGDOGJEFF,

  Nice video.  I like both manufacturers MTH and Lionel.  They both have pros and cons.  Just have fun with them.

laz57

[Papa_D]

Hi

I have a Mikado 4529 which I took the shell off this morning to get a closer look at the smoke unit.  Mine starts smoking pretty good (for a piston design) at about 14 V, and smokes heavier that I like given I have no ventilation in my train area at 16 V (max for my 1044 transformer).  As was pointed out the fit of the piston is kind of loose which results in some of the smoke escaping out the bottom.  I believe that if you replaced the heating element with a standard replacement kit you can get from your train dealer or on eBay, the smoke output performance will improve.  I plan to buy this kit and make the change, I'll let you know if it helps.

The only challenge to reinstall the shell was getting the light back into the lense housing.  Removing the black plastic clip made this much easier, and the headlight is now much brighter.

I also removed the shell on my Hudson 5350 to observe the performance of its smoke unit.  This engine smokes a little better than the Mikado 4529.  The piston appears to have a little better fit as there was no smoke blowing out the bottom, and the piston stroke also appears to be a little longer.

Overall I like the Mikado 4529. I run on my O-27 layout with lots of turnouts without any problems. Having said this, my favorite engine remains a 2035 with Dallee #400 E-Unit.