I just starting running the 773, it was in the box for 15 years, Well, the smoke uint stopped working. I always had fluid in it and used the command for 10 seconds to overheat it. No smoke. I asked Lionel for service diagrams but they told me they don't have it because it is old. I could not believe it. Are there service diagrams out there and do I have to replace the smoke unit? If there is too much fluid in the unit would that harm it? Thanks, Mike
For general servicing, check first to make sure the smoke unit is getting power. The problem could be the board feeding power to the smoke unit also. The smoke unit motor could be bad, as could be the smoke unit resistor. Each part needs to be checked in turn.
Too much fluid would flood the unit but not necessarily damage it, but running it dry could damage the smoke element.
There does not seem to be a service manual available for that locomotive, but an exploded view with parts list is here.
Larry
Thanks, Larry. I have to study it the see how to take off the body. Now testing for power, do I test it with the tester that has the light on it or with a meter? Never looked at these new electronic engines yet. Any instruction would help. Thanks for the link, I took a look at it.
The engine doesn't look right without smoke, so I will put it back in the case and plan to fix the smoke unit soon. Thanks.
A voltmeter would be more versatile. If you are getting voltage to the smoke unit, you could then switch to ohms (with no power applied to the locomotive) and check to see if the heating element is open, for instance.
I got the housing shell off. There is power going to the smoke unit. It pulses. Reads .3, .5, .0, 1.3 then repeats. I switched to ohms. Number 1 appears in far left, I touched leads together reads 000, then returns to 1 again when I separate them, touched leads to power wire and ground wire and nothing changes, the 1 is still in the far left. What does this mean?
Is your meter set to read AC or DC voltage? You need to read DC voltage around electronics.
I believe the voltage to the smoke unit is 5 volts DC.Check the voltage at the smoke unit motor itself.
Do you hear/feel the motor turning, and do you feel the smoke unit getting warm?
Measuring the resistance of the power wires is inconclusive, and the '1' indicates an overrange condition.
Disassemble the smoke unit and look at the smoke resistor. Does it seem intact or burned? With power disconnected, check the resistance of the smoke resistor. It should read 22 ohms. Reconnect power and measure the voltage at the smoke resistor leads. You should get a voltage reading.
Whatever readings you get will point to the defective component. You may have a bad smoke unit or a bad power supply board.
I replaced the resistor and fiberglass, engine now smokes. The diagram link you sent me is not for the century 773. Lionel doesn't have it. Crazy. There is no fan, its smokes by the piston. thanks for your help, I learn how to use the meter.
Glad to see you reparied your locomotive sucessfully.
Although your loco has the old style piston smoke unit, the diagnosis of it is the same as the newer versions.
Thats a very common point of failure with these. The fiberglass wick must be kept moist. If it goes dry it will burn out taking the resistor with it. I always add a few drops of fluid before running whether I think it needs it or not.
IF the design of the smoke unit on the Century Club 773 is similar to the post-war units, then it may be possible to retrofit a postwar pill type ceramic heater element. Those elements will work with smoke fluid, and will not burn out if operated dry. They are practically indestuctable.
I purchased 3 resistors and fiberglass from Lionel, I didn't put the wick over the first resistor I replaced but covered it with the fiberglass material. That worked for a few days then burnt out the resistor. I replaced resistor again with the old wick covering it this time and added some fiberglass, only small amount. I presoaked it with Lionel smoke fluid I had since the 70's. and used some mega smoke too. So far it's still smoking. I do add fluid when I start running the 773. I think I'll order 20 more resistors from Lionel since they sell it for $ 2 each. I will order wicks too. I will look into installing the post war type reproduction. Thanks for the info, it really helps. Can you believe that Lionel doesn't have the service/parts diagram??? They misplace them? I see many service items for many older items.
Here are the parts diagrams for the 726 Century Club Berkshire and tender made at the same time as the 773. They may share common parts, and the parts view may be of some use.
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