Smoke unit

[Anonymous]

I have a Lionel 4-4-2 locomotive that came with the Winter Wonderland set. I have trouble seeing the smoke coming out. I can smell it but it doesn't seem to be producing much smoke. I only run it at Christmas time around the tree and it is only a year old.
Will it hurt the smoke unit if I were to put a pin or something down in it in an effort to clean it out? I have been afraid to do this as I don't want break it.

[spankybird]

The last thing I would do is put a pin down the stack. you might ruin the heating element.

Did you add smoke fluid to it this year before running it [?]

If so and it doesn't smoke, maybe you should have a repairman take a look at it.

[ben10ben]

If you did put smoke fluid in it, it's possible that you put too much, and it's now flooded. If that's the case, turn it upside down, let it drain, and try again.

[daan]

That's the best way anyway, just let the smoke fluid run out and try again with only one or 2 drops at once. If it smokes with only that amount, you can try a bit more..
Some engines have a switch to shut down the smoke unit.. May be this one has it too, and is in the off position.

[Chris F]

The little 4-4-2 "Columbia" locomotives used in Lionel starter sets are very efficient, and the sets usually include only a few lightweight cars. The result is that the train can move at a pretty good clip at a relatively low voltage. Unfortunately, this low voltage also means the smoke output will be low.

Got a volt-ohm meter? Measure the voltage between the center and outside rail when the train is moving at the desired speed. Then cycle the loco to neutral and raise the voltage to 12-15V. After about 15 seconds, blow gently over the smoke stack. If low voltage is the issue, you should see a lot more smoke at the higher voltage.

You can add more cars or add weight to the existing cars to increase the voltage requirement.

[lionelsoni]

You may be able to drop the motor voltage to get more voltage on the smoke unit. You can do this with a resistor, but getting the right size is tricky. Another way is to use rectifier diodes, not for rectifying but for their voltage drop. Take a bridge rectifier, like the Radio Shack 276-1146 4-ampere 50-volt bridge, and connect the + and - terminals together. Then connect the other terminals (maybe marked with ~) in series with the motor. You can use several of these in series if you need to and have room for them. Each one will lower the motor voltage about 1.5 volts.

By the way, a 4-4-2 is an Atlantic. A Columbian is a 2-4-2. Or is the locomotive named "Columbia"?

[1688torpedo]

Hi Lionelsoni ! A 2-4-2 is a Columbia.Not to be confused with the studio that produced the Three Stooges.[(-D].......Keith.

[lionelsoni]

I see through Google that they have been called both "Columbia" and "Columbian", both after the Columbian Exibition where the type was introduced.

[Chris F]

Mea culpa![:I] The Columbia is a 2-4-2. I was thinking "starter set" locomotive, which historically has been the Columbia.[B)]