Poor Smoking from Lionel 1999 6-18085 New Haven 4-6-2 Steamer

[Jim Dauphinais]

I just recently purchased a used 1999 Lionel 6-18085 New Haven 4-6-2 Steamer.   It's a Lionel LLC remake of the Postwar 2065 Hudson with a can motor and Signal Sounds.

It is is excellent condition appearance wise (not a paint chip anywhere!), runs well and Signal Soudns is working fine.  I am running it under covnentional power with a Lionel Powerhouse/Powermaster.

All good so far, except it is very poorly smoking.  Just a very small wiff from the stack and that is it even when running the engine under fairly high speed for a while.  I am using Lionel's current unscented smoke fluid.  I tried 4 drops at first and then tried another 6.  Didn't seem to help.

Any suggestions on where to start?

The previous owner had the Smoke switch on when I reoved it and for some reason the tender was set on Railsounds rather than Signal Sounds (I am only hearing the bell and whistle out of it -- So, I doubt it has the Railsound upgrade installed).

Thanks,

Jim Dauphinais

[ADCX Rob]

If you put more cars behind for slower speeds at higher voltage, this will help.

[Flintlock76]

I've just recently purchased a Lionel Camelback (used) from about the same year, 1999.  Great runner, and I got a good deal. but on a scale of one to ten I'd say the smoke's about a three.

I replaced the fiber batting in the smoke unit which helped a bit, and also replaced the nine volt battery with a BCR which seemed to help a bit more.

It definately smokes a lot better with a load on it.  Also, letting it sit at full track power for a minute or two as a warm-up seems to help as well.

Anyway, I think the Lionels from around 1999 just aren't heavy smokers to begin with.  No big deal, as long as it runs well I can live with it. 

Oddly enough, I've got another Lionel Camel from 1989 that smokes like crazy!  Wonder what they changed in ten years?  

[trains4fun]

I have a 8406/783 engine and it wouldn't smoke well.  I openend up the smoke unit and there was no packing, missed at the factory.  Removed the fiberglass cover on the resister and carefully added proper packing.  Smokes great now.  There are some youtube videos on improving smoke effect from lionel.