I recently aquired a Lionel 8042 locomotive to add to our Christmas display track. It runs fine after a good clean and lube and smokes fine too, but unlike my newer locomotive it has no switch on the smoke unit so it is on all the time. Constant smoke is fine with me, but Wife eventually gets tired of the smell. I read that running the smoke unit dry is hard on the heating element, is this enough of a concern to warrent adding a switch?
If it's a liquid smoke unit the conventional wisdom is don't let it run dry. If it's the old-style nichrome wire style letting it run dry won't hurt it.
Shine a flashlight down the smokestack. If you see something that looks like a miniature toaster heating element that's a nichrome wire unit. If you see something that looks like it's wrapped with a fiber sleeve it's liquid smoke. I don't know when MPC, or Lionel for that matter, stopped using the nichrome wire units.
Adding an on-off switch is do-able, I think, but placement on the locomotive might be a problem.
If you can remove the boiler shell, do so and have a look at the smoke unit. If it's liquid you should see two wires running to it, one in, one out. On the ones I've got the out wire grounds to the frame by a screw. You can deactivate the smoke unit by unscrewing the ground wire, but wrap the end with electrical tape just to be safe, you don't want it bouncing around inside and causing a problem.
For what it's worth, I run the trains under my tree smoke off, sound off, and just enjoy the visual dymanics.
Anyone else have any advice?
Oh, and aboard!
PS: Let us know what happens!
It is a liquid smoke unit, I had to take it apart to free up the piston, it was stuck "in". I had thought about just lifting and insulating that wire as you suggest, just thought I would ask about the "running dry" issue first. I guess I'll lift the wire for now to protect the unit, and decide if it's worth adding a switch later on. Thanks for the comment and for the welcome.
aboard!
The 8042 was cataloged in 1970 and was sold uncataloged from 1971 to 73. It's a basic 2-4-2 scout (starter) loco with a metal frame motor and since it was cataloged in the first year of MPC I'd bet it has the same type of smoke unit as late models from the postwar era.
You could proabably hide a small switch in the cab without too much difficulty.
Becky
Trains, trains, wonderful trains. The more you get, the more you toot!
Crater Eddieis this enough of a concern to warrent adding a switch?
Not usually with these 233-50 style smoke generators. None of my late postwar or early MPC/Fundimensions steamers have burned out their elements when run dry.
Rob
Thanks everyone. So far I have just been running this locomotive when Wife is away and enjoying the smoke effect . It seems to be a better smoker than my other one, though it does seem to tiddle smoke fluid out the bottom. Maybe I over filled it.
Deleted.
Probably. Usually eight drops is all you need for Lionel smoke units.
Having fun while the wife is away? I can dig it, I've got an MTH locomotive that I only turned the smoke unit on when the wife was out of the house. That thing would put a yard fogger to shame!
Flintlock, your use of the term "yard fogger" made me chuckle, initially. I didn't know there was such a thing so I looked it up. I doubt your MTH can outdo Mister mister but know some MTH's put out a ton of smoke.
https://www.misterduster.com/mistblower_duster_p/868.htm?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzPLPqM-w5gIVIB6tBh2SkA0vEAQYASABEgIEJPD_BwE
swede
Wow.
I was thinking more of the "Raid" or "Cutter" hand-held spray can variety.
That thing you found looks more like the "Nuclear Option!"
Probably gets rid of bugs, animals, humans....
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