Smoke coming from the side (newbee)

[Anonymous]

I have a new Lionel Polar Express train to put around the tree and noticed smoke coming from the front wheels on the left side. The smoke stack unit is working fine. Should I be concerned with the excess smoke or is this an added feature of a steam engine?

[dougdagrump]

Maybe a little to much smoke fluid?

[ben10ben]

This is not an intentional added feature, but it usually works that way. What happens is they use a plastic piston, which, after a very short amount of running time, wears down enough that it doesn't seal very well with the walls of the cylinder. When the piston moves up, some of the smoke goes out around it and blows out from under the engine. This is nothing to be concerned about, as it will cause no harm.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the responses.

I may have put a little to much fluid as a result of being concerned that it may run dry. The train is only 2 days old. My 3 year old son is constantly asking me to turn it on so that piston may have worn down.

Could the smoke fluid leak through if the piston is wearing down?

[ben10ben]

The way it's designed, the fluid won't leak out unless you put in a whole lot, probably 20 or 30 drops at a time. For the size smoke unit it is, you should be safe putting in 5-8 at a time, but I would avoid much more than that.

[ChiefEagles]

Ben, mine has done it since day one. No gasket between smoke unit nd shell. Looks like real steam coming from cylinders.

[1688torpedo]

Sounds like the problem is with a loose cap over the heater element that is not sealed properly, and as a result. Smoke comes out of the bottom of the engine instead of the stack.The service man who works on my 1688s showed a Polar Express Smoke Generator to me and said that he is not happy with them and the Tolerances used to make them are not the same as they were for postwar smoke generators.Until Lionel recognizes this problem and issues a recall. There is little anyone can do for this situation.

[Jumijo]

I agree with Frank. It looks like steam coming from the cylinders. I've seen plenty of other Lionel steamers smoking from the sides. If you've bought a Lionel set recently, watch the tape or DVD included in the set. The steamers have smoke coming out of the sides.

Jim

[ChiefEagles]

Buckeye did some modes to his Polar Express smoke unit and he says it smokes a lot better. Maybe he will drop by and explain.

[Buckeye Riveter]

I took the plastic cover off of the heating element and put in new insulation and I was able to get better smoke. Nothing to write home about, but better. After thinking about this for over a year, (Chief, I know I'm a slow learner.) I believe Lionel is using smoke units that won't burn up at 18v when running TMCC, but for the Polar Express, we are running at less voltage in conventional mode.

Note to Lionel: Figure it out!!!

Inside the Polar Express

[kevin hill]

ha interesting on my polar express the smoke never works only a very thin wisp that you have to get down low to see if its actuly smoke your seeing

[MartyE]

I seem to recall mention about a resistor by the smoke ON/OFF switch being changed to a lower value. I have never done this and really don't know what the results would be. I too have rewicked it and have very little success. Maybe a different element.

[Anonymous]

the smoke from the sides seems very authentic i like it, but i agree what comes out of the stack is too light...but the smoke agrivates my sinuses so i dont really use it all the time. Does lionel make colored variation fo the smoke fluid?