Lionel tug boat question

[Anonymous]

Could it be that the wires on the motor are switched and the fan is blowing the wrong way?  In one of the CTT magazines there was a  article on weak and no smoke output.  The fix was to check which way the fan was turning either clockwise or counterclockwise, if counterclockwise then just reverse the wires.  I did it to a few of my engines.  Hope this helps?  I don't know what issue of CTT it was on the how to article?

laz57

Oh boy there are SOOOOO many jokes that could be made from this one!  LOL!

How does your smoke blow?

Brent

[laz 57]

Could it be that the wires on the motor are switched and the fan is blowing the wrong way?  In one of the CTT magazines there was a  article on weak and no smoke output.  The fix was to check which way the fan was turning either clockwise or counterclockwise, if counterclockwise then just reverse the wires.  I did it to a few of my engines.  Hope this helps?  I don't know what issue of CTT it was on the how to article?

laz57

[Anonymous]

Bob,
If you can, cut the voltage back to 16, 18 sounds a bit high for the tug boat.  I saw one in action a few years back at a trainshow.  The seller had it hooked up to 16v and it produced a nice steady stream of smoke... pretty convincing... too bad it didn't float on real water or it may have found a home on my layout...

Brent

[txspecial]

Thanks, Marty, I'll try more smoke fluid as the first step.  And yes, I'm running on AC with 18v power on a separate circuit.  The whine sounds way too loud, like nothing else I've got that's stationary and produces smoke (MTH car wash, gas station).

I've not tinkered inside any of the equipment yet, but this might just be a good time to start.  I take it the smoke producing piece also includes the fan and that it's replaced as a unit.

Bob

[MartyE]

Don't have a tug but... that doesn't seem anywhere near enough fluid.  Like most Lionel instructions for smoke fluid that isn't enough I'm betting.  Most of the engine I have recommend 8, and when I spoke with a tech about poor smoke output he asked how much I put in.  8 per instructions I told him.  He told me I should initially put in 24 then as needed. 

The whinning is probably the fan unit running.  If it's too loud it may have an issue.  The smoke unit though should at least produce a bit of smoke even with the small amount of fluid.  Might be time to take it for repair or try it yourself if you feel comfortable.  I would imagine it's a standard smoke unit.

 

Looking at the instructions it seem to need to be run off of AC to have smoke.  I assume you are running off AC. 

[txspecial]

Would any of the forum be able to advise me on a Lionel tug boat problem?  I have no experience with the unit and can't tell if the operation is typical or a problem.

The unit is new.  When I switch on the smoke control, the tug emits a loud whining-humming sound -- not the kind of sound you'd like to hear for more than a very short while.  And it never does produce any smoke (I've waited up to 15 minutes, of course after the inital application of 4 drops of Lionel smoke fluid per instructions).  The horn and lights all function fine.

Has anybody ever had or heard of this problem?  Is it likely to be a problem with the circuit board?  Or is the cause so indefinite I'd be better off just packing it back up to send back to Lionel?

Thanks for the advice,

Bob

Houston, TX