aristo smoke units

[tomtrainman]

    I HAVE AN ARISTOCRAFT MIKADO,OPERATING ON THE CREST TRAINENGINEER. PERFORMANCE IS GREAT.BUT THE SMOKE UNIT KEEPS SHUTING OFF. I.VE CHECKED INTERNAL WIRING FOR PINCHED WIRES.AND IT HAS PLENTY OF FLUID. I SUSPECT IT MAY BE THE CONSTANT 24VOLT SUPPLY TO TRACK IS CAUSING IT TO OVER HEAT AND SHUT OFF. IS THERE A VOLTAGE ADJUSTMENT THAT CAN BE MADE TO THE SMOKE UNIT ITSELF?
                                                              TOM.

[altterrain]

Tom,

I have not heard of this problem before but I would ask over on the AristoCraft forum -

http://www.aristocraft.com/vbulletinforums/forumdisplay.php?f=23

Those folks can help you out or let you know if its just a bad smoke unit.

-Brian 

 

[two tone]

If no joy with theAristo forum why not fit an LGB smoke gen?  but make sure you fit the right voltage

[Greg Elmassian]

The Aristo smoke units can overheat if airflow is not enough. Several people have enlarged the hole in the stack, and opened the boiler below.

Also, 24 volts can be on the edge. The unit has a regulator in it to control the power to the heating unit, but it is an unusual design, and can be fussy.

Go to the Aristo forum, there have been lots of posts on this.

Regards, Greg

[tomtrainman]

 THANKS FOR THE INPUT. I DID CHECK THE ARISTO FORUM. AND AFTER READING MOST OF THE INFO THERE. I WAS ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. OVER HEATING WAS THE PROBLEM. I MADE SOME VENT HOLES IN THE UNDERSIDE OF THE BOILER. AT THE FRONT EDGE. THIS ALLOWS FRESH AIR INTO THE FRONT OF THE BOILER.AND I ALSO WAS NOT PUTTING ENOUGH FLUID INTO THE UNIT. AFTER THE FIX I RAN THE LOCO FOR ABOUT 30MIN. AND IT SMOKED GREAT. IT ONLY STOPPED WHEN IT WAS OUT OF FLUID. THANKS AGAIN.     TOM.