I've turned off the smoke heater switch under the cab forward AC4/5's boiler. Every time I run it, it makes a light "tich tich tich" sound and I have to double click F7 a couple of times to silence it. But...this isn't very reliable and sometimes I have to click 3 times, etc....(???) If the cab forward has entered hidden trackage it's a long wait to be able to hear the "tich" and turn it off.
l.) If I can't stop the "tich-ing" on power up and running after any shorts (derail, etc.) is it necessary for me to always keep some smoke oil in the loco just to be sure I don't burn out the heater? Will it ruin the drive motor or just the heater?
2.) I the switch is off but I still get the "tich" on start up/running is it supposed to default (Paragon 2) to making that sound?
3.)My MAIN concern is burning out the drive motor or otherwise ruining the locomotive. Is there an easy way to permanently disable the smoke/heater function so that I don't have to constantly "flail away" at F 7?
Thanks if you can help,
Jim
Raised on the Erie Lackawanna Mainline- Supt. of the Black River Transfer & Terminal R.R.
I guess the test would be to put some smoke fluid in and see if it smokes with the switch turned off. It shouldn't, unless the switch is broken and the contacts stay closed all the time no matter what. If it does smoke even in the off position - I'd get it fixed. That switch is supposed to be a complete shutoff by breakign the circuit - now it may turn off only the heater and not the blower, it's the heater that will be burned up if it runs dry too long, the blower should not be a problem.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Try setting the values of CV236 and CV237 to zero.
Rich
Alton Junction
Thanks Randy and Rich. I'll give both those a try in the morning.
Any other suggestions, experiences, etc. always welcomed.
Happy New Year guys.
I have a 4-8-4 J that is the same... Mine will not produce smoke with switch turned off, even with smoke fluid present. (I tested this on mine. Just incase.... ) My guess, (now a little more confirmed) is the on/off switch controls the heating unit only. The little "tich" sound is the chuff blower, so the loco will be fine. I would still test, with fluid, just to be safe, but it is really looking to me like the switch only controls the heating unit, not the entire smoke system. No harm should come from turning off the switch for the heater, while the blower "puffs" in time with the chuff sounds, so it was probably less circuitry, therefore less cost, to wire the switch to only the heating unit.
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
CV236 and CV237 control the amount of smoke produced when moving (CV236) and when standing still (CV237). The value of each CV ranges from 0 to 255.
On my Paragon 2 steamer, I not only turn off the sliding ON/OFF switch on the engine, but I also set the values of CV236 and CV237 to zero.
Jim, it's worth a try on your steam engine as well.
Thanks Rick for your test. That's what I'm concluding too. I CAN stop the "tich"ing sound with F7 (sometimes) so I'm thinking there should be a way to keep the fan off too... I'll try Rich's CVs too later today. I sure miss broadway limiteds' old forum. It was a handy way to check in with the manufacturer.
I have the same issue. All I can say is be carefull- don't over fill the smoke chamber, and don't underfill it. I got a little too much in my 4-8-4 and somehow it killed the chuff fan (the thing that is making the sound). I had to send the whole thing back to bli to get it replaced; fortunately it was covered under the warrunty.
What I do: Leave the switch ON and leave the CVs set to full (255). when the locomotive starts, I can verify that the smoke unit is working properly and I also have a visual indication instead of just the ticking noise to know what to do with f7. I have a lot of sound equiped locos so sometimes it's hard to hear the ticking- leaving the smoke switch on allows me to know for sure that i've successfully turned it off with the function control.
ps. I also have my layout wired with old school blocks so I can put all of the BLI locomotives on "dead" sidings when I just don't want to mess with it.