Hello
Can anyone help me out I am looking for a way to install a fan driven smoke unit in a Polar Express engine My son wants it to smoke like the movie LOL the smoke unit in it now is very poor I know TA studios use to do it but not no more I should have sent it when I had the chance I dont think it should be very hard if I only had a picture of one that was installed any help will be greatly appreciated
While I can't help you directly, I can suggest that you use the search option on this forum to search for improving smoke output. I think I remember this subject being discussed on this forum before.
I too, have a Polar Express and think the smoke output is a little light. It just has not bothered me enough to look into improving it.
There is lots of knowledge on this forum. I'm sure somebody will point you in the right direction.
Try buying a Lionel unit or an MTH [smaller than Lionel] and connect it to the power coming from the rollers. Have not tried that. Probably have to make your own bracket. Several of us have opened up the regular smoke unit and installed pink insulation [yes, like in your house] as well as removed the "sock" from the element. Seems to help a lot. Running in conventional, add some weight to the cars to cause you to use more voltage to run the train at normal speeds. Some have installed TMCC by using Electric Railroad kits. Then you can apply 18V by taping the pickup rollers.
God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of the NRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified
Thank You for the info I will look into it Thanks Ed
Thank You for the fast reply I was reading about that seems that some guys are happy others not my polar has the china plastic junk for a smoke unit, in my eyes it will never smoke good with plastic in it if it gets to hot everything will melt LOL I also think there is to much air loss or not enough going up through to blow the smoke out maybe I am wrong I just though someone might have put in a fan unit and I just wanted to see how they went about it Thanks again for your help I will try that before getting into the fan unit Sincerly Ed
trainman413 Hello Can anyone help me out I am looking for a way to install a fan driven smoke unit in a Polar Express engine My son wants it to smoke like the movie LOL the smoke unit in it now is very poor I know TA studios use to do it but not no more I should have sent it when I had the chance I dont think it should be very hard if I only had a picture of one that was installed any help will be greatly appreciated
Sorry that I do not have pictures to show you but I'll put you on the right track on getting the parts. Here are the part #'s that you'll need to put a fan-driven smoke unit in a P.E. 8057-200 SmokeUnitAssy.Complete , 0401-162 CherrySwitch or you can use this switch also 8082-152 Smoke Lever and Cherry Switch Assy, oh and don't forget about the screws for the smoke unit ;8082-313 Screw each need 2. do an easy search for these parts on the net and you'll be able to find them.....and they are all Lionel part # .
Hope this helps you out.
Firefighter Nick
Trainman, the puffer type of smoke unit that Lione uses in their basic steam locos will NEVER smoke like say an MTH steamer - which can have advantages, especiaqlly if other people in the house are sensitive to it. BUT may a suggest a simple idea to get more smoke out of your loco: try some other brands of smoke fluid other than the Lionel brand. I've used the following brands of smoke fluid in Lionel steamers: Seauthe, Bachmann, Super Smoke, Model Power and Crest. Some of these are a much better buy than the Lionel fluid per ounce. All of them work sufficiently and I think all of them produce more smoke. The noticable ones would be the Suethe, Super Smoke and Bachmann fluids.
Bachmann also make an absolutely marvelous smoke unit that is good for buildings and structures. For around $6 cost, I have had these units for years - they have long outlasted any Seuthe smoke units I have ever had and have long since gone kaput.
Well just a simple thought and suggestion that might make you happy while saving a few bucks.
brianel, Agent 027
"Praise the Lord. I may not have everything I desire, but the Lord has come through for what I need."
Hi Thanks for the info but I dont belive the parts you say I need are for a fan driven smoke unit I am going to look into the part numbers you gave me Thanks so much for the info hope it works Ed
Thanks I will give it a world Sincerly Ed
trainman413 Hi Thanks for the info but I dont belive the parts you say I need are for a fan driven smoke unit I am going to look into the part numbers you gave me Thanks so much for the info hope it works Ed
Hello again, I spoke to a Lionel repair tech and he gave me those part #'s the fan-driven smoke unit is off of a 0-8-0 and he said that is what he ued in the past for a Jr Berk... The Cherry switch(Micro Switch) is to be used with the mech lever that moves the plunger to puff the smoke....insted of direct wiring the smoke unit to the rollers you take the +fan wire and connect it to the cherry switch to acavate the fan and make it look more realistic insted of the fan continueous run....
Thanks Firefighter Nick I did not relize what the parts were I am going to try to order them tomorrow Thanks Again I really appreciate it I willlet you know how I make out when parts arrive Ed
trainman413 Thanks Firefighter Nick I did not relize what the parts were I am going to try to order them tomorrow Thanks Again I really appreciate it I willlet you know how I make out when parts arrive Ed
FYI....I too have the Polar Express....and I already started to take mine apart...the old smoke unit is out and wiring all labled....just waiting on the wife aproval for me to order the parts...then I'll post pictures and detailed instructions on the whole process of installing/upgrading
Hi Fire fighter nick
I took my PE engine apart this moring I dont know how in the name of God are you going to put a fan driven smoke unit in there there is no room the boaard is to long for one thing mounting the smoke unit is not the problem where to put the board is unless thet put the board in the tender Thanks again Ed
Keep us posted on how it goes. If it works, take photos and post. That way we all learn. Thanks
trainman413 Hi Fire fighter nick I took my PE engine apart this moring I dont know how in the name of God are you going to put a fan driven smoke unit in there there is no room the boaard is to long for one thing mounting the smoke unit is not the problem where to put the board is unless thet put the board in the tender Thanks again Ed
I asked the same question when I first opened mine up too but when I went to the Lionel shop a asked to see a fan driven smoke unit then I saw what he meant it would fit.... there is a PCB on the smoke unit so you dont need to worry about a second board or moving the main one... If I do recall the unit was only like 1/2"wide by 1" long by 1/4" high...... Now when I spoke to someone from TAS Studios they Informed me IF I buy a "Turbo Smoke" then I would have to move the board to the tender because of its size and second board....
Hi Thanks again for the reply I dont want to move my board into tender I dont like thoses ugly wires going between the engine and tender thats why I dont buy MTH engines all I can say is that the chinamen did it to us again but its like that all the time like the polar express talking tender they should have put sounds in there from the movie instead they come out with a talking coach that says one sentence they hit the nail right on the head thats only so the USA people spend there money on one sentance cars lol I guess the smoke fan driven unit is a dead issue I repacked mine and tryied it but its still the same I think its just a junky smoke unit made out of plastic, piston and all and is leaking to much air oh well time to move on Thanks again for all your help I think I will go back to all American Trains
Then put some fishing weights in the cars. Will take more voltage to make it run at normal speed and thus smoke more. Mine smokes really good for a conventional engine.
Thanks for the info but I want smoke like MTH has,MTH should have made the engine I should have sent it to TA studio when they were in business. If anyone on here has a place that I can have it installed I would be greatful for the address I tryied put there is no where to put the board thats in the engine now they must make a fan driven smoke unit small enough to fit in there
Hi Firefighter Nick
I finally got it fan driven smoke in a Polar Express and wow does it smoke I had to move the main board to the back side of the engine but I got in all in there I only wish I could some how make it constant voltage but when you get her going she works like a charm I dont know how to post pictures on here if I could I would show you how I did it
Trainman
Great news. If you start posting pictures [read the instructions on the forum. Use Shutterfly.com to download them, once downloaded, click on photo and enlarge, then right click on enlarged photo and copy, come to your post you have started and right click and paste], do so.
great to hear Trainman, how did the cherry switch install work out for you and if it did preaty neat isn't it....
here are some pictures of the disassembly of my Polar Express engine
Hi mine looks the same the only difference is mine has a fan driven smoke unit in it now I would post pictures but I dont know how Thanks trainman
I did not put the cherry switch in since I dont have constant volatage or TMCC I figured it would not be worth putting the cherry switch in to be honest I am happy the way it is now when you turn the transformer down the smoke dies down when the transformer is turned up its full steam ahead but when lionel opens its parts department maybe I wil buy the switch and try it just for the heck of it the hard parts over now at leats I did not have to put anything in the tender and have thoses ugly wires hang out now if I can get TMCC out of it I be in good shape
trainman
trainman413 Hi mine looks the same the only difference is mine has a fan driven smoke unit in it now I would post pictures but I dont know how Thanks trainman
I used Photo Bucket to upload my pictures and copied the direct link option for the photos.
hope that helps
Trainman,
I'd love to see photos of your installation of your new fan-driven smoke unit in your PE loco.
I'm very disappointed with Lionel's design of the PE smoke units!
With as many Lionel PE sets that have been sold - a person could make a living by swapping out the junky smoke units for a nice fan-driven one. Anyone looking to start a new business
One thing about trains: It doesn't matter where they’re going. What matters is deciding to get on.
Hi As soon as I learn how to post pictures I post some it is very easy to put the fan driven smoke unit in I even used the same head lamp bracket so I had to nothing even with the head light maybe take about 1 1/2 to complete the job but what you end up with is a 100 times better smoke unit then the orginal and you dont do any damage to the engine itself so if you wanted to you can put back to orginal as far as starting a business I have 4 of them to do now I should have never put it on my shop layout LOL but I enjoy fixing trains and look forward to it again soon as I laern how to post pictures I will.
Alright I finally got the approval from the wife to order the parts ......So I should have them in by either Tues or Wed. So I'm hoping to have the pictures and details on how to do it by Thurs.
Great news Be extra nice to the wife LOL I cant wait see how you do yours May I ask where your buying the parts I tryied lionel but they are closed because of moving I had my smoke unit in my parts bin but I still need the cherry switch I amalso looking into making the Polar express TMCC Thanks Again
trainman413 Great news Be extra nice to the wife LOL I cant wait see how you do yours May I ask where your buying the parts I tryied lionel but they are closed because of moving I had my smoke unit in my parts bin but I still need the cherry switch I amalso looking into making the Polar express TMCC Thanks Again trainman
Thanks, the Wife was the one who brought it to my attn yesterday morning asking me if she could make my day and she gave in so I ordered the parts about 5 minutes after I received the approval. The Lionel dealer I purchased the parts from is called Brasseur Electric Trains that is also the link for them they are located in Michigan and friendly and very knowledgeable..Phone calls to the Service Department are accepted on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday from 9:AM to 3:PM eastern standard time only Orders and parts: (989) 793-6887.
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