I took the metal shell off my American Flyer steam engine and inspected the smoke unit in the boiler after drying everything off as best I could form the leaking liquid smoke fluid.
The smoke unit looks fine, no cracks, no leaks. I checked the screws that hold the top and bottom fiber boards to the metal smoke unit and they all were fine, tight and secure.
I also cleaned and dried the brass smoke stack and screwed it back into the smoke unit.
So, now I am wondering if I did overfill the smoke unit or if I missed the stack when pouring the liquid smoke fluid. Timboy, where do you get a small funnel to channel the liquid smoke fluid into the smoke stack?
I followed the advice from Sturgeon-Phish and turned the engine upside down overnight and tilted the rear of the upside down inside upward to see if any excess liquid drains. I will check that in the morning.
The other thing that I wonder about is whether the wick hardened or has otherwise become unable to hold the liquid smoke fluid. I was reading the Troubleshooting section on smoke units on the Portlines web site and the discussion reads in part, "The primary problem with smoke units that work fine when first filled, but quickly quit, is that the wick is hardened. The wick material is passing fluid along its length too slowly, so if it has been sitting, then there is fluid near the heating element, but it quickly uses it up when you start running the engine. Because the wick is hardened, it cannot "wick" new fluid along itself fast enough, and it soon quits."
That mays me wonder if the wick has hardened and is unable to hold liquid so it just gathers in the smoke unit. Last Friday, when I first experienced the problem, the engine had fallen off the track at a loose section of track. Now, I wonder if there was excess fluid in the smoke unit that leaked out at that time. So, maybe I have to replace the wick.
That's my update. Somewhat inconclusive, but I will keep everyone posted who may be interested as I try to get to the bottom of the problem.
Rich
Alton Junction
Rich,
Most AF parts dealers like Portlines and RFG have the funnels.
Rich;
green97probe Rich, Most AF parts dealers like Portlines and RFG have the funnels.
Jim,
Thanks for that info. I am definitely going to buy a funnel.
Timboy Rich; I looked at the Portlines site and Doug lists smoke funnels for $1.50 in "AM. FLYER PARTS", under "SMOKE UNITS". He also sells replacement wicks with installation instructions. It's a very doable job, but tedious. Doug at Portlines ships very fast, once the order and payment has been received. When I did an eBay search, it turns out the RFG sells them for $6.50 and my experience has been that they are slow shippers. Also, an eBay search turned up a 4-ounce bottle of Anormanl101 Smoke Fluid w/funnel for $12.00 on BIN. I use it and like it.
I looked at the Portlines site and Doug lists smoke funnels for $1.50 in "AM. FLYER PARTS", under "SMOKE UNITS". He also sells replacement wicks with installation instructions. It's a very doable job, but tedious. Doug at Portlines ships very fast, once the order and payment has been received. When I did an eBay search, it turns out the RFG sells them for $6.50 and my experience has been that they are slow shippers. Also, an eBay search turned up a 4-ounce bottle of Anormanl101 Smoke Fluid w/funnel for $12.00 on BIN. I use it and like it.
Tim,
I agree that Portlines is the dealer of choice. I have bought from Doug before and his turnaround time is very, very quick. Now, RFG on the other hand................................
Overnight, I turned the engine upside down and tilted the rear of the engine up so that any excess liquid smoke fluid could drain. I got about 3 or 4 drops out doing that.
When I placed the engine back on the track and ran it, voila, smoke !
I am not sure exactly what went wrong here, but my guess is that I was missing the smoke stack at least in part when pouring the liquid smoke fluid. That's probably why I thought that I had a leak.
Also, I probably poured too much fluid into the stack when it stopped smoking thinking that it needed more. The more I poured, the more drenched the wick became, and no smoke could be be produced. Kinda like flooding the engine on a lawnmower or snowblower. Does this make sense?
In any event, it is smoking again. The wife came downstairs, started gagging, and went back upstairs. Then, I knew that all was well with the smoke unit and the cedar smell.
Thanks to all for your help and advice on this one.
I am going to buy a funnel and be a little more conservative refilling the smoke unit.
I'd suggest getting the AN1 fluid and funnel deal that Timboy recommended. I really like this fluid. Here is a video of it in my 322.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2V1VMZt64g
green97probe Rich, I'd suggest getting the AN1 fluid and funnel deal that Timboy recommended. I really like this fluid. Here is a video of it in my 322. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2V1VMZt64g
Love that video, love that smoke. When I order the funnel, I will also order a bottle on the AN1 fluid.
Timboy Well, I am a contrarian. Everyone always passes on the mede, "just a few drops". I fill the smoke boxes all the way up to the top when I refill. However, sometimes I get a bubble or "fluid lock" and simply blow down through the smoke stack to clear it and run the loco at full track voltage for a 1/2 minute or so and watch clouds of smoke. Then I settle the loco down and it continues to smoke very well. Don't you just love it. OBTW. Beware the eBay salesman who shows a pic of his loco smoking a cloud when it is being "bench tested". They all will perform that way. Bench testing delivers full voltage directly from the transformer to the loco via very short leads. Any loco that won't smoke a cloud when being bench tested has a burned-out smoke box, IMHO. I have used that eBay trick myself to make a mediocre smoker look like a barn-burner <gasp>.
Well, I am a contrarian. Everyone always passes on the mede, "just a few drops". I fill the smoke boxes all the way up to the top when I refill. However, sometimes I get a bubble or "fluid lock" and simply blow down through the smoke stack to clear it and run the loco at full track voltage for a 1/2 minute or so and watch clouds of smoke. Then I settle the loco down and it continues to smoke very well. Don't you just love it. OBTW. Beware the eBay salesman who shows a pic of his loco smoking a cloud when it is being "bench tested". They all will perform that way. Bench testing delivers full voltage directly from the transformer to the loco via very short leads. Any loco that won't smoke a cloud when being bench tested has a burned-out smoke box, IMHO. I have used that eBay trick myself to make a mediocre smoker look like a barn-burner <gasp>.
So is there a right and wrong answer? Fill it to the top or just a few drops? What's the consensus?
Just a few drops, when smoke tapers off, add a few more drops. A few drops should last 10 or 15 minutes
Jim
richhotrain Timboy Well, I am a contrarian. Everyone always passes on the mede, "just a few drops". I fill the smoke boxes all the way up to the top when I refill. However, sometimes I get a bubble or "fluid lock" and simply blow down through the smoke stack to clear it and run the loco at full track voltage for a 1/2 minute or so and watch clouds of smoke. Then I settle the loco down and it continues to smoke very well. Don't you just love it. OBTW. Beware the eBay salesman who shows a pic of his loco smoking a cloud when it is being "bench tested". They all will perform that way. Bench testing delivers full voltage directly from the transformer to the loco via very short leads. Any loco that won't smoke a cloud when being bench tested has a burned-out smoke box, IMHO. I have used that eBay trick myself to make a mediocre smoker look like a barn-burner <gasp>. So is there a right and wrong answer? Fill it to the top or just a few drops? What's the consensus?
Rich, in the '50s the smoke fluid came packaged in tiny plastic ampules. You cut the tip off of and squeezed the fluid down the tube. So if you are using more fluid than would fit into an ordinary eyedropper, you are definitely in danger of over-filling.
I have figured out what is wrong with my brain! On the left side nothing works right, and on the right side there is nothing left!
Just a word to the wise; if you over fill make sure the light bulb is not hot. I have burned many a 293's light bulbs out filling them up.
stebbycentral richhotrain Timboy Well, I am a contrarian. Everyone always passes on the mede, "just a few drops". I fill the smoke boxes all the way up to the top when I refill. However, sometimes I get a bubble or "fluid lock" and simply blow down through the smoke stack to clear it and run the loco at full track voltage for a 1/2 minute or so and watch clouds of smoke. Then I settle the loco down and it continues to smoke very well. Don't you just love it. OBTW. Beware the eBay salesman who shows a pic of his loco smoking a cloud when it is being "bench tested". They all will perform that way. Bench testing delivers full voltage directly from the transformer to the loco via very short leads. Any loco that won't smoke a cloud when being bench tested has a burned-out smoke box, IMHO. I have used that eBay trick myself to make a mediocre smoker look like a barn-burner <gasp>. So is there a right and wrong answer? Fill it to the top or just a few drops? What's the consensus? Rich, in the '50s the smoke fluid came packaged in tiny plastic ampules. You cut the tip off of and squeezed the fluid down the tube. So if you are using more fluid than would fit into an ordinary eyedropper, you are definitely in danger of over-filling.
I remember those tiny plastic ampules well. They were red in color. Quite a memory.
richhotrain Overnight, I turned the engine upside down and tilted the rear of the engine up so that any excess liquid smoke fluid could drain. I got about 3 or 4 drops out doing that. When I placed the engine back on the track and ran it, voila, smoke ! I am not sure exactly what went wrong here, but my guess is that I was missing the smoke stack at least in part when pouring the liquid smoke fluid. That's probably why I thought that I had a leak. Also, I probably poured too much fluid into the stack when it stopped smoking thinking that it needed more. The more I poured, the more drenched the wick became, and no smoke could be be produced. Kinda like flooding the engine on a lawnmower or snowblower. Does this make sense? In any event, it is smoking again. The wife came downstairs, started gagging, and went back upstairs. Then, I knew that all was well with the smoke unit and the cedar smell. Thanks to all for your help and advice on this one. I am going to buy a funnel and be a little more conservative refilling the smoke unit. Rich
I can't resist a further update on this issue. After I turned the steam engine overnight one week ago to drain excess smoke fluid at the suggestion of Sturgeon-Phish, the smoke unit started belching out smoke once again,
Now, one week later, this little sucker is still smoking like crazy.
I don't know what I did right and what I did wrong. Who cares. This thing is smoking like there is no tomorrow.
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