August 9, 2015.
I just purchased the Lion Chief Plus NW2. Out of the box for the first run, both smokestacks were dynamically pushing a lovely plume of smoke a good 6-plus inches straight up into the air. Went to bed HAPPY! Day two, added two more drops of fluid, and nearly nothing! Repeated tests (run conventional --- run with 18 volts via remote --- run engine alone --- run with a long consist --- run on 3 different tracks with 3 different transformers) and the result is the same every time. It has been three days of trying different things now. There is a VERY PASSIVE whisp that comes from mainly the front stack (a bit less from the other) and it's all quite passive. Also note fluid "leaks" from bottom of main diesel body/cowling -AND- the "drop hump" part of the cowling behind stacks/in front of cab seems quite hot to the touch after very short runs. Also, smoke "smells" and is nothing like other smoker I have. I tried a Christmas pine fluid and it is not pleasant..sure ain't a pretty smell! When I blow down the stacks (as if to break up a meniscus) the smoke mainly whisps above the first truck --- under the engine! Looks stupid seeing smoke coming from under the diesel, above the trucks! Any thoughts? My gut is either the smoke unit has failed (on the second day of ownership!) or possibly the "fan-driven" feature isn't functioning and not pushing smoke up the stacks. Help! Ideas?
Can you hear the fan? If it's new from a store, send it back.
An after thought. A few years back a lot of fans were wired to turn the wrong way. However you did state it smoked the first day so that's probably not the problem.
"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks
Charter Member- Tardis Train Crew (TTC) - Detroit3railers- Detroit Historical society Glancy Modular trains- Charter member BTTS
My own personal favorite of JT's Mega Steam is "Coffee." Try it if you get the chance, it REALLY does smell like coffee!
Welcome to today’s Lionel low quality standard. Last new set I got it did not work right out of the box. I sent it in and they sent me back some other engine set that was not the one I sent them. It is sad........... All of the new stuff I have got in the last four years has failed. What else can I say????????????
Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
[quote user="KRM"]
Love everything else about the engine --- but I gather the smoke units have been poor! Thanks.
Well, I do love my coffee --- will try!
Called Lionel --- they want me to bring to a locally recognized repair shop --- will do under their full warranty. Sad these (otherwise lovely engines) had such poor smoke units. Thanks!
It's going back under full Lionel warranty. Oh well. Thanks!
Personally, I would not use a broad brush to paint an image of Lionel's quality over the past 4 years. I cannot share the posters experience as all but one item for me has worked flawlessly during that period, and the one that did not was quickly repaired (postage paid both ways to and from Lionel).
True that; I had a speeder that needed repair --- Lionel was easy to work with.
PTC Personally, I would not use a broad brush to paint an image of Lionel's quality over the past 4 years. I cannot share the posters experience as all but one item for me has worked flawlessly during that period, and the one that did not was quickly repaired (postage paid both ways to and from Lionel).
My point is simple, coming from a manufacturing environment all my working life building and engineering high end yellow construction wheel loader tractors and excavators.The fact that you have to send something back,,,NEW,,, just stinks for me. I spent years to insure customers did not have to say how good we where when something went wrong. And as for that,, that happened to me, I got no offers from Lionel to pay shipping for anything. Maybe I was just un-lucky with the buys I have made over the last 4 years? Who knows? To each his own!!!The point is no matter how easy someone is to work with it would be way better if you did not have to in the first place. Glad I only have got low end stuff, Can't even say how I would feel if I spent 2K on something.
If it is any consolation, I have purchased fan-driven smoke units by Lionel, MTH and K-Line AND have had trouble with all of them. I think it's less an issue of quality and more the problematic nature of the fan-driven smoke units.
I also think it is a little unjust to categorize everything coming from Lionel as inferior or problematic. I have plenty of "lower-end" locos from everyone and have never had to send anything back, not once. I have Lionel 4-4-2 starter steam engines and K-Line stater type diesels with 25 years of running on them and they still run. Yes, after 17 years I did have to replace a smoke unit... not bad though. Certainly a reasonably expected repair.
But I suppose if you are more demanding of your trains, and need more features, the liabilities increase that there is more to go wrong.
brianel, Agent 027
"Praise the Lord. I may not have everything I desire, but the Lord has come through for what I need."
I also think it is a little unjust to categorize everything coming from Lionel as inferior or problematic. I have plenty of "lower-end" locos from everyone and have never had to send anything back, not once. I have Lionel 4-4-2 starter steam engines and K-Line stater type diesels with 25 years of running on them and they still run. Yes, after 17 years I did have to replace a smoke unit... not bad though. Certainly a reasonable to be expected repair.
Also as a side note, the Lionel Premium Smoke Fluid works vastly better and puts out much more smoke in the typical Lionel "puffer" type smoke units.
The Seuthe smoke units, used in the past by Williams, don't last very long either. I'bve had better luck using these in buildings for smoke units. And actually I prefer the Bachmann or Model Power smoke units, which have worked for me for years.
brianel027 I also think it is a little unjust to categorize everything coming from Lionel as inferior or problematic. I have plenty of "lower-end" locos from everyone and have never had to send anything back, not once. I have Lionel 4-4-2 starter steam engines and K-Line stater type diesels with 25 years of running on them and they still run. Yes, after 17 years I did have to replace a smoke unit... not bad though. Certainly a reasonable to be expected repair.
Missed my point, Talking of product in the last four years.
Whatever a person can stand to put up with as quality is fine with me. I like my Post-war stuff and it is great. Just stating I can’t agree with my newer stuff. . Move on, Lionel like my employer always put a premium on the product. You should get something for it or deal with the wasted money. The place I worked also has sent work across the left pond. Junk comes back.
Just because everyone has a bad design, is not a reason to except it. JMHO.
For those who are not aware of this, if you are a veteran, Lionel pays postage both ways for warranty work.
Quality is a problem today with Lionel. People will defend it because they have an emotional investment or attachment to the brand. The LC+ in particular has a high reported instance of problems on the forums, particularly the diesels. I have also had problems with other CC sets. They have a good warranty but the inconvnience is a factor.
Quality is a problem with all brands these days. There is no one there to quality check. At least Lionel has an active service department. And by active I mean one that will service your train and get it back to you.
sir james I I mean one that will service "your" train and get it back to you.
I mean one that will service "your" train and get it back to you.
Better re-think the comment "your Train" SJ. When I sent them my Rock Island ALCO Power Unit # 2031 that only ran a few seconds right out of the box. They sent me back someone elses train. NOT THE ONE I SENT THEM. A fact..... Even the repair sheet that came back with had the wrong problem listed and the side trucks were falling off and one was missing from the B unit even tho that was what the repair ticket said was the problem with them, they only repaired the A unit. It also had rust on the shell lock tabs that was not on mine. So you just never know. When I called to tell them the returned item was not my train a very polite girl acted as if I was nuts and Lionel could not provide a replace side truck in black, only gray.
Wonder who has mine???
Buyer beware.
My take on this is we men "of a certain age" may roll a bit easier with necessities for repair after a so short a NEW purchase --- but young folks (who are hopefully being lured into this great hobby) may take quicker exception. They come to the game largely "tech-i-fied" and may not be used to quick failures. Finally, when a person spends $250 for ANYTHING in this hobby, there ought to be the expectation of quality. Oh well...
Well I am 63, not old by some but old by others and yeah, I could not and did not make up the story on my last purchase, I ended two other orders I had placed because of what happened. I know not everyone has had the same thing for them, but all should know what can happen.
SJ, I can't speak to "most repairs ARE returned properly and in a reasonable amount of time." I just don't know about what happens to MOST. I can only speak to mine.
We had a great time today at at the Illinois Railroad Museum in Union IL. Just down the road from Doug M. It was the A day with Thomas and friends.
Put that place on your bucket list if you are in the midwest area.
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