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Post by JDaddy on Oct 20, 2020 21:07:48 GMT
Lionel smoke units are not as robust as MTH smoke units. I over filled a Legacy GS6 4-8-4 smoke unit with just a 1/4 inch of smoke fluid in the eye dropper. It heated up and burned the top circuit board copper trace elements of the smoke unit. I wrote Mike Reagan a letter at the time and he sent me a smoke unit assembly free of charge.
Now I fill my smoke units when they are cold and use them after they saturate after a day. Big difference in smoke production and no fluid bubbles.
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Post by harborbelt70 on Oct 20, 2020 22:03:08 GMT
Lionel smoke units are not as robust as MTH smoke units. I over filled a Legacy GS6 4-8-4 smoke unit with just a 1/4 inch of smoke fluid in the eye dropper. It heated up and burned the top circuit board copper trace elements of the smoke unit. I wrote Mike Reagan a letter at the time and he sent me a smoke unit assembly free of charge. Now I fill my smoke units when they are cold and use them after they saturate after a day. Big difference in smoke production and no fluid bubbles.
Good that Mike R. saw you right.
I'm shutting up now - this whole subject is a sore point for me.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2020 0:58:00 GMT
Lots of good info. I think I've got it. I took my favorite diesel the SD70ACe Missouri Pacific Heritage unit and pulled the cover off. Loosened the cover on the smoke unit and pulled the burnt padding out. Examined the resistor and checked the continuity, it is blackend but intact. Replaced the padding, saturated it with fluid, a good 30 drops and it smoked very well. Next step was to order more padding, more MegaSteam fluid plus a pinpoint funnel and a couple of 6 Ohm and 8 Ohm resistors. My biggest problem with this project is taking the engines apart. They are so difficult to put back together, without breaking anything or binding the motors. Everytime I do this there is something that goes bad. Today it was a dangling light in the cab. Had to pull it apart again and reset the light. Because of your input and the videos I now know the ins and outs of keeping these units smoking correctly. When the new padding comes in my next engine will be the Vision Line UP Switcher. Thank you so much for your very good education. Appreciate it!!   |
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Post by jimsandman on Oct 24, 2020 4:25:21 GMT
I'd avoid the 6 Ohm (Factory installed) heating elements, go with the 8 ohm ones. The 6 ohms seem to take out the AC Regulator (691ACRG103 AC REGULATOR (S03 CODE)) used in that engine.
Jim
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Post by harborbelt70 on Oct 24, 2020 11:37:05 GMT
The mere mention of the VL switcher i.e. the Genset makes me nervous. Mine’s never smoked like I hoped but I didn’t dare open it up - what with three smoke units and reports of electronics literally jammed inside which it would be easy to bind or break on reassembly. Frankly if I ever get around to servicing it I’ll send it to Alex M in NYC to deal with.
I second what is said about the 6 Ohm resistors. If you check on the Lionel support pages I think you’ll find that they were only used in some early Legacy SMUs like the first issue FEF3s. Absolutely great smokers but very prone to the AC Regulator blowing out. Lionel was forced to recommend installing the 8 Ohm resistors instead.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2020 12:06:20 GMT
The mere mention of the VL switcher i.e. the Genset makes me nervous. Mine’s never smoked like I hoped but I didn’t dare open it up - what with three smoke units and reports of electronics literally jammed inside which it would be easy to bind or break on reassembly. Frankly if I ever get around to servicing it I’ll send it to Alex M in NYC to deal with.I second what is said about the 6 Ohm resistors. If you check on the Lionel support pages I think you’ll find that they were only used in some early Legacy SMUs like the first issue FEF3s. Absolutely great smokers but very prone to the AC Regulator blowing out. Lionel was forced to recommend installing the 8 Ohm resistors instead. You have definently scarred me Harborbelt!!!! Alex is a great tech. I have used him many times. I will take your advice and send it to him. He lives in NJ. JADA Enterprise, Inc. Freehold, NJ. Thanks... This first attempt to repair the smoke unit was an early Legacy SD70ACe Heritage unit and it is a 6 Ohm resistor. Smokes very well now.
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Post by JDaddy on Oct 24, 2020 12:50:27 GMT
Before you guys pull the gensets apart, clean each stack with a pipe cleaner and see if that improves their operation.
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Post by harborbelt70 on Oct 24, 2020 12:53:09 GMT
The mere mention of the VL switcher i.e. the Genset makes me nervous. Mine’s never smoked like I hoped but I didn’t dare open it up - what with three smoke units and reports of electronics literally jammed inside which it would be easy to bind or break on reassembly. Frankly if I ever get around to servicing it I’ll send it to Alex M in NYC to deal with. You have definently scarred me Harborbelt!!!! Alex is a great tech. I have used him many times. I will take your advice and send it to him. He lives in NJ. JADA Enterprise, Inc. Freehold, NJ. Thanks... This first attempt to repair the smoke unit was an early Legacy SD70ACe Heritage unit and it is a 6 Ohm resistor. Smokes very well now.
What is listed is mainly 8 Ohm later units complete with their small plastic bowls and some with thermistors.
All that matters however is that you get decent performance out of it. I’m sure Alex will see you right on the VL Genset and I am kind of thinking now that if he does yours he might do mine in the near future.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2020 17:36:59 GMT
Just to show my appreciation I thought you might like to see them smoke!! The nice part about Legacy is the ability to turn down the smoke volume. I put these on max and will scale that back when running.
These are my two long hauler freight locomotives. Heritage SD70ACe units.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2020 17:56:48 GMT
WELL DONE WOODMAN!! Looks like a couple of guys at a Corn Cob convention! Gary.  |
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Post by harborbelt70 on Oct 24, 2020 18:15:56 GMT
WELL DONE WOODMAN!! Looks like a couple of guys at a Corn Cob convention! Gary.
Yes - good smoke (and of a volume you can get from MTH without all the hassle, but that's now ancient history). Most impressive train, too - in the World's Best Basement.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2020 19:56:18 GMT
Thank you gentlemen. Gary has nicknamed me WOODMAN and harborbelt always compliments my basement. Puts a big smile on my face...
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Post by fabforrest on Oct 24, 2020 21:10:08 GMT
Love those SD70ACe’s. I have one myself.
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Post by steamloco on Jan 1, 2024 18:33:07 GMT
My experience tells me that 10 drops then adding 3 means your smoke units are nearly dry. That is not very much fluid. It may be that you have been running your smoke units nearly dry and now the wadding is burned.... I was smelling burning on my new Legacy, and the smoke had decreased to nothing. I added more like Lionel said, but nothing. I added about 25-30 drops, and it finally started smoking. So yes, what Lionel says, 20 drops then 10 after is wrong. Thank you for helping me.
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Post by dennym57 on Jan 1, 2024 21:32:38 GMT
Have you tried gently blowing down the smoke stack?
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