The smoke unit on my Williams J crackles and spits smoke fluid. I've only used Williams smoke fluid in it. It's a Glycerol/glycerine based product. Is that the problem?
My Lionel and MTH locos don't do it, and their fluid is mineral oil based. I have not mixed different fluids yet, but stuck to the manufacturers own products.
Any advice?
Is it the fluid or the smoke unit?

Your smoke unit is operating normally when it spits fluid and crackles/pops. Do NOT use any other manufacturers smoke fluid beside Bachmann/Williams. Other fluids are a little thicker (may be thinner. I can't remember) and will clog the unit resulting in a void warranty.

Hope it is behaving for you. You haven't had any motor squeaking when stopping? That has been my issue with Williams.

Enjoy it and good luck!

A spitting and crackling smoke unit does not sound normal to me but I don't own any Williams steamers so what do I know.

Paul

Mine does this... It makes a mess and they were called "Sleuthe" smoke units...

(Their a product of their time)

Normal stuff. To reduce the spitting, try to apply the drops away from the pipe in the middle.

Thanks fellas, at least it's normal.
To SJC, apart from the crackling smoke, the engine runs like a German sewing machine. It's very smooth and runs as well as anything I have.

Dave - Thanks for the reply and good to hear you haven't had any problems. Again, good luck and have fun!

Yeah, I have a Williams 0-6-0 with the smoke slueth unit. It pops and spits in the begining but sure makes cool smoke rings. I use lionel smoke in it and no problems, but after reading this post maybe I should not?
Another issue is that center wick pipe gets hot. Watch you fingers/ hands, burnt myself picking up the locomotive many a times.
Great locomotive, wish I could figure a way to upgrade it to TMCC with some sound.

The correct spelling is "Seuthe" pronounced like "SOYT"

Spitting and popping is normal with Seuthe Damphol smoke units.They are standard fare in LGB,Marklin,Fleischmann,ROCO as well as older Williams and Weaver steam locomotives. I have used JT's Megasteam with NO problems.You can't 'Clog" these units.

Boomer

I have a Williams "J" and the smoke unit barely worked with Williams smoke fluid then it burned out. I replaced it with a new Williams smoke unit and the same problem with the smoke barely coming out. This went on for over a year. So I started using JT's smoke fluid and it works great and it continues to do so. I don't know what the problem is with Williams smoke fluid in this engine. (This is NOT an add for JT's - It just works in this engine.)

Dennis

I have one loco with a Sleuthe smoke unit. JT's works fine in it, however I do try to cycle through some LGB fluid every third or forth refill just to keep it flowing. The LGB fluid has a thinner viscosity (made for Sleuthe units) and doesn't spit as much. It's also available in large bottles, which is nice. I think it's called "Smoke Fluid and Track Cleaner".

Hope that helps,

Bobby

Thanks for the further advice folks.

The one WEaver brass engine I have has the Seuthe smoke unit in it, and it works, but it is lackluster compared to MTH un its.
Strange isn't it, that a locomotive that costs well over a thousand bucks should have a dorky smoke unit; whereas for 400 bucks or so you can get a Railking that will smoke you outa the room, and has synchronized chuffs to boot!

Rod

Rod, that's true, I just bought a new MTH RK Hundson. For $265, with great smoke, sounds and looks plus DCS, you couldn't ask for more. I will be buying more RK, great value.