Has anyone experienced any issues with their smoke unit on the new Lionel SD-70's? When the train hit the tracks it was smoking at a volume I'm not used to in Lionel units. Lots of great smoke. As the smoke volume diminished I added additional fluid 8-10 drops. After that I needed to blow down the stack to clear a vapor lock because it didn't flow immediately - this cleared it and all seemed fine. However the next day - no smoke. Had to keep blowing down the stack. This produced back spray of the fluid on the shell. Sometimes smoke would flow and sometimes not. I thought perhaps I had overfilled it. Took it off the rails - turned it upside down for about an hour on an absorbent towel - nothing on the paper towel. Put it back on the tracks - started it up and added 5-7 drops of fluid - smoked for about one loop and quit again. Tried toggling the smoke unit off and on using the handheld. Tried changing the intensity setting as well.
Just really finicky. Was wondering if anyone had any thoughts. Otherwise this is an awesome and slow moving diesel - very smooth. Thank you for your input!

Sorry you're experiencing difficulty. I plan to shut my smoke units off as soon as I remove the models from the box.

Actually...these things are so pretty (can I say that about a train?) that I'm considering the same thing. The blow back of the fluid on the case made me cringe. These are absolutely outstanding engines - smoke unit issue aside.

I have had similar problems with my Lionel Legacy GP-30. The day I recieved it, it took me some time to get the smoke going. Once it started it was great. Then over the period of a couple days, the smoke was acting strange, just like the SD-70. Upon closer examination, I smelled smoke fluid coming out, just no smoke. The reason being is because there is no heat to produce the smoke. It was coming out cool, when it shouldve been warm. On the new Lionel engines, I think they have a resistor or something along the lines of that inside the smoke unit, my only assumption is that the resistor or whatever burned out. This is the reason why you may not be seeing smoke. Try exactly what I did, see if you can smell the smoke fluid, and feel the cool air.

try a reset

JohnS - tried a reset and have huge smoke again. However I'd like to know what goes wrong to require the reset and how long this will last before another reset is necessary. I ran half the loop and shut her down with smoke working great. When I get in tonight will start her up and see what we get - thank you!
The manual indicates these are new and improved smoke units - anyone know more about them?

John

Hi Folks

I was following this thread because I have a same smoke issue with the NYC GP-7 . So I tried the suggested reset procedure for Cab-1 operations . Now when I reload the legacy module, there still is no smoke although i can smell it and the exhaust is warm.

Any additional ideas ?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: LIRR Steamer,

I have the same problem with my Legacy SD40-2. It smoked phenominally the first few months. Now it's hit or miss and I haven't achieved the volume I was seeing early on. When it DOES work, it usually doesn't last more than a few minutes.

Rick

I was reading that these are new smoke units. There may be something inherently weird going on. I'll run the SD-70 and see if smoke output drops off again and requires additional resets or if it bombs out altogether. Will certainly let you know.

I have a smoking problem with the NYC GP. the fan is blowing, the heat is there, put smoke fluid in and no smoke. I tried all the usual steps and I get nothing. Any suggestions?

Art

Same problem after coming back to the SD-70. This morning I ran a reset per recommendation and everything worked great. Came home - tried running it - no smoke. Fan is running - heat is also blowing out - no smoke. Did another reset and received smoke for about 20-seconds then nothing. Sounds like we are boxing her up and sending her in for a look see.

This evening I fired up the SD40-2 and there was no smoke. I then added a few more squirts of JT's and reset the engine a few times...still nothing. I then carefully placed a pipe cleaner down the smoke opening and cleared it. This time it worked and the smoke lasted a long time with good output.

Rick

A few weeks back I spent a weekend cracking open some Lionel(legacy & TMCC) and MTH smoke units and was surprised at what I saw. Refer to link:

Smoke unit post

I also found wadding blocking the exhast port and/or pulled way to the side of the heating element (misaligned). I think all manufacturers could devote a little extra QC in the smoke unit department

Stack

Maybe a dumb question, but where can I get a pipe cleaner? I'll try it before calling Lionel. This stinks because the balance of this train is fantastic.
The slow speed operation of the Legacy units is exceptional even running with the TMCC controller. Can't wait to pick up the Legacy controller.

You can buy pipe cleaners at any craft store (Michael's, AC Moore) or probably even CVS, Wal-Mart, and of course a tobacco store. I used to blow down the stack but the fluid would splatter on the engine (and sometimes in my mouth ). If I am risking damage to the smoke unit by inserting a pipe cleaner, then someone please indicate so. I have done this several times on different engines with no apparent harmful effects.

Rick

Try a toothpick, dull end down.

I spoke with Lionel service this morning. I described my intent to have a go at the smoke unit with a pipe cleaner, but after describing the situation and how the unit worked after a hard reset then stopped again prior to the next running session, they feel confident that the board in the unit is bad. According to the tech they don't see many problems with the SD-70's. Incidentally I asked if a pipe cleaner was a bad idea, he did not indicate it was either good or bad, he simply felt it would not resolve it.

Thanks for sharing Lionel's feedback, John. Let us know how you make out with the new board.

Rick