1997 Hudson J-1e smoke unit issue

The level of difficulty will depend if you want the fan smoke to chuff in time, or just run all the time. Also, how it’s wired will depend on how you operate the locomotive. Do you run conventional, or command?........a MTH PS1 smoke unit does fit up in the shell of the 18056 and similar Hudsons. However, custom fabricated brackets will be a must,..Another good candidate and a small package, are the Lionel LC+ smoke units, also requiring custom brackets to mount,......again, the deciding factor will be how you want the smoke unit to operate.

Pat

Thanks Pat, this is great info. I run the train with command control so I can enjoy all it's functions.  Also, I'd love for the fan smoke to chuff in time. Which smoke unit would be best for this? and would you have or know where I can get a wiring diagram (or written help) for the install? Again, you help is most appreciated!

Check some older posts. I think the PS1 MTH unit with the two resistors may be too much for the Lionel electronics. I’ve used the Lionel generic unit 8507-200 with great success. Changing the 27 ohm resistor to 20 ohm is even better. The 8507-200 is even shorter in length that helps wit installation to the frame.

Thanks Rod, that's what I needed to hear, much appreciated!

Wiring it to chuff in time will be the trick. I’m sure it can be done, but it’ll be a little tricky, when I modify that family of locomotives, I’m almost always ditching the old Pulmor in favor of a large Pittman DC can motor, this opens up a lot of avenues as far as Cruise, 4 chuffs per revolution, etc,.....however, on a simple fan smoke install on one of these, I’ve used the MTH PS1 fan smoke unit with ease, as there’s only two wires to hook up.......also, mounting the unit in the shell, and not on the chassis makes it a whole lot easier,....less worry about having to line it up with the stack,...some modifications to the chassis so existing bracket levers don’t collide with the smoke unit will be necessary,.....

Pat

I agree with Pat about mounting in the shell. I’ve just gotten use to making a mount to the frame. Anyway, although I’ve used the GRJ chuffer after converting to can motor I think this would work for the original Lionel pulmor motor as well. I had a small flywheel made only to mount the tape. I mounted it to the worm shaft before the coupling.  Could work for either smoke unit.

@romiller49 posted:

I agree with Pat about mounting in the shell. I’ve just gotten use to making a mount to the frame. Anyway, although I’ve used the GRJ chuffer after converting to can motor I think this would work for the original Lionel pulmor motor as well. I had a small flywheel made only to mount the tape. I mounted it to the worm shaft before the coupling.  Could work for either smoke unit.

That’s a good idea Rod.....

Pat

I agree, great idea, can't wait to get started on this project... thank you.

@romiller49 posted:

I agree with Pat about mounting in the shell. I’ve just gotten use to making a mount to the frame. Anyway, although I’ve used the GRJ chuffer after converting to can motor I think this would work for the original Lionel pulmor motor as well. I had a small flywheel made only to mount the tape. I mounted it to the worm shaft before the coupling.  Could work for either smoke unit.

There might be a problem with this. I am not that familiar with early TMCC but don't think there is a place on the LCRU to connect a chuff switch to, mechanical or from GRJ's Super Chuffer. The engine now has a reed switch in the tender truck plus an IR tether. If you put a switch in the engine you would have to add a pair of wires from the engine chuff generator to the Railsounds board.

Other options would include replacing the LCRU with an ERR AC Commander which does have terminals to accept a chuff switch as well as being able to drive RS2.5 through the IR tether.

Lastly as the drivers on this engine are screwed on, you could use an optical detector on a driver that would detect lines as a chuff switch. Unfortunately no canned option available yet and though the circuit is simple it still requires skills in fabricating circuits.

Pete