GRJ-Marty can you explain this??

Apparently the electronics looks at the current being drawn by the smoke unit. If it's wrong (seems sensitive to me) it sends out the SOS. I have had that happen with a new engine...the part about it failing and then working. I have also heard that smoke fluid in the fan area can be an issue...so the overfill idea.

Some have blown into the fan with mild compressed air and released the gremlin causing the issue.

As of a month or two ago, Jon at Lionel seemed not to know why the smoke motors were problematic. But they were/are looking into it.

I'm hoping they're changing smoke motor vendors as they're out of stock and have been for some time.  I just ran across another one that was drawing about 1/2A at 5V, Jon mentioned several he's seen have had that symptom.  This one was easily replaced with an MTH motor and the locomotive went on it's way.

 

GRJ.... as to replacing fan motor how do you get motor in correct position first time always takes me 2-3 tries before it assembles correctly.

 

or is it just me having a senior moment?

 

 

cjack... thanks for the information I am beginning to think the overfill is the real issue as seems odd they work then not so much then work again.

 

and we all thought e-units were a pain!!

I'm not sure I understand the question.  I just hold it up and using a small magnetic Phillips driver, put the two motor screws in.

 

Am I missing something, I've assembled a lot of smoke units, and that's always worked for me.

 

as to the motor I'm referring to the S-3 as it doesn't attach under the unit like others it attaches to the side.
if you have one take a look then you will understand.

If the smoke unit is overfilled and fluid gets between the housing and the bottom of the fan disc it creates hydraulic friction which the motor can not overcome when trying to start. Sometimes when it dries up all is well.

fred 

Thanks Audi that makes sense just wonder why 15 drops on a low output would be an overfill but guess anything is possible!

 

guess from now on fill run a lap power smoke unit up give batting time to absorb fluid.

thanks to all for the helpful information.

When you refilled both engines, did you have the smoke in the off mode?

Great video. I really like Mike's videos. Very worth watching.

I had a fair few failures with my smoke unit motors going bad, I can not prove it...but I think my smoke fluid was causing the problems..

I now stick with JT's or Lionels fluid and I have not had a problem since.

I normally do not turn smoke units off and fill while running. so have started turning smoke units off run a lap to cool down and then fill with 15 drops of fluid.

I then let engine run another lap and then turn smoke unit on again so far its been happy.

 

but I have run into this same issue at startup filled smoke unit and get the 3 cab light blinks and engine was not powered up when fluid added!

 

and I reset engine turn smoke unit off for a day or 2 and then after that they are working again!

mind you it might be a week that engines not run so adding 15 drops of smoke fluid surely wouldn't overfill them?

 

time will tell if turning smoke units off prior to refilling cures my issue with these two engines.

 

Paul take a look at Mike Video you will find it helpful for your issue?

If you use the needle tip bottle for the fluid, how do you know when 15 drops have gone in ??

BINGO!  That's why I don't use that method.  I like the idea of where it's putting the fluid, I just have no idea how much I'm putting in!

 

 get to know your equipment and count 

 

come on guys this is not kindergarten.....

If you poke the needle point bottle in and squeeze, exactly how do you count the drops?

That's a good question John. The only thing i have thought of is to count the drops you put into the dispenser,  and then put it into the smoke unit. Seems like this method would work but it will be time consuming.

Drops are not all equal. So you need to drop drops into a graduated cylinder and measure what 15 drops are from the container from which they are specified to be dropped. You only have to measure that once. Then use a syringe and fill it to that quantity and squirt it into the batting. Syringes and needles are available from any farm store. Grind off the sharp tip. I fill mine to about a half ml. Mike at Lionel says to fill the pipette that came with the engine to 3/4 of the way from the tip to the first line. That is about 0.3 to 0.4 ml.

I use the JT's Megasteam dropper, and I fill it from 1/4 to 1/3 for a refill, been doing that for some time with no issues.  For a new dry locomotive, I use about 2/3 of a dropper.

 

with my needle applicator I now know 5/7 squeeze is just right for all my locomotive again get to know your equipment.

 

 

 To my point John,you know that.

I use the JT's Megasteam dropper, and I fill it from 1/4 to 1/3 for a refill, been doing that for some time with no issues.  For a new dry locomotive, I use about 2/3 of a dropper.

I can't measure from the needlepoint dispenser, maybe I need a different design so I can tell what I'm dispensing.

When Mike does this on the Lionel videos, sure doesn't look like counting drops.  Can't count a stream....   G

ironically if you do as mike on big boy video but only use the first line it equals exactly 20 drops!

 

I don't have the mega steam needle point applicator but an off brand from years back.

so I reverse engineered it.

I added 20 drops from my needle applicator into the pipette guess what 20 drops on the nose.

 

so am guessing potato--- patato is the theme.

 

"use what ever works for you".