HELP WITH A SMOKE UNIT PROBLEM

Are you perhaps getting a break in contact, or even a short on the smoke element when the shell is seated properly? Does this happen only with the shell on, or can you replicate it without the shell?

Hi Nicole thanks for getting back to me, It can happen either way. If the shell is off and the smoke unit is moved into the correct position it won't work.But the fan works, just the resistor won't heat up.

Alex

Alex

 

  I would check the five pin connector, probably the center wire is loose.

 

Bill

Hmmm. Very strange. Are you able to check with a meter when moving it to see at what point the resistor loses power?  I'm wondering if there may be an intermittent contact, and pressure on either a plug or wiring at a certain point breaks the contact.  If power does not cut-out at any point, then this would point towards a ground problem, in which case you'd have to do the same checks for that.

Thanks Bill and Nicole, will check and report back.

 

Alex

Hi guys,I checked the 5 pin connector and moved the wires around and it worked for a few seconds, and now doesn't work again. I'm stumped. Could it be the board or the wiring. Alex

The 5 pin connector is not making contact all the time. When you line it up with the stack it is either pulling the wire out or just enough to short somewhere. Lengthen the wire and see what happens. If the board was bad it would never smoke.

Gotcha David, try that next.

 

Alex

I had a similar issue with my 38095 which I finally attributed to the resistor not making good contact with the board. It would work fine then suddenly stop. I'd take it apart and get it working only to have it stop again a few days later. Finally figured it out and it has been working fine for about 8 or 9 months.

 

When it's not working try tapping on the screws that hold the resistor in. If it starts working I would remove the board and re-seat the resistor making sure the screws are really tight and the end loops of the resistor flat against the board. If the unit does not line up well you might also want to bend the mounting bracket a little. Sounds like it might be putting some pressure on the board.

 

Upgraded??? - May I ask what the upgrade was?

Hi Don, Here's the link to what I do. You can also see the upgrade Lionel video, by going to the product video's.

 

link  https://ogrforum.com/d...ent/7906207229853027

 

Thanks, Alex

Check the wires inside the connector.  I've seen one crimped on the insulation and barely making contact, sounds about like what you're seeing.  You can remove each contact and examine it closely to make sure all is well there.

Good idea. The way to remove the wires for inspection is to lift up the little flap on the side of the connector that holds the wire in place with a very thin screwdriver or knife blade. There's a tiny little prong on the connector piece that crimps onto the wire that engages a lug or shelf on the flap. 

Hi John and southwest Hiawatha, I will try what you guys said right after dinner, and see if that's the problem. I will report back. 

 

Thanks, Alex

Hi Alex, I just thought that you might want to check the other end of the cable too, just in case that plug is loose-ish and when the cable pulls tight it may be too loose. (I clutch at any straw going!)

Not a bad idea Nicole, depends on how tight it's stretched I guess.

Hi gang, well more trouble now, I checked all wires made sure everything looked good. I put everything back and ran the engine with the shell off, and the resistor and  this f03 board got red hot and then it totally stopped working. So I guess the smoke unit is gone and the f03 board also. Everything else is fine. Any idea's now

I'm baffled.

.

see photo's for reference

Thanks, Alex

Alex  was that "fo3" board the same one in the shrink wrap in the previous picture. If so I belive thats the AC regulator board for the smoke unit. I had a lionmaster steamer withintermittent little or no smoke output until one day it smoked like crazy and burned up the resistor.It ende up being a bad ac regulator board. The only differance from your situation was mine had nothing to do with the shell on or off, I'm not sure if thats a coincidence or you still have another problem.

Hi Rick, yes the F03 board in the picture is the same as the picture with the shrink wrap. It was red hot and so was the resistor, then seemed to fry. I think when I was putting the shell on it must have pushed on this F03 board, so I think there was something loose or wrong  with this board. I guess I will have to replace the whole smoke unit and the F03 board. I hope then this problem will be solved. I must have rebuilt at least 30 of these and this was the first time I've had this problem, I could tell something was loose somewhere even when I first opened the shell.

 

Thanks, Alex

Alex

 

   You don't have to replace the smoke unit, just replace the smoke unit pcb and regulator.

 

Bill

You broke it. I know why, you want me to sell it to you for a discounted price because its broke!! Lol!! You'll figure it out. Looks like the "f03" board is fried. Why don't you replace the smoke unit board altogether?

That might take care of the situation.

Mike R

Hi Bill, Yes I agree just the PCB and the Regulator. Can you order them for me

PCB-691SSMUFS1

REGULATOR- 69REG5A00

Hope my part numbers are right.

 

Alex

Hi Mike, There was something funny about this engine when I first started to upgrade to smoke unit. I will just replace the PCB and the Regulator board.

 

Alex

Alex

 

  We have them in stock.

 

Bill

Alex, You could send it to us at Lionel? Albeit, it would be a charge repair, it will be tested a minimum of 3 hours before being returned, which will occur in a 2-3 day turnaround. If your baffled, we can help the headache go away! Thanks, Mike Lionel

Hi Mike, I thank you for your response and awesome customer service. To me it is first rate, and so is Lionel. I ordered the parts from BOXCAR Bill. I will install them and see if the PCB and Regulator is the problem. If it doesn't repair the issue I will gladly send it to you guys for repair.

 

Mike, I will be at York Thursday and Friday looking forward to meeting you.

 

Thanks again, Alex