how to make older 1970s and newer 2008(year) engines produce more smoke?

Try Lionel's new Premium Smoke Fluid.  It has been out a couple

of years and works better than the old fluid.

Too general a question.  There are many enhancements you can make to both puffers and fan driven units, but you have to tell us exactly what you have.

I recently took one of the little Dockside switchers (conventional) and changed the 30 ohm resistor for a 20 ohm, both ceramic coated as the space is limited and the bare one would probably risk shorting to the case.  I also added more wick than was in the unit from the factory.  The smoke output was multiples of the stock unit, which didn't have any visible smoke until it was running around at warp speed, and then it was only barely visible.  I also enlarged the smoke exhaust hole a bit to allow the unit to breath better.

Another common trick is to use some diode pairs in series with the motor do drop the voltage to the motor while maintaining the voltage to the smoke unit.  This allows the smoke unit to get hotter for a given motor voltage.

Finally, you want to check the piston travel and make sure it's not sticking and has full travel. 

OK thank you.

I have a 1970s mighty sound of steam number on side is 8142 and a 2008 lionel lines starter frieght loco # on side 8743 I use  supersmoke smoke fluid xmas tree sent and jts mega steam (coal fired steamer scent) 

Assuming conventional,the diode solution would increase smoke unit voltage at a given speed. This assumes the unit works right in the first place.

www.jcstudiosinc.com/BlogShowThread?id=488

Dale H

See post 7 hours ago.

Sure glad im an eagle at St. Ed's than Cleveland public. What part of cleveland are you from?

If I want my 1958 Lionel GG-1 to produce smoke all I need to do is run it over carpet!

Your SOS engine is an old starter set engine with an enclosed unit.  Many times the element is burned out, because they were always on (no switch to turn it off).  It needs to be replaced.  It also is a restricted unit, so smoke still will be limited.  G

 That 8142 should have a postwar style smoke unit. Being that early, it might even be set up to use pin based bulbs.

I am curious: Have you seen many with burnt out smoke units? I ask because I have not, but maybe I just haven't serviced enough of them.

It's my impression that those smoke units either work, or not. If it is smoking at all, the element is still OK.

Those postwar style liquid smoke units can be over filled. I've done it

What do you mean by PW style?  The 8142 has the MPC style pumper with the Wedge bulb.  Granted some 60's style engine used a similar style.

I find that they can char and stop smoking.  Lionel transitioned to a switch later in the 90s/00s.  The warning is to keep it wet or turn it off.  Even if it is good, your not going to be able to turn it into a prolific smoker like a modern fan driven unit.   G 

Below is a 233-50 smoke unit. It uses a pin based bulb, and is spec'ed at 25 ohms. The 236-50 smoke unit looks the same, but it is spec'ed at 17 ohms.

The liquid smoke units used in the 746 are constructed differently (bottom picture)

The liquid smoke units used for the 247, 243, and 244 are similar to the 746 unit. They do not have the metal bracket.

West side John Marshall HS. Now live in western Pa. Still like the Baltimore Browns and Cleveland Indians. A long suffering fan.

Dale H

I just love redundancy. I just love redundancy. I just love redundancy. I just love redundancy......times 10 to the nth power

Dale H

CW,  I do understand what the PW versions look like.  The MPC era armature are based on PW models but their construction certainly doesn't look as robust.  The MPC versions are black.  I have had to repair a few that were burned out.  I don't think they last as long as their PW counter part.

I even had to rebuild my 746 unit because of an open heater element.  G