Improving Smoke Units on Conventional Engines?

Alex Malliae did some nice mods to conventional smoke units, look for his thread here.

The Puff-and-Chuff boards are only for fan driven smoke units, not for "puffer" mechanical units.

Some standard moves,

Cut the resistor sleeve off

Repack the smoke unit

Make sure the check valve in the smoke piston is working properly

Reduce the value of the 27 ohm resistor to something a bit lower if you can find them, I like 22 ohms, just can't fine them anymore!

I'll keep some of those tips in mind then. I did look for Alex's thread, but can't seem to find it (since he's posted and replied to so many.... )

Hi Mikado 4501,

here's is the link to Alex' how to: Great Success with Puffer

Here is the Lionel part number for the batting - order some of that- it's the wide stuff

691SMKP008-Smoke unit batting

I guess I'll have to open up my smoke units to make sure it's the same type as the one in Alex's post - the engine in his is a TMCC engine.

Most of them are very similar.

Hi Thomas,

Sorry I didn't see this sooner, I've been very busy and haven't been on the forum too much. Please let me know if you need any other info. It will be my pleasure to help out

Thanks,

Alex

Gee Alex, we want to have some fun fixing smoke units too, you can't have all of them!

Another Possibility:

Add a pair or two of Opposed Diodes (side by side pairs) in the wire to the motor.

This has a double effect;

It slows the engine at all voltages making it run better at low speeds.

And it increases the relative power at the Smoke unit at all speeds.

A bridge rectifier of the appropriate current rating will act as two diode pairs.  They are frequently more compact, and less wiring too boot.