Legacy diesel SD70ACE won't smoke

Are you operating it in command mode with the TrainMaster Command Control base or the Legacy Base?

The new Legacy diesel smoke units operate differently under TMCC for some reason.

Try operating the SD70ACe in Conventional mode for a while to see if the smoke unit does anything.

Andrew

Since you are using the Bluetooth app and not Legacy/TMCC, and it is your first Legacy engine, do you have a full 18 volts to the track?

He is running it using the BT app so TMCC and Legacy base not an issue.  The 20 drops "or so" may have overfilled the unit so it might take some time to smoke.  After the unit has been on for a few minutes, blow down the exhaust stack.  Many times that will initiate the smoke.  What transformer and voltage are you using?

Most Lionel Legacy engines will not produce much smoke in the (L) setting.

My guess is the Bluetooth app does not allow for  L-M-H  smoke choices.

If so, then the engine may be in (L) setting and will not produce much smoke if at all.  That setting just does not allow the resistor to get hot enough.

You will need a command system to be able to tell.

Since he doesn't have a Legacy base, as soon as the power is turned on the Legacy/BT engine will start up in Conventional mode and the smoke is on the High setting.  When he connects the engine to the App, the smoke stays at the same level.  There is no way to turn it down to a lower setting using the app.  It is either on High or Off.  So, if the smoke switch is on and there is no command base, the engine should start to smoke once the power turned on.  If it isn't smoking after a couple of minutes and he has tried blowing down the exhaust stack, the smoke unit is likely overfilled.  If he had a transformer that had a ammeter he could probably tell if the resistor is working by looking for a substantial current increase when the smoke unit is activated.  

Thanks for all the replies.

I have tried conventional on a short test track (no accessories or lighted cars, etc.) with a CW-80 and also with a Powerhouse 180 with good voltage (18V) confirmed with a multimeter. Soo Line is right, there is no smoke output selection with the Bluetooth app. JFC454, it is good to know that the smoke output is on high in conventional mode. I have puffed down the stack a number of times.

I think my multimeter will check the amps - will try tomorrow.

However, I fear I have over filled. Is there a fix for that? 

Thanks again! And since my initial post, I have ordered a Legacy Command set from my LHS.

Maybe something has changed in the more recent models, but my Legacy engines would not smoke well at all in conventional. Emailed Lionel and they confirmed there is no way to adjust output in conventional. I bought a Legacy base, programmed them, upped the output to high, and the same engines smoke like drunken barflies.  If you have a buddy with a Legacy base, give it a shot before you dig too much deeper. 

Bob, use a straw to blow down the vent. A!so, I respectfully disagree, there is a smoke output selection on Bluetooth.

I know one thing for sure Bob. Once you get your new Legacy unit installed you will wonder why you didn't do it sooner. Try this if you think you flooded the smoke unit. Leave the locomotive sit over night upside down on an old towel. Good luck. Nick

hokie71 posted:

Bob, use a straw to blow down the vent. A!so, I respectfully disagree, there is a smoke output selection on Bluetooth.

On the LionChief App there is an icon that turns the smoke on and off.  Where is the control that regulates the output volume?  When I have used the app it appears that the smoke is either off or on high.

JFC454 posted:

hokie71 posted:

Bob, use a straw to blow down the vent. A!so, I respectfully disagree, there is a smoke output selection on Bluetooth.

On the LionChief App there is an icon that turns the smoke on and off.  Where is the control that regulates the output volume?  When I have used the app it appears that the smoke is either off or on high.

That has been my experience as well.  If there is an option in the app like Legacy (L-M-H), I have not found it.

Right, I don't remember a smoke volume on the app, just on or off.  I will check mine again later this morning. BTW, I have the SD60 lionchief plus and it has an on-off smoke switch underneath too.  Maybe that needs to be on for the app to work?

Bob "O" posted:

Thanks for all the replies.

I have tried conventional on a short test track (no accessories or lighted cars, etc.) with a CW-80 and also with a Powerhouse 180 with good voltage (18V) confirmed with a multimeter. Soo Line is right, there is no smoke output selection with the Bluetooth app. JFC454, it is good to know that the smoke output is on high in conventional mode. I have puffed down the stack a number of times.

I think my multimeter will check the amps - will try tomorrow.

However, I fear I have over filled. Is there a fix for that? 

Thanks again! And since my initial post, I have ordered a Legacy Command set from my LHS.

Also remember that if you have the engine idling on the test track, after 90 seconds it goes to sleep and the smoke unit turns off.  After about 2 minutes the engine restarts, the smoke unit comes on and the cycle repeats itself.  So if you are testing the smoke unit while idling at 18v you need to blow the horn or something every minute so the engine stays awake.  As someone mentioned before, smoke output running in conventional is low because the voltage is usually low unless you are idling at 15-18 v.

20 drops in a Lionel Legacy smoke unit will never overfill.

Thanks all. My multimeter does not have a setting for amps.

Will try the straw and an overnight in the upside down position. Otherwise, I will wait for my Legacy command set.

(Nick: 2 years ago, after 60 years packed carefully in a box, I got out my 1950's Berkshire 726 RR and was amazed to see it still able to run around the 8'x4' oval of track I had as a boy. Nobody warned me how fast I would get hooked and my train stuff would expand. Now I eagerly await the latest version of the Legacy Command set. I hope you are right!)

More later.

Like was stated, for a dry smoke unit, 20 or even 30 drops will NOT overfill it.  When I rebuild smoke units and add new wick, etc. I pre-soak them before I reassemble them.  For a typical fan driven smoke unit, I add a full dropper of Megasteam, that's at least 40 drops.  I can take the reassembled smoke unit and hold it upside down, nothing drains out.  When I fire them up, they smoke great.

Truthfully, for a really dry smoke unit, 20 drops is NOT enough.