Lionel fan-driven smoke unit repair

First, let me say I AM a Lionel fan, and have purchased MANY of their scale O gauge steam engines, including the VL Hudson, over the last decade-plus, as my local train store can readily attest to.

With ALL of Lionel's advances in sound and digital control technology, why in the h**l can't they FIX this smoke unit fan issue?  

Perhaps some NEW foolproof engineering, a more RELIABLE vendor, or proper OVERSIGHT at the present vendor to insure a quality product?

These fan units, over a decade now, including the Vision Line 700E Hudson, have had ISSUES! 

Mr. Reagan:

With all due respect, WHY has this problem not been rectified? 

Hi Ted 

I can fix them for you, or you can get in touch with Box Car Bill on this forum.

The item you are refering to is the regulator board, that just might be the problem

But it has to be checked out. 

Alex

Hi Alex,

Nice seeing you at the last Greenberg show in Edison with your outstanding buildings thaty are weathered beautifully. Why in the world would someone complain about the price you were charging for those?  If anyone here needs to see some custom-made buuilding, ask Alex.

As for the smoke units, I was going to call Boxcar Bill and/or my buddy Ernie to get the 5 volt regulator fixed. Am quite sure that is the issue as the fans work and the resistor does heat up and emit smoke.

Thanks.

Just for info, that regulator is a 78L05 and its pretty easy to replace.

Not sure but Radio Shack may have a generic replacement.

BTW, if the fan is turning as Ted says, the reg is fine.

If not, it's almost certainly the reg, as long as the motor checks out good.

Rod

The smoke unit could be one that has a separate voltage regulator or could be one that takes the power from the R2LC.  You may need someone who is familiar work on the whole engine rather than just sending them the smoke units.  Pretty much have to trace the power to the smoke unit so you can figure out which one it is.

Jim

But WHY do any of these components need replacing right out of the box? 

The Lionel smoke unit problems have been with us at least going back to the JLC Challengers - that is over twelve years!! 

For some reason the smoke regulator modules and smoke unit fans have been failing at an alarming rate on some new Lionel locomotives, not sure what the deal is.

maybe..heres what id heard on the news.. If it was made in china..99 out of 100 they used used electronic parts like diios retifires and other stuff.maybe thats why our electronics go bad faster...this was on fox news that china been doing that for awhile...So the US millatray is going threw there electronic stuff..

id like to get ahold of mike reagen and ask him if those smoke units have a small hole in the back of the fan unit housing..mine got a 1/8 or smaller hole.plus i got some questions about his EOB system...if you can get his phone number or his personal email address it would be great..but i can give you my phone number to give to mr reagen to call me..

If you look in his profile on the forum, his email is there.  His forum name is Mikado.