It's actually not much of a long shot to get it working.  How about starting with the exact Lionel product number?

6-11131

If the smoke resistor is getting hot, check the 5V DC regulator circuit on the smoke PCB.  If the resistor isn't getting hot, and it's not open, it's probably the voltage regulator module.  I'd also replace the 6 ohm smoke resistor with the 8 ohm one, that was a recommended Lionel mod as the 6 ohm resistor was drawing excessive current and cooking the voltage regulator modules.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

I'd also replace the 6 ohm smoke resistor with the 8 ohm one, that was a recommended Lionel mod as the 6 ohm resistor was drawing excessive current and cooking the voltage regulator modules.

That may be painful.  The FEF is by far one of the best smoke producing engines Lionel made.  I understand why they recommend it, but ouch. Non modified smoker on medium.

MartyE posted:

That may be painful.  The FEF is by far one of the best smoke producing engines Lionel made.  I understand why they recommend it, but ouch. Non modified smoker on medium.

Marty, how many track volts there? We try to run at 16/17 max.

BobbyD posted:

MartyE posted:

That may be painful.  The FEF is by far one of the best smoke producing engines Lionel made.  I understand why they recommend it, but ouch. Non modified smoker on medium.

 

Marty, how many track volts there? We try to run at 16/17 max.

Can't say exactly as it wasn't on my layout at the time but the power sources were 180W bricks with TPC400s.

Here’s the same smoke unit on “low” with the 8ohm resistor in 6-11127.  I had to rebuild this with a new pcb, wick and resistor some months back.  Not so bad IMO.

TedW posted:

Here’s the same smoke unit on “low” with the 8ohm resistor in 6-11127.  I had to rebuild this with a new pcb, wick and resistor some months back.  Not so bad IMO.

 

Ted

Thanks for posting.  The FEF is one of my favorites and the smoke units were well done.

MartyE posted:

gunrunnerjohn posted:

I'd also replace the 6 ohm smoke resistor with the 8 ohm one, that was a recommended Lionel mod as the 6 ohm resistor was drawing excessive current and cooking the voltage regulator modules.

That may be painful.  The FEF is by far one of the best smoke producing engines Lionel made.  I understand why they recommend it, but ouch. Non modified smoker on medium.

I just report the news Marty, I don't make the news.

I might have to try the 8ohm sometime down the road. Currently I need to get the fan running again. The element does heat up and produces smoke the fan is just not blowing it out. 

gunrunnerjohn posted:

If the smoke resistor is getting hot, check the 5V DC regulator circuit on the smoke PCB.  If the resistor isn't getting hot, and it's not open, it's probably the voltage regulator module.  I'd also replace the 6 ohm smoke resistor with the 8 ohm one, that was a recommended Lionel mod as the 6 ohm resistor was drawing excessive current and cooking the voltage regulator modules.

I’d be willing to bet it’s the 5V DC voltage regulator. How would I double check that and proceed to fix it?

Unplug the fan and briefly try connecting a 9V battery to it and see if it spins.  If so, then I'd replace the regulator components.  I don't have one of those to look at to see exactly what parts are used.

John -

What year was the smoke regulator control board integrated with the main mother board? Wasn't the FEF the first Legacy engine to do this into the RCMC board?

The fan motor does work with a 9v battery. So the question is where is the voltage regulator for the fan. If it’s not on the smoke PCB then there are only 4 other PCB’s, the AC regulator witch from my understanding is only for the element, the motor driver, the legacy motherboard and the radio board. 

On the bottom of that smoke unit PCB there three components that comprise the smoke regulator circuit.  They are a TO-92 5V regulator, a diode, and a 220uf filter cap.  The regulator circuit is powered from track power through the smoke switch, see attached diagram.  I'd be looking at those components first.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

On the bottom of that smoke unit PCB there three components that comprise the smoke regulator circuit.  They are a TO-92 5V regulator, a diode, and a 220uf filter cap.  The regulator circuit is powered from track power through the smoke switch, see attached diagram.  I'd be looking at those components first.

Thank you very much John! I’ll get a little more in-depth with it this weekend. One last question the bottom of my smoke PCB does look a little different and just want to be sure on the correct parts before I go replaceing stuff with the wrong element

My Legacy FEF engine has the same symptoms. So how do I get a replacement 5V regulator?

zhubl posted:

gunrunnerjohn posted:

On the bottom of that smoke unit PCB there three components that comprise the smoke regulator circuit.  They are a TO-92 5V regulator, a diode, and a 220uf filter cap.  The regulator circuit is powered from track power through the smoke switch, see attached diagram.  I'd be looking at those components first.

Thank you very much John! I’ll get a little more in-depth with it this weekend. One last question the bottom of my smoke PCB does look a little different and just want to be sure on the correct parts before I go replaceing stuff with the wrong element

Never mind I looked at it closer it is the same board that regulator is just in a different package 

FWIW, I got a replacement board(only) from Lionel last April.  I bought a couple.  The web site said the whole smoke unit was unavailable, but when I called they had the pcb.  Looking at my records was charged ~$66.  You might call them n check.  Here’s a pic of the board(both sides) and their part tag shipped with them.  I’m pretty sure it’s the same one as yours.

The larger regulator was doubtless an "improvement" as the TO-92 package was prone to dying due to overheating.  It'll be a LOT cheaper to replace the $2-3 worth of parts as opposed to $66 for the board!

gunrunnerjohn posted:

The larger regulator was doubtless an "improvement" as the TO-92 package was prone to dying due to overheating.  It'll be a LOT cheaper to replace the $2-3 worth of parts as opposed to $66 for the board!

Of course, you’re right about cheaper for parts.  The $66 is for two boards however, including shipping.  And, if it’s outside your repair comfort zone and you can’t identify and then replace/install the appropriate parts, well, as I said, FWIW...  

Well we did try replacing the voltage regulator with no luck, might look back into it later but did go ahead and order a new board from Lionel and we’re in business now. Thanks again John for all your help