Inconsistant smoking. From both holes. Added smoke, blew it down, works, then nada...so frustrating how the smoking issues big us eh? Any suggestions? Take it apart? Repack the baffle? Change the filament?
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You’ll have to pop the shell to see what’s going on. What you’ve mentioned will most likely be needed. Yes, the frustration is overwhelming but they keep adding smoke features. Sooner or later the engineer will be smoking a cigar and blowing smoke from his mouth.
How about a model #?
Those gp7s have a pretty large funnel and are prone to trapping fluid.
I know on the early legacy versions. The roof piece that the stacks are attached to is a separate piece that snaps onto the shell.
Careful work with finger nails under the edge on the sides of this hatch and it can be removed exposing the smoke unit and funnel.
Marty E did a tutorial on the early legacy gp7 smoke unit:
2133700 I got it from Pats trains. I’ll check the link you sent. Do I have to remove the shell to get to it?
Fantastic link to the 'marty page'..I'm going ti try and fix it myself Thanks!
@Don Beck posted:Fantastic link to the 'marty page'..I'm going ti try and fix it myself Thanks!
It may not need " fixing" at all Don. If the roof hatch comes off.
I would start by priming the smoke unit with 20 frops of fluid since you will be able to get the fluid directly into the stack. Then test output with the hatch still off.
I had the new york central version like Marty. If I recall correctly. During replacement of the hatch. I took notice that one side of the funnel is closer to the smoke unit outlet. I made sure I loaded the fluid on that side and held my finger over the opposite side when blowing.
I GAVE it a shot My GP7 is new version with the control panel on top. I see by wiggling that the panel for the smoke will come off...BUT it seems that something else is holding it on in the middle. I didn't want to break it, so i dunno...I'll come back in an hour and wiggle it some more...
I'm not sure...but is it possible that there is something inside holding that plastic cap in place and i have to remove the entire shell to get to it? I'm afraid of breaking the plastic hatch!
Its better to be cautious Don. If your comfortable removing the shell. Then prime that smoke unit with 15 or 20 drops directly into the unit and see if that helps smoke production.
I am I think there is a leak somewhere as I add the fluid, it smokes and then stops after 10 minutes. But as stated, the plastic cap will wiggle but something is keeping it from coming all the way off for me to investigate the leaking...I might take those 8 screws out and lift the shell...rather not, honestly
After reading the above posts you haven’t mentioned how many drops of fluid you are using. When I was running smoke 20 drops got you started but didn’t last very long. You may not have a problem just not nearly enough fluid.
at least 20
I have the MEC version of the GP7. I don’t have the product number handy, but it’s about two years old. Having removed the shell and funnel many times, I can say with certainty my non smoking problem is due to a bubble that forms on the outlet of the smoke unit (assuming you can hear the fan running and feel heat from the unit). No amount of blowing down the stacks with my mouth or compressed air duster solved the problem, nor did rocking the engine or turning it upside down. Only removing the shell and funnel, then blowing the bubble from the smoke unit outlet restored smoking. I got so frustrated I left the shell loose to remove it and blow the bubble out.
I like RickO’s suggestion about loading the fluid into the stack closest to the unit and putting your finger over the other stack. I’m not home to try it, but I’ll let you know when I have a chance to try it. RickO, did it work for you?
John
