Lionel Legacy Steam--Smoke question

Andy; Here's my "take" on your issue; it sounds like the fan motor bearings are dry and need oil to work properly. It likely works at low speed because the fan motor works in a "pulse" mode in time with the chuff sounds. Once the engine reaches speed, the fan motor is asked to run continuously which heats up the "dry' bearing and causes the motor to cease running.

I've had luck removing the fan motor impeller and oiling the top bearing to resuscitate many fan motors' you cannot easily reach the lower bearing to oil it.. Your results may vary, but worth a try before replacement.

Another point is if the fan is making noise, it's also probably drawing excessive current.  Maybe at speed, it just doesn't get going.  Also, the impeller can be loose on the shaft, that will limit the smoke output.

I'm curious why you can't reach the lower bearing, it's right out in the open on the bottom of the motor!

Note that some of the newer Legacy sound boards actually have squeaks in the sounds, it's a feature.   Turn off the sound and make sure it's not in the audio file!

D&H 65 posted:

Andy; Here's my "take" on your issue; it sounds like the fan motor bearings are dry and need oil to work properly. It likely works at low speed because the fan motor works in a "pulse" mode in time with the chuff sounds. Once the engine reaches speed, the fan motor is asked to run continuously which heats up the "dry' bearing and causes the motor to cease running.

I've had luck removing the fan motor impeller and oiling the top bearing to resuscitate many fan motors' you cannot easily reach the lower bearing to oil it.. Your results may vary, but worth a try before replacement.

Thanks!  That's what I was thinking I would try...but wasn't sure if I was on the right track..worst case scenario it doesn't do anything to fix the problem.  I saw this as a fix to the noisy fan motor when I googled the noise...hopefully that will do the trick.  I will try it...I have some oil on the way to me so hopefully I can fix it!  

gunrunnerjohn posted:

Another point is if the fan is making noise, it's also probably drawing excessive current.  Maybe at speed, it just doesn't get going.  Also, the impeller can be loose on the shaft, that will limit the smoke output.

I'm curious why you can't reach the lower bearing, it's right out in the open on the bottom of the motor!

Note that some of the newer Legacy sound boards actually have squeaks in the sounds, it's a feature.   Turn off the sound and make sure it's not in the audio file!

Thanks John.  I will check for the loose impeller as well.  I wouldn't have thought of that!  I don't think the smoke output is great...at least not as good as some engines I have had...maybe it is a combination of a loose impeller and needs some oil or replacement.

I did turn the sound off...really drives me crazy with the sound off...I love the creaking and sounds it makes from the soundboard, just not the real squeak.

Should I assume if the oil doesn't fix the problem on the smoke output, I should get a new fan motor?

GRJ: I stand corrected; I never noticed the microscopic hole in the plastic end cap for the lower bearing before. Need to use the MagniVisor better the next time I'm new a fan motor. I just checked a spare motor and found it.

roll_the_dice posted:

Should I assume if the oil doesn't fix the problem on the smoke output, I should get a new fan motor?

Yep, they're cheap, probably a good idea to keep a spare or two around.

Just wanted to update what the outcome was.  I bought some woodland scenics lite oil and took the smoke unit out and oiled the shaft.  While I had the engine apart I oiled the wheel axles.

Now there is no more squeak!  There is SMOKE like I thought there should be.  Even at speed now...SO I am a HAPPPY camper!

Big thanks to @D&H 65 and @gunrunnerjohn for getting my engine back to tip top shape!