Lionel puffer smoke unit upgrade

James,
I'm confused. You got a puffer now and you want to upgrade it to the MTH unit w/ a Super-Chuffer 2. I'm not understanding what your asking in your last two sentences. I think I know what your asking, but can you please clarify?

You have to find a smaller smoke resistor for that small MTH smoke unit.  Truthfully, I use the one of the smaller Lionel smoke units if the full sized MTH smoke unit doesn't fit.  However, in that particular locomotive, I think the standard MTH smoke unit should fit.

Here's a more suitable Lionel smoke unit for the task.

Lionel’s 27 ohm smoke resistor is too long for the MTH smoke unit.  Is there a shorter resistor that would fit this unit.  I need to replace the 8 ohm with a 27 ohm.  I need to use a smaller smoke unit because of the area I have to work with.  This was one of the smoke units suggested to use.

Thanks John I will look getting the Lionel smoke unit.

Can the resistor be changed out from the 16 ohm to the 27 ohm without an issue.  I mean can it swap out to the standard 27 ohm resistor?

@James Jones posted:

Can the resistor be changed out from the 16 ohm to the 27 ohm without an issue.  I mean can it swap out to the standard 27 ohm resistor?

Sure, and the case is plastic, so there's much less risk of shorting the resistor to the frame and killing the smoke outputs.

Thanks for the help.

Curious, what's the advantage of using a 27 over a 16 or 8?

@Sean's Train Depot posted:

Curious, what's the advantage of using a 27 over a 16 or 8?

For upgrading straight up TMCC with no smoke regulator, 20 ohms is the lowest you can safely go, any lower and you run a real risk of cooking the smoke triac on the R2LC board.  The 8 ohm resistor is used with the smoke regulator or the later Legacy control boards that also provide smoke volume regulation.  16 ohms is for the Legacy BEMC and I believe maybe some of the Lionchief models.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

For upgrading straight up TMCC with no smoke regulator, 20 ohms is the lowest you can safely go, any lower and you run a real risk of cooking the smoke triac on the R2LC board.  The 8 ohm resistor is used with the smoke regulator or the later Legacy control boards that also provide smoke volume regulation.  16 ohms is for the Legacy BEMC and I believe maybe some of the Lionchief models.

What if I upgrade using the SuperChuffer, does that still apply or could I use and 8 or 16 ohm?

@Sean's Train Depot posted:

What is I upgrade using the SuperChuffer, does that still apply or could I use and 8 or 16 ohm?

The Super-Chuffer doesn't affect the smoke heater power, the same rules apply with or without it.  The Super-Chuffer manages the smoke fan and the optional custom lighting effects.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

The Super-Chuffer doesn't affect the smoke heater power, the same rules apply with or without it.  The Super-Chuffer manages the smoke fan and the optional custom lighting effects.

Thank so much for the info!

@Sean's Train Depot posted:

Thank so much for the info!

A wiring diagram might help understand how it's used.

If you change your mind (as I did) and want to repair the original puffer smoke unit I describe how I did it here on my 0-6-0 conventional dockside switcher.  It works very well now.

John

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

A wiring diagram might help understand how it's used.

<click graphic to expand>

This is great, thanks!

@Craftech posted:

If you change your mind (as I did) and want to repair the original puffer smoke unit I describe how I did it here on my 0-6-0 conventional dockside switcher.  It works very well now.

I doubt you'll mistake it for a fan driven smoke unit.

What do you use for the smoke tube out of the top of the 640-2500-200 Lionel smoke unit.  Is there a funnel that fits it or just use a piece of brass tube.

John on the subject of smoke units. You had mentioned you had some seither units from flyer fan conversions  might you want to part with some  thanks

Seuthe

@cocker posted:

John on the subject of smoke units. You had mentioned you had some seither units from flyer fan conversions  might you want to part with some  thanks

I’ve rebuilt a slew of these 18079’s.  Never had a problem installing a PS2/PS3 type full size smoke unit. It fits fine, i boiler mount the smoke unit with a custom bracket similar to how MTH boiler mounts their smoke unit. I change the stock MTH resistor to a 20 ohm, and roll on,….

Pat

Here’s a pair of 18079’s slugging it out on a freight. Both are equipped with MTH smoke units, & 4 lobe cams.

@cocker posted:

John on the subject of smoke units. You had mentioned you had some seither units from flyer fan conversions  might you want to part with some  thanks

Send me an email to my profile address.

I just finished installing the fan driven smoke unit to replace the puffing smoke unit.  The Lionel smoke unit John recommended fit perfect.  I had to make a bracket and stack for it.  I just need to install the Super Chuffer and smoke generator.

I finished converting a 6-18079 NYC Mikado from a puffing smoke unit to a fan driven smoke unit.  I used a Lionel a  640-2500-200 fan driven smoke unit and Super Chuffer 2 and smoke generator for 4 chuffs.  Installation was fairing straight forward.  I had to make a braket for the smoke unit and change out the resistor to a 27 ohm.  Thanks for the help.  I think the final installation runs and looks great.

Jim

Lookin' good, a huge upgrade from the puffer!