lionel southern ps-4 tmcc #6-11103 smoke unit problems

If you look at the Lionel replacement parts web pages (search them under the 6-11103 item number you have given) you'll see that this is an RailSounds 5 engine that does indeed have a fan driven smoke unit - and it is also one of a number of fine RS5 engines that Lionel produced at about that time.

 

It uses a 6 Ohm resistor in the smoke unit, which means that it also has an AC regulator to control the current provided to the smoke unit.  If the smoke unit has simply stopped working, it could be that the AC regulator has failed. There are some threads elsewhere on this forum that relate to this problem.

 

You will see the unit itself and the AC regulator on the replacement parts page for this loco; in the exploded view the unit is part 88 and the AC regulator is part number 4.

 

There's no easy way I know to check whether the regulator has failed. When I've had this problem in the past I have opened up the shell of the loco to see whether either the smoke unit board or the AC regulator show signs of heat damage. You can and should open up the smoke unit to see if the wicking inside has charred to the point where it is no longer feeding smoke fluid to the resistor.

 

Maybe the quick way to get a definitive answer is to email Mike Reagan at Lionel giving him a short description of the problem; he usually knows the answer right off the bat.

if not already, try a "reset" first, before replacing parts. Joe

Hi icfan,

 

First try following these steps

 

 

If this doesn't work my feeling is the batting around the resistor and the batting in the smoke bowl is all burnt up. It also can be the Regulator but I would try everything else first because a regulator is about 30.00 dollars plus shipping.

I work on these smoke units everyday, so here's a link to help you out a bit .

 

link

https://ogrforum.com/t...ith-photos-and-video

 

Thanks, Alex

 

Thanks for the reply...I did see that the smoke unit on the parts page did indeed have a fan unit...but my engine only ever smoked while under way...and there never was any sound of a fan unit running since new.  I rarely ran this engine but I remember how it was...would it not smoke at rest if it was fan-driven?...like my legacy berkshire does now? I have seen a youtube video of another 6-11103 ps-4...and it only smoked while underway too.  Also I did try a reset per the owner manual with no success...

icfan

 

Some engine's smoke at a standstill and some don't.With  This engine the fan will only spin in sequence with the chuff.

 

Alex

Thanks Alex, I just saw your reply...I tried reset last night with code 27 I think...it may indeed be the wick batting...that "plastic looking" material looking down the smokestack.  I am puzzled by the apparent fan unit on the parts page...

Our replies have been out of synch... but I just saw your video...yes your engine does smoke only under way...thanks...maybe I will try to look at the batting...

Follow my post it will help you out, try cutting off the batting around the resistor make sure you don't harm the resistor itself. If the batting around the resistor seems tight just try to spin it a little it should release. Then change the batting in the bowl, add smoke fluid and see if it works. There's way of doing some testing but you will need a meter.

 

P.S.  THE RESET CODE SHOULD BE 74

 

Alex