Lionel steam whistle

Blow through the outlet hole.

If that doesn't work. A locomotive item# would help folks give you other suggestions.

I see now that smoke does not come out of fill dome but a small hole in boiler next to it. Problem is not enough smoke coming through that hole but smoke just coming under and around boiler. Is there supposed to be some kind of tube or funnel connecting from smoke chamber to whistle hole that maybe has become dislodged. Engine is legacy Pacific released about a year ago

Is this the 10 wheeler?

I’ve had some fluid get in the funnel on mine and make a mess as it gets pushed out by the whistle but not enough to block it. That may be what happened just blow down the whistle hole. I would try it with the steam dome off.

No. Pacific 4-6-2

@Wvm posted:

No. Pacific 4-6-2

Wvm,

     The whistle smoke usually does not go through the whistle itself but rather out a hole in the boiler and the whistle sits over the hole. On my K4 the smoke comes out of a small opening on the steam dome to which the whistle is attached. The only engine I can think of where the smoke actually comes through the whistle is a Southern Pacific articulated engine but I could be mistaken. Either give us the part number of the engine (6-XXXXX) or a photo would help.

JohnB

@Wvm posted:

I see now that smoke does not come out of fill dome but a small hole in boiler next to it. Problem is not enough smoke coming through that hole but smoke just coming under and around boiler. Is there supposed to be some kind of tube or funnel connecting from smoke chamber to whistle hole that maybe has become dislodged. Engine is legacy Pacific released about a year ago

Sure, in some engines placement of the smoke unit was far enough away to require a tube, however most that I have seen are using a combined smoke funnel and outlet stack system. sometimes they are metal, sometimes they are multi piece screwed together, sometimes they are plastic.

Since Lionel does not provide parts diagrams or parts lists for engines starting about 2019, well we cannot validate or know exactly what your engine has.

But, I will say this, I think you are misdiagnosing the problem. If smoke came out, then the path is connected. So then we are back to- you just filled this thing, there most likely is a drop or a couple of drops of fluid hanging around inside the tube blocking it due to surface tension. What I do is remove the steam dome, and forcefully blow down the tiny hole for the smoke exit of the whistle, but not blow into the larger steam dome hole. The idea is to clear the path, but also not blow into and backfeed the smoke unit. I then again, with the steam dome off, blow the whistle using the remote to get the smoke unit blowing smoke, and then cap the steam dome forcing the smoke out of the smaller whistle steam port. Sure, there is always a chance of smoke leaking out. It can find the tiniest of paths. Welcome to the limitations of the system and modern production methods.

Thanks to all who have replied. I’m thinking I have to remove shell and look at alignment of output stack. Looking down output hole(see photo) it looks like it is not centered and below boiler so smoke doesn’t make its way totally out of hole but backs up and just leaks from under boiler   does this seem plausible

@Wvm posted:

Thanks to all who have replied. I’m thinking I have to remove shell and look at alignment of output stack. Looking down output hole(see photo) it looks like it is not centered and below boiler so smoke doesn’t make its way totally out of hole but backs up and just leaks from under boiler   does this seem plausible

Yes, that definitely appears to be an assembly error. Caution- to the point of extreme caution. That is EXACTLY how to blow up one of these sky high. The problem is, I can clearly see you have a metal smoke funnel/duct (zooming in I can see the scratches on the metal). That mounts over top of the smoke unit PCB and is supposed to have clearance to NOT touch the solder joints of the smoke resistor or the thermistor. That said, that additional pressure when it is misaligned and pushing down on the smoke unit can deform the die cast metal and you end up with a short from shell (which is common to the wheels and thus AC) to the regulated DC of the smoke unit and thus the boards it is plugged into.

I suggest- always check with a meter for continuity between a metal smoke duct and any of the connections to the smoke unit (typically 5 pins). Again, you want to ensure that metal duct is completely isolated and cannot short.

Again, you have to remove the shell to fix this, but before adjusting the position of the shell, double check and ensure that the smoke duct is completely open circuit to any of the traces on the smoke unit PCB.

Thanks for reply Vernon.  Is that brass funnel we can see supposed to end up centered in boiler hole and level with or just below?  How will I go about aligning. Does whole smoke unit need to be loosened up and swiveled around. I’m tempted at this point to do nothing and live with it way it is or   Would I be totally safe by turning off whistle smoke?

@Wvm posted:

Thanks for reply Vernon.  Is that brass funnel we can see supposed to end up centered in boiler hole and level with or just below?  How will I go about aligning. Does whole smoke unit need to be loosened up and swiveled around. I’m tempted at this point to do nothing and live with it way it is or   Would I be totally safe by turning off whistle smoke?

Supposed to be centered and at least near flush with the hole in the shell.

Typically the shell can move (slotted screw holes) but the bracket will also bend and move.

The trick is, loosen the shell, align the shell over and around the smoke unit first, and then tighten the screws.

No, zero guarantee just by turning off via switch. If it shorts, it can blow the entire board system up even when off.

Highly suggest you fix it.

The funnel is a cast pice of I remember correctly I’ve had mine apart. The smoke unit is mounted in the shell it could be as simple as a loose screw and the whole assembly shifted out of place

Thanks everyone. I got it aligned and now working great.