My hudson has started acting strange theres no smoke from the main stack whistle is fine. The cab light blinks of and on while running. Also i can hear the fan start in the main unit but shuts off. Tried to tip it over to see if there was excess in it but nothing ran out. How easy are these to work on?
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I have replaced the fan motor in my Hudson two times.
Like Marty said the motor's have issues
What probably happened is smoke fluid got into the main stack motor
You can try blowing compressed air into the stack for 10 or so seconds
and see if it clears the issue up. The compressed air from a can will do fine,
if you're using a compressor the air must be regulated to 20 PSI. After blowing the air
into the main stack, reprogram the engine and you might be up and running again
Alex
Time for a new motor. 
I kept hitting rest got it to kind of work but never like it should then it would stop total. I decided to go in a investigate used my air compressor to blow it out nothing. I am thinking replace the whole unit. Do they sell just the motor? I am disappointed 1500 dollar vision line and i have to work on it so soon.
Do they sell just the motor?
Yes, $7.50 plus shipping from Lionel. Some of the OGR forum sponsors may have them for less.
Guys, I've been eyeing a grey Legacy Hudson to buy. Are there replacement motors for this that will hold up?
Thanks
Theres always a chance a replacement " could" be defective. These were an epidemic of sorts back when the legacy k4 light mike and VL hudson. were released.
I think the "epidemic" is over but it doesn't mean no one will ever get a bad motor. I usually try oiling the bushing first. This worked on every problem fan motor I had prior to my legacy k4. Oil did not help the k4.
I replaced the fan motor in my K 4 6 months after I recived it. This was a few years ago now, at a time when even many replacements were defective. Its been whisper quiet and without issue ever since.
Jon Z. was/is very aware of the fan motor issue and has beenmaking an effort to address it.
Thanks everyone i ll be ordering in the morning
Lionel just released the motors that are back in stock. I have installed many and so far they have not come back.
If you're wary about the Lionel motor, many times you can put the MTH smoke motor in them.
John is the mth smoke better for them?
The MTH motor didn't have the run of bad motors that Lionel had. I believe that's behind them now, at least I hope so. I have some Lionel motors I just got in, we'll see when I get some miles on them.
I found the some where for $6.40 cant find that place is there a list of sponsers on here?
never mind i found the place it was driving me nuts
If you're wary about the Lionel motor, many times you can put the MTH smoke motor in them.
is the MTH motor a standard fit for Lionel Legacy/VL smoke units? any of them, Diesel/Steam? Thx!
The MTH motor fits in "many of them", but not "all of them". Lionel has the shorter motor, and the diagonal screw holes that sometimes are required to fit the motor into the space. Most diesels are fine, and I've put the MTH motor in the Legacy Northerns, Challengers, etc. However, some of the smaller locomotives didn't have the extra 1/8" of clearance for the longer motor.
Here's a look inside looks like it's a bit tight, but I think the MTH motor should fit. You guys be the judge.
As long as it fits, it fits. 
Stupid question here but the new motor came it has a dot on it rather than plus or minus. Can i assume the dot is the negative terminal?
Just make sure it run clockwise, that's the usual proper direction. If not, swap the leads.
Found out the dot is where the positive wire goes hope this helps someone
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