Update: New Lionel Mechanical Smoking Reefer (2026520) - Still No Smoke!

I believe the doors have to be closed for the smoke to operate on these cars.

Doug

Dennis, I have 3 of these Lionel smoking reefer cars and when I got them, they didn't smoke very good, so I had to open them and repack the smoke units in them every car. Whoever put these together at the factory just put a piece of batting in the smoke unit and they didn't open the batting up like you do when you repack a locomotive smoke unit. After I repacked them, they smoke really well so maybe this will help you. Here are a couple of pictures of the inside of the 2026480 Santa Fe reefer. Good Luck

Gary

Gary,

Thanks for the info! That should help a bunch!  I figured it was something to do with the wick.  I just didn't know what to expect opening it up.  Your pictures will help a lot.  One last thing, I haven't looked to closely yet, but how many screws hold the the shell on?

Thanks again,

Dennis

https://ogrforum.com/...0#155434571248572160

Dennis there are 6 screw that hold on the door runners, and 1 is under the fuel tank. I used a pair of pliers with a rag around the teeth to lift off the fuel tank. It comes off pretty easy there are 2 pins that hold it in. Then you have to remove the trucks to get to the 2 screws at each end of the car. Be careful when you remove the shell there are 2 wires that go to the switch on each door. You don't want to break off the wall that is held on to the chassis. I hope this explains it a little more. Soo Line also does a good job of explaining the shell removal.

Gary

Gary and Soo Line,

Thanks for the help!  I look forward to diving into this!  Unfortunately, firewood calls today !  I'll let you know how it comes out!

Dennis

"... smoking reefer..." Not what I was expecting. Sounds like my son might want one of those...😀

Mark in Oregon

Mark these are nice cars with all the sounds and smoke. I was hoping these new reefers would have been built like the ones from the 6-31783 BNSF ice cold express set where the generator sounds turned on and off like the real reefer cars work. The generator sounds stay on all the time on these cars. You can turn the generator sounds off if you don't want them running all the time which is nice. I bought all 3 of mine from Charles Ro because he had the best price. I'm sure your son would like these cars for all their features.

Gary

@Gary Marsh posted:

I'm sure your son would like these cars for all their features.

Gary

That's probably not what Strummer had in mind...

@catnap posted:

That's probably not what Strummer had in mind...

Exactly... 😄😀😁

Mark in Oregon

Update from original post:

I have put a brand new smoke unit PCB (691-SGSU-A01) in this reefer and still no smoke!  The fan motor comes on but the smoke element does not heat up.

There is continuity across the element.  Resistance is 15.8 ohms (16 ohm resistor).

The on/off switch shows appropriate continuity when on and off.

The wire harness show continuity from end to end (no broken wire)

The pins (HTR and FAN) feeding the wire harness to the smoke unit PCB are all show output voltage when track power is supplied.

The ground pin shows continuity to the track.

The doors are open to release the cherry switches that allow smoke unit to operate.

Basically, I do not know what else to check or what could be causing the issue.  I would appreciate any suggestions/advice on this.

Thanks,

Dennis

@Strummer posted:

"... smoking reefer..." Not what I was expecting. Sounds like my son might want one of those...😀

Mark in Oregon

Had similar sentiments, but didn't blame it on my son! Instead, Officer Stadanko.

I'm sure you're feeling a little frustrated Dennis but we'll figure this out.  Here are my suggestions to try in order listed:

1.  Measure voltage between each smoke element solder pad and common (ground).  If zero, then problem is elsewhere.

a.  If no voltage present, then temporarily remove the door switches from the circuit.  Follow the wires, remove wire nuts, and bypass them.  This refutes the door switches. 

b. If voltage present, then remove the smoke funnel (again) and visually check for smoke.  This refutes funnel blockage.

Steims,

Thank you for the helpful response.  I will give your suggestions a try.  The smoke unit functions on the bench while supply voltage to both the fan and heater.  But, when I install it in the car, the fan spins but no heat.  I believe the cherry switches need to be open sliding doors open) for the smoke unit to operate.  I am sure I tried it both ways but I will continue to work at.

Thanks again,

Dennis