Just curious if anyone else has had this issue or found a remedy.
The set #31960, loco #28649.
Thanks!!
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No worries - if anyone asks, you can chatter on about boiler blowdowns, cylinder drains and all sorts of other vapours that came out from underneath steamers. Seriously though, there may be a leak of some sort at the unit.
Probably the stack alignment or a gasket misplaced. If that smoke unit isn't lined up exactly with the gasket in place, smoke will leak and go everywhere.
I don't see the typical felt gasket on the parts list, maybe you should add one if the smoke unit is properly aligned with the stack. The one below would be a good choice.
I just upgraded the series #2 Polar Express #1225 to TMCC with fan driven smoke, that will fix it. 
That must be it, I don't recall a gasket in there.
DuPage is two weeks away, another part added to the shopping list!
Thanks GRJ, and Thanks Firewood for the video!!
Another possibility is the blow-by from the piston, many of those units have some leakage around the piston into the boiler.
I replaced the smoke unit once and thought I bought a spare as well. There is no gasket with the replacement.
I love it when my PE does that! For me it happens usually after filling up the smoke unit.
Within a short time though, most of the smoke comes out of just the top of the stack and only slightly some from the cylinders below. I like it so much, that when smoke starts to not come from the bottom, I add a few drops more to try to maintain it.
It's kind of hit or miss.
Is it the same PE you asked about in this link:
Originally Posted by ogaugeguy:
Is it the same PE you asked about in this link:
Just might be. Is that OK?
My Lionel Reading 2100 T-1 4-8-4 that was upgraded to Tmcc does the same thing.
When I add smoke fluid a massive amount of smoke comes out of the bottom until I blow into the stack. Then a small amount of smoke remains coming out from the bottom.
I believe there is something wrong with the smoke unit because the amount of smoke is incredible. This smoke unit puts out heavier amount of smoke then my Lionel VL Big Boy.
This is not a concern or complaint, I enjoy the heavy amount of smoke. My guess is the smoke unit is getting too much voltage? I don't believe the unit will last much longer, I will enjoy it until it burns out.
Bob
Originally Posted by Jeff T:
Certainly is okay Jeff. It might just, as some have previously said, that the loose tolerance of the bearing in that mechanical piston coupled with wear from use has worsened that tolerance. I know that's an issue with the Baby Mikados who's bottom smoking becomes increasingly worse the more run time the engines have since the bearings are constantly moving and wearing away independent of the smoke unit being turned on.
My Baby Mikado smokes more from the bottom because of the increased running it's had since I got it. Some of the folks who've seen it like it as it's unique for them.
Originally Posted by ogaugeguy:
Is it the same PE you asked about in this link:
Just might be. Is that OK?
Mine does that too. Doesn't bother me tho
The first post also asked if someone had found a remedy. I was hoping that two years later one of the wizards around here might have come up with something.
In the post from two years ago there were no solutions offered. At least GRJ came up with the gasket that I will certainly try!
