Postwar Celebration 773 Smoke unit?

Also should say this is the unit in my engine

Ah Yes, someone I know has the same engine (which was part of Set #6-31739 shown in Lionel's 2005 Vol. 1 catalog) and experienced the same issue, but I don't know what he ended up doing.  I'm just including the Set Number here as perhaps it may help some of the more technically-oriented members on the Forum to assist you.

Good Luck!

Have you applied a voltage right to the motor? If, in fact, the motor is bad you can replace the motor. Lionel offers two types that size. One has the mounting holes parallel with the flats and the other is on the diagonal.

The unit with the 6 ohm resistor won’t work. Its meant to be used with an AC regulator.

First make sure the motor is the issue.

Pete

You can also use the MTH motor in that smoke unit, there's plenty of room as it uses the same size motor as is on that smoke unit.  There's no need to buy a whole smoke unit for a $6 motor.

thanks for your replies everyone! Besides Lionels part website, does anyone know where I can get the motor(s)? (It’s the horizontal holes type) I might try the MTH one

Ok I can confirm it is NOT the motor, as when I tested it, it worked, so it’s either the plug from the motor to the circuit board is damaged, or the circuit board itself, or the heater element.  Any ideas?

I have the same 773 - on mine the motor was running in the wrong direction  - I reversed the wires

Also I opened the air hole on the top of the unit as per the Lionel service video and I changed the resistor to a 16 or 18 ohm I think - it worked much better

Oh yeah - Alex M put in a superchuffer

My god that super chuffer is awesome!

yeah it was actually the plug leading from the motor to the board, as it was bent and damaged. But I managed to find a replacement unit, since I don’t feel comfortable with repairing circuit boards, and it’s on its way

@dorfj2 posted:

Oh yeah - Alex M put in a superchuffer

Cool looking layout dorfj2!

Who is Alex M? I bought a superchuffer for the same PWC 773, but the schematic that comes with the superchuffer is worthless. I’d love to find someone who can install it.

Sam,

Exactly what portion of this is worthless?  It seems quite clear to me.

Mike

@Sam Jumper posted:

Cool looking layout dorfj2!

Who is Alex M? I bought a superchuffer for the same PWC 773, but the schematic that comes with the superchuffer is worthless. I’d love to find someone who can install it.

I'm also curious what you find worthless about the schematic?  What do you think it should look like?

@Sam Jumper posted:

Cool looking layout dorfj2!

Who is Alex M? I bought a superchuffer for the same PWC 773, but the schematic that comes with the superchuffer is worthless. I’d love to find someone who can install it.

Alex M is an experienced Lionel service technician who has been referred to (and complimented) on this Forum numerous times.  Just do a Search on this Forum by typing in 'Alex M' and his profile will pop up which includes his email address etc.

dorfj2 - enjoyed your video but wished you'd used 'landscape' mode when you made it so I could see more of your layout.  Oh well, maybe next time. 

It’s been awhile. There’s a second schematic using the Lionel TMCC board. What’s in the PWC 773 doesn’t match that. I think it lacks the AC regulator. It’s not so straight forward.

It would be pretty difficult for me to come up with a schematic for every possible scenario, so I do a couple of generic ones.  I'd have to have a sample of every TMCC steamer built and a lot of time to do model-specific schematics, that would make the price of this product prohibitive.  However, as a rule, most TMCC locomotives have similar configurations, and hundreds of these units have been installed in a variety of different makes and models.  There is a certain amount of familiarity with how the TMCC hardware works assumed, that is true.

FWIW, the presence or absence of the AC regulator doesn't change the wiring of the Super-Chuffer at all.

Sorry about the video quality - that’s from a couple of years ago using my old iPhone 6

I also did a couple of other modifications to that engine - I removed the GIANT  PWC engineer and fireman and replaced them with scale Lionel guys and I installed a cab back wall from the vision line Hudson - the parts were available from Lionel for about $20 👍🏼
I shortened the distance between the engine and tender by replacing the PWC drawbar with an original postwar drawbar - looks much better

The layout is no longer with us - took everything apart earlier this year - we are in the process of relocating and everything is in storage

Thank you for the nice comments

Joe S

Ok, so Turns out the guys I Ordered my replacement smoke unit from didn't have the part, they didn't charge me, but now I'm kind of clueless about what to do next.

If I were to use an MTH smoke unit in my 773, how would I go about wiring it? The only connection to the mainboard on the engine is a 5 wire white plastic plug. and from what I've seen, that won't work with the MTH ones.

And speaking of plugs. The issue with my old smoke unit was The Plug from the motor to the board. the wires had somehow come loose. and I have no idea how they go in

If anyone knows what is the best course of action for me to take, please let me know.

Can you post a picture of your smoke unit wiring fiasco? We can probably help you sort that out if we can see the problem.

If your motor is working, but smoke is not being made, it may be the resistor that went bad. They ARE available form Lionel under part number 691RES3W22. It can be tested for a break using continuity with a multi-meter.

Unless the smoke unit itself has burned up, the motor, wick, and resistor are easily exchanged.