Premier SD80MAC and ES44AC engine smoke problem

Mike,

1. Did you run them long enough for the smoke unit to fully heat up ?

2. I believe these are both fan-driven smoke units. If you put your ear to the engine, can you feel or hear the sound of the fan spinning, even though no smoke is coming out ?

3. If they've been sitting you may need to add more fluid.

Hi Richie, I can feel the fans blowing and I ran them both for about 20 minutes. Do I need to run them longer? I also set the smoke level to max!

I would suggest 40 drops of fluid.  MTH has one pile of wicking in there and it will absorb 20 drops without notice.

If you don't run without enough fluid you will burn up the wicking and it will need replacing.

MTH also uses 2 smoke elements which produce a lot of smoke but also require more fluid.

@Soo Line posted:

I would suggest 40 drops of fluid.  MTH has one pile of wicking in there and it will absorb 20 drops without notice.

If you don't run without enough fluid you will burn up the wicking and it will need replacing.

MTH also uses 2 smoke elements which produce a lot of smoke but also require more fluid.

So what your saying is to add 25 more drops?

Yes.

As well, you mentioned that the units (smoke) have not been used which would make them really dry.

Ok I will give that a try, do I have to run for amount of time to get them hot enough?

Hi Mike, how have you been?

Whats the voltage you are running these at? My MTH engines start smoking within the first 30 seconds or so.

@Lehigh Valley Railroad posted:

Hi Mike, how have you been?

Whats the voltage you are running these at? My MTH engines start smoking within the first 30 seconds or so.

Hey how you doing! I am running them at 18v.

I would add more fluid. A dry MTH a normally add a full dropper of fluid to. After that, I would say open up to check the wicks.

ok. I will give that a try! I would think think the wicks should be good as I haven never used them. But then again you never know!

As for everything else, just plugging away at the layout and thinking about some changes already! LOL

So I gave that a try and the both smoke, now the problem is the ES44ac smokes out from under the shell, not the smoke stack. I will check it out tomorrow.

The idea Mike is to get fluid introduced to what appears to be...very dry wicking.

If you can get some smoke on a M medium setting...then I would add more fluid.

The wick in there is a long cord like affair...stuffed in the bowl and squeezed between the two elements.

The idea is to get the entire wick saturated and then just 25 drops will top it up when needed.

Let us know if you get smoke.

If the smoke comes out of the shell and not the stack, you have a smoke fluid bubble.  Blow down the stack and it should clear it out.

Thanks Ron, I will give that a try!

Mike - FWIW, I now use syringe bottles like the ones shown about 12 posts down in the below thread to avoid messes and bubbles. I think I got a lifetime assortment off the big A for less than $10.

Smoke fluid syringes? | O Gauge Railroading On Line Forum (ogaugerr.com)

@Richie C. posted:

Mike - FWIW, I now use syringe bottles like the ones shown about 12 posts down in the below thread to avoid messes and bubbles. I think I got a lifetime assortment off the big A for less than $10.

Smoke fluid syringes? | O Gauge Railroading On Line Forum (ogaugerr.com)

Thanks Richie, I just ordered a  5 pack for $6.. plus tax. Great idea!

Well guys I am happy to tell you that I got both engines smoking! Not happy how I had to go about it! I wish I would have taken a photo before I fixed the problem. Mind you I took everyone's advice and tried them all, last I tried Ron's idea of blowing down the smoke stack with no improvement!  So I took the shell off, now mind you I bought this right from MTH, anyways when I got the shell off the smoke unit was backwords! I am lucky I didn't fry the fan motor as the first round of fluid was dropping right on top of it. I pulled it off and turned it around so the opening for the fluid was right below the smoke stack, added a little more fluid and seams to work fine now. I just wish it was a little more. Here is a video I know its hard to tell but they both are smoking!

No problem seeing smoke

Larry

Thanks Larry, I wish I would have done it sooner, I think its really cool with the smoke going, but I have to open the windows! LOL

@mike g. posted:

Thanks Richie, I just ordered a  5 pack for $6.. plus tax. Great idea!

Well guys I am happy to tell you that I got both engines smoking! Not happy how I had to go about it! I wish I would have taken a photo before I fixed the problem. Mind you I took everyone's advice and tried them all, last I tried Ron's idea of blowing down the smoke stack with no improvement!  So I took the shell off, now mind you I bought this right from MTH, anyways when I got the shell off the smoke unit was backwords! I am lucky I didn't fry the fan motor as the first round of fluid was dropping right on top of it. I pulled it off and turned it around so the opening for the fluid was right below the smoke stack, added a little more fluid and seams to work fine now. I just wish it was a little more. Here is a video I know its hard to tell but they both are smoking!

Wow Mike you are lucky it didn't do damage with the smoke unit in backwards.  Weird it was backwards.  I guess it was assembled on a Friday.  Good catch though.  Looks like you are smoking well now but as Rich Melvin would say "Diesels aren't supposed to smoke unless they aren't working properly" or to some effect to that.  LOL!  Personally I like smoking diesels for about 5 minutes and then I ramp the units down or off.  Enjoy!  Always good to hear a success story.

Thanks Marty, I thought I was lucky also! Kind of makes me want to check any new engine I may get on the future.