Smoke, brand new Legacy GP30

Could be that it doesn't have enough smoke fluid.  A new engine should be primed with at least 40 drops of smoke fluid.  My newest Lionel engine smokes like the dickens and I need to add smoke fluid often.

Ron

Are you operating the GP30 with a TMCC or a Legacy controller?

Andrew

I’m running it with Bluetooth.

I made a post a few months ago about my GP30 not smoking. I sent it to Lionel for repair and they just replaced charred smoke batting as if I ran it without fluid. (I didn't) I got it back and it had the same brief anemic smoke output as the first time so I added even more fluid. Then it no longer smoked again. I have gave up on it smoking. I think it is just a poorly designed smoke unit where fluid is not getting in the pot and the batting quickly burns out. After fluid goes through the stack it is expected to flow an inch or two horizontally to the smoke unit and it is not doing that on some of their GP30s. When I first got mine that plastic part was even loose in the engine.

@Johnny Winkler posted:

I made a post a few months ago about my GP30 not smoking. I sent it to Lionel for repair and they just replaced charred smoke batting as if I ran it without fluid. (I didn't) I got it back and it had the same brief anemic smoke output as the first time so I added even more fluid. Then it no longer smoked again. I have gave up on it smoking. I think it is just a poorly designed smoke unit where fluid is not getting in the pot and the batting quickly burns out. After fluid goes through the stack it is expected to flow an inch or two horizontally to the smoke unit and it is not doing that on some of their GP30s. When I first got mine that plastic part was even loose in the engine.

I have early GP7s that are the same way.  Fortunately the hatch comes off and you can get directly into the smoke unit that way.  This is the way I fill mine unless I'm adding just a little to top off.

You can read about it here.

I never smelled anything burning when it was actually smoking.  Right now, I just smell the scented oil being blown out the stack and the area around the stack is warm. I’ll give it more time.

I have the same issue with both of my new Legacy GP30s.  I  think I'm going to just turn of the smoke unit .

I will say that I have had better luck using Lionel premium getting the fluid in the unit than others.  Not a criticism of other fluids, just an observation.

This smoke configuration has been often used in the past by Lionel in diesels.

Slow on the fluid as you pour and saturate...40 drops.

Use a straw,  block one stack with your finger and blow down the other.  Reverse and repeat.

Smoke fluid is sitting horizontally in the passage tube to the smoke unit.

Adding more and blowing down the stack worked. Thanks for your help.

Well, mine worked too. 40 plus drops put in slowly is the key. Lionel needs to tell us 40 instead of 20. It smokes  on the conductor's side only though but hopefully it will get better with time.

@Soo Line posted:

This smoke configuration has been often used in the past by Lionel in diesels.

Slow on the fluid as you pour and saturate...40 drops.

Use a straw,  block one stack with your finger and blow down the other.  Reverse and repeat.

Smoke fluid is sitting horizontally in the passage tube to the smoke unit.

Thanks Soo Line.

Where is the second smoke exhaust stack on the GP30?

Andrew

@falconservice posted:

Where is the second smoke exhaust stack on the GP30?

Andrew

Must be on the bottom!

Smoke stream is weaker today and hard to see. I add fluid and it spits it out all around the stack in a big mess. Smoke stream never has been the triple stream I see on the GP30 youtube videos. Still disapointed.

@Johnny Winkler posted:

Smoke stream is weaker today and hard to see. I add fluid and it spits it out all around the stack in a big mess. Smoke stream never has been the triple stream I see on the GP30 youtube videos. Still disapointed.

Pretty simple if it’s making a mess then the fluid isn’t getting too the batting. Or you have too much.

make sure to only add fluid with the smoke turned off. Your not going to push fluid down with the fan pushing back

I guess the batting got partially scorched from not being properly primed (20 drops the first time) and that is the reason it just want smoke much or absorb fluid. I don't want to take it apart again. No,I don't fill it with the fan running. Thanks zhubl.

Don't give up !

Your almost there.  Diesels are easy to work on.

Go back in and replace the smoke wicking if it needs it.  Make sure there are no obstructions to the smoke being able to exit.

If there is a smoke gasket between the exit and the shell and it is messed up, you can make a new one.

Michael's (the Craft store) sells 8x11 sheets of a black rubber like material great for gaskets.  Just cut to suit.  Use the old one as a template.  The sheets are sticky on one side.

I have included pictures.

@Soo Line posted:

Don't give up !

Your almost there.  Diesels are easy to work on.

Go back in and replace the smoke wicking if it needs it.  Make sure there are no obstructions to the smoke being able to exit.

If there is a smoke gasket between the exit and the shell and it is messed up, you can make a new one.

Michael's (the Craft store) sells 8x11 sheets of a black rubber like material great for gaskets.  Just cut to suit.  Use the old one as a template.  The sheets are sticky on one side.

I have included pictures.

Thank you very much,Soo Line.