Vision Line Triplex Tender Smoke

I have the Triplex as well, same issue,  the stack (tube) is getting clogged.  Try blowing air down the tube.  That got mine going again.

scott Kelly

I started keeping a can of air duster around for this. I'm not sure what the mechanics of the problem are but it just seems like certain smoke units are more prone to this than others. I think @rscott is right. The smoke fluid blocks the actual smoke. A quick puff of air should fix it. I wonder if fluffing the batting in the smoke unit would help.

Thanks guys will try what you suggested 👍🏼

I would suggest replacing the smoke wick and filling with 20 drops or less and wait a few minutes while the smoke wick get saturated, then only add smoke fluid when the smoke slows down but do not over fill smoke unit, it should then work perfectly, your batting could be black and crusty which would mean your wick has been cooked!

Alan

Classic fluid bubble it sounds like.  Typically, a puff of air down the stack does the trick.  I caution using canned air as that may be too much of a good thing.  I use one of these, I think they were made for ears.

I did have the MTH triplex and I now have the Lionel version.

Both have the same problem which does require a slight puff of air in the rear stack.

I suspect it's the length and route the smoke takes from the smoke unit.  I haven't looked to see how it gets to the stack on the tender, however the stack exits at the bottom of the tender.  That being the case, that's a perfect route for a smoke bubble to form.

I had a problem with no smoke from whistle - send back to Lionel in concord - got back today with report that they just added 9 drops to main stack and he whistle smoked ok. but when I put it on track the front stack and tender worked fine but nothing from the whistle!   i have not overfilled the smoke unit, have tries all levels od smoke (low.med,high) and no change   i do have to blow some air down tender every no and then but that smoke unit is fine.. sending  back is a pain  any ideas?

ps the sounds ,bell, whistle,crew talk forward,reverse all work fine - using cab2 /990

@ted K check out this thread here.

Another point is from Sean's pictures, the tube for the whistle smoke runs right over the ban intake, it could be restricting airflow enough to affect the smoke as well.

thanks i wonder why Lionel says it works fine  after i sent back to them and then they sent it back to me saying that it works fine!  will keep running and if it does't improve its going back For 2200 would next better

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@gunrunnerjohn do you suppose we could 3D print a new part that has the tube coming off at an angle? Instead of straight over the intake? Not that I need another project or anything

@BillYo414 posted:

@gunrunnerjohn do you suppose we could 3D print a new part that has the tube coming off at an angle? Instead of straight over the intake? Not that I need another project or anything

I can't say, I haven't looked inside to see if there is room to change the shape or routing of the tube.

Gotcha. Do you have a clearer picture that shows the part number of that smoke unit? Looks like Lionel 691-DSMK-000 rev 2 to me.

I don't have a picture, but I'm sure they used the standard double smoke unit.  There are several varieties of them, at least two, one with thermistors and one without.

I'll inject a little story here about smoke units! I had an overhead G Scale layout in my office and a display  in front office that I would change every 4 or 5 weeks!  I had a MTH Erie Triplex set up on rollers to run!  I put Mega Steam "coal" scent in and fired it up! The kids loved It!! It was super realistic as next door tenant called checking to see if something was burning!! Mega steam has many scents available!