Warning MTH may have another overheating smoke unit problem.

I checked with TW when the issue with the smoke units on the new RS 3's was discovered and I was told the 1's were fine. They have the larger smoke unit with the correct programming in the boards.

Doesn't mean there isn't a problem, just reporting what i was told.

I dont run smoke either so I haven't even turned mine on.

Bob

This was the first question I asked when the RS3 issue arose.  MTH told me it was a different larger smoke unit.  That being said, MTH is double-checking to confirm.  They should have a definitive answer this week. We put one of our RS1 engines and it seemed fine, but I'm just going by what seems to be a lot or a little amount of smoke so take it with a grain of salt. Mark, I know this sounds silly but do you know what level you had your smoke unit on?  Maybe something was adjusted by accident? The item number you supplied is also different than the Long Island RS1s so not sure if that could be something as well. 

The older RS-1s had the larger smoke unit too.  Should be fine if these do as well.  The Alco units with there lower hood means there’s less room inside so I think they run a bit warmer than cab units and full height diesels.

No DCS; conventional only. Item arrived with smoke pot turned up full, and I didn’t adjust it. As I said, very good output last night. This morning, let it run for about 5 minutes, negligible output. Added smoke fluid, but turned it off as soon as I felt the heat.

I am not disputing Mark V. Spadaro.

I am simply addressing RS-1's in general and specifically my new RS-1.

1) The new MTH RS-1's do indeed have the larger smoke units.  At least mine does.  I have a brand new RS-1 from Mr. Muffin's (GM&O custom run 30-20869-1).  I opened up the shell when I received the engine, repacked the smoke batting, and oiled the impeller.  Mine smokes great and does not get hot.

2) I just ran mine around my layout with the smoke turned all the way up for over 5 minutes and it was barely warm to the touch.

So whatever is going on with Mark V. Sparado's RS-1, it does not necessarily effect them all.  And I seriously doubt it has anything to do with the earlier RS-3 issue but admittedly that is pure speculation on my part based on this small sample size of one.

Like Mike H above, my reasonably new RS1, delivered last Christmas, smokes great and has never burned its hood after countless hours of running with smoke set to high output.  After tripping on the RS3 melting hood issue, I opened my rs1 up and confirmed she does have a larger smoke unit and had no evidence of the smoke unit overheating like was clearly the case on my RS3.  That doesn’t mean to negate what Mark is experiencing. Just that he might have a lemon, and it may not be indicative of the entire batch.  

Could be a board problem or it has the wrong heaters in it (there was a problem about 6 years ago where the factory put two 8 ohm heaters in instead of 16 ohms in a few locos). Easiest way to tell is measure the resistance across the solder pads.  Should be 8 ohms.

4 ohms would certainly heat things up, and probably take the smoke FET out before too long.

Won't take fet out since the boards can run 2 smoke unit which are in parallel and effective 4 ohms as far as FET is concerned.  PS-2 or 3 can handle 2 units.

It is possible the smoke fan quit. If so smoke output goes away but heater elements are still on and burn wick and would generate some excess heat.  So the only way to know for sure is have it inspected with shell off.

Lets not forget there is a #1 Gauge flash code for the diesel which has a larger 3 element smoke unit but I think that would have been recognized right away. G

@GGG posted:

Won't take fet out since the boards can run 2 smoke unit which are in parallel and effective 4 ohms as far as FET is concerned.  PS-2 or 3 can handle 2 units.

This is good to know.  I was wondering how it would handle the two smoke units in the Triplex.  I have an older Triplex with PS2 - 5 volt that I have to replace.  And, as you stated, the two smoke units are wired in parallel. (One in the tender, one in the engine).

Mark, I followed up this morning and MTH confirmed with me that the RS1 has the correct settings on the phone with me.  They said the smoke units are physically different and the files were correct.  I would reach out to your dealer or MTH as it might be another issue you are having. 

New MTH RS1 from Muffins last month no probluems here smokes up a storm set med.

If it "smokes up a storm" on medium, you likely do have the problem!  The RS1's have the small smoke unit, and they shouldn't be able to "smoke up a storm".  You risk overheating and damaging the board, smoke unit, and melting the shell.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

If it "smokes up a storm" on medium, you likely do have the problem!  The RS1's have the small smoke unit, and they shouldn't be able to "smoke up a storm".  You risk overheating and damaging the board, smoke unit, and melting the shell.

John, RS-1's have the regular size smoke unit, right?  RS-3's have the small one.

@MikeH posted:

John, RS-1's have the regular size smoke unit, right?  RS-3's have the small one.

In that case, it can "smoke up a storm".

Indeed the RS-1's can kick out the smoke. 😁

It's always amazed me how well MTH locomotives smoke.  This is an old PS-2. 😁

So as a FYI:

RS1 has a normal O smoke unit.

RS3 has the smaller (HO) smoke unit.

I've been inside both models and can confirm that it's accurate.

This process only works on a PC. I am a “Mac User” and I am in a holding pattern until my adult son comes over with his PC to do this process. Hopefully I have all the special cables for this process.

MTH News Flash Smoke Issue - 2021 RailKing RS-3 Diesel Locomotive Smoke Unit Overheating

https://mthtrains.com/news/738

Smoke Issue on MTH YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHyNWMgZIh4

I have never owned a PC: Gary 🚂

@Lou1985 posted:

RS1 has a normal O smoke unit.

RS3 has the smaller (HO) smoke unit.

I've been inside both models and can confirm that it's accurate.

Thanks, Lou.

I looked at the smoke unit in my recent special run CNJ RS-1. It's my first MTH engine, so I really didn't know what was meant by "big" and "small."

Why the smaller ones in the RS-3? Cost saving? Supply issue?

@CNJ Jim posted:

Why the smaller ones in the RS-3? Cost saving? Supply issue?

I have an older Milwaukee RS-3 that also has the small smoke unit.  The switchers can be a challenge to cram everything into the narrower shell.  The RS-3 also has a curvier shell than the RS-1.  I suspect it's simply a case of lacking additional space inside to allow the larger smoke unit.

It's interesting as a number of the MTH Camelback locomotives had the small smoke unit, yet other years had the large smoke unit!  I'm not sure why the same size shell suddenly had room for a bigger smoke unit...

@MichRR714 posted:

The switchers can be a challenge to cram everything into the narrower shell. 

Boy, you're right, Charlie ... it's tight.

I took care of a badly pinched wire I found.

@MichRR714 posted:

It's always amazed me how well MTH locomotives smoke.  This is an old PS-2. 😁

MTH really did a downtown job in getting their smoke units to put it out by the boat load.   Great puffers.  I believe in giving credit where credit is due and they definitely deserve credit on this issue.   

For some reason Lionel smoke units remained anemic for many years.  Not sure why, but in comparison to MTH, MTH wins hands down.

Yesterday my son updated the RailKing RS-3. Lake Superior & Ishpeming. We used his laptop and a USB cable from the laptop to the TIU. This process took about 22 minutes and when it was done the locomotive made a whistle sound like a teakittle & the smoke came on. We had to reinstall the loco and it ran great and every thing works. Looks like we did this correctly.

🇺🇸 Gary 🇺🇦

Glad you got it fixed up.  The ability to fix MTH locos in the field is IMHO a huge bonus over other manufacturers issues.