Need recommendation for a fan style smoke unit to replace puffer unit on conventional Lionel 0-8-0 loco.

I've attached a PDF with some small Lionel smoke units that may be appropriate for your task.  I'm looking into similar possibilities for a couple of small locomotives.  These are the smallest models I could find at Lionel.

You will most likely have to at least change the resistor in a couple of these, but they seem to be the pick for fan driven small units.

Hmmmm Deja Vu! We were just talking about that! LOL

Funny thing about that Dennis.   I decided to take a look and see what the smallest ones I could find at Lionel looked like.

I think that all or at least three of these small units have 8 Ohm resistors and would therefore require an AC regulator unless the resistor is changed. I assume that for a conventional engine they'd just be wired to track power?

Uhh... I specifically mentioned changing the resistor, hardly a major point.

Hmmm, I know of at least 2-3 TMCC Engines that I would want to convert. Along with a gaggle of conventional engines that i want to convert to TMCC and Fan Driven Smoke if possible!

I have both a scale 0-8-0 with TMCC and a semi scale version. Their construction is very similar. This is smoke unit used in the scale engine.

Regardless of which one you select you will have to fabricate a bracket and also modify the circuit. This one is a "semi smart" unit but can be dumbed down for conventional use by replacing the resistor (as noted above) and bypassing the smoke drive circuitry. Depending on which unit you use you might also have to fabricate a 3-5V DC  circuit to drive the motor.

Pete

Pete, that one is too big for many applications, which is why I looked for the smaller ones I listed.  And, if you use the Super-Chuffer board, the 5V isn't a factor.

Smaller is usually better. I was actually a bit surprised this big unit fits in an 0-8-0 but it does. The starter set does included the lever mechanism to move the piston and that takes up some real estate in addition to the puffer unit itself. The super puffer would be icing on the cake if the OP decides to go for it.

Pete

When I put a fan driven smoke unit in for a puffer, I rip out all the cam stuff unless it's impossible.  Usually, you can take everything out but the actual axle cam, and that doesn't get in the way.

I do that as well John. The point I was making is after you remove the puffer and cam assembly there should be room for the bigger unit. Some of the smaller units require more height. Its nice to have a few to try before committing to a particular unit.

Pete

It would be nice to have a sample of each, I may order a couple to have them around.  Most of the "stock" Lionel square units are too long to fit in many of the locomotives with the puffers.