Yellow Staining around Lionel Smoke Stack

I'd like to know how you "overuse" a smoke unit??

Perhaps it was run with an unsuitable type of smoke fluid, or even run without any fluid at all until the smoke unit burned out? 

I've heard that happens with cigars.....

Correct.

Maybe "Improper Use" would be more accurate.  I use the heck out of mine.  But I do so responsibly. 

Overuse, misuse, abuse, pick one 

I pick "Improper Use" as it seems to fit.

Good. Now how about that topic? 

I have not seen any smoke residue that causes the staining that you are describing... do you have a photo?

 

But I have seen a slight painting flaws in some of these engines around the stack inside and out. they appear "light" and do not get good spray (paint) coverage. 

 

I touch up mine with acrylic paint if needed... BTW Polly Scale engine black is a perfect match for modern Lionel engines and tenders. Not sure about the graphite colors.

 

Another "pet" peeve of mine is the grey plated pilot wheels that Lionel uses on all their "scale" pilots, I paint these black to match the drivers and the boiler.

Helps fool the eye that they are closer to scale...

How do you know the boost button was pressed so much?

J Daddy - Yes, the staining has occurred on the graphite. Will be able to take a photo this Friday. Jeb from JT's Megasteam actually just wrote to me describing how he's seen this before and it takes a gentle cleaning with 70% alcohol to remove. Will report back with the results.

 

As for what caused the staining, I have no idea but it was obviously related to the abuse of the unit. When I opened it up the fluid inside was a dark brown sludge and the element and surrounding PCB board were burnt to a crisp.

yellow staining, may be time to see your urologist

Or stand closer to the urinal.........

I would have liked to seen a photo, but it almost sounds like something I would have liked. Good Luck.

Holy smokes, this thread has been so Hijacked 

Have you tried the isopropyl alcohol? It would be nice to know if this worked, I would be very careful with this, I have some E6's that had dirt and oil smudges on them, when I used a little bit on a rag a work on the stains it started to fade the silver so I stopped and stuck with soap and water!

 

It would be nice to know what paint will match the graphite smoke box for touch up.

 

I have had issues with pealing paint as well but its only from the inside of the stack and clearly was from primer / paint mis-hap at the plant.

 

 

I'll be able to report back with before and after photos on Friday. I agree, if Dawn and a toothbrush doesn't work first then I'll get the 70% out.

 

My thanks to Jeb and J Daddy for the on topic input 

Addendum...isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) seems to work well with cast metal steam engines. It is not recommended for use on plastic diesel shells. The Dawn detergent method is also workable and my rule of thumb is try the easiest fix first. Good luck with the project.

 

If all else fails, try a small amount of "Eliminator" from JT's Mega-Steam. see www.megasteam.com. It is designed to safely clean and eliminate the smell from the old smelly smoke units...that same magic formula might just clean that old smoke unit residue on that smoke stack.

Nick, you just might be getting some in your mail!

 

Jeb

Goodness Jeb, this will be the second time you've sent me one of your products free of charge. Do not let me forget at this coming York I need to either buy you a drink at TGI's or a gallon of something from your booth 

I had this happen on a MTH Dreyfuss. A q-tip and some rubbing alchohol took care of it.

Okay guys, got home today and got straight to work on the stain. Of course I forgot to take a photo of it first 

 

The good news though is it's gone. A good stern scrubbing with a toothbrush soaked in Dawn and warm water took the majority off, while the crevice behind the Worthington feedwater heater (the box thing in front of the stack) required the Q-tip and 70% alcohol. The graphite did not fade and looks like new again.

 

Jeb's eliminator was also waiting for me. This stuff seriously smells like a delightful lemon lime candy. As per the instructions for the best results I'm going to let it saturate the unit overnight and will run it tomorrow. It already smells lemony fresh just sitting in the unit 

 

Jeb is a class act, many thanks again and I'll see you in October