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Sent my new Lionchief+ B&O to Lionel Customer Service to get its smoke unit fixed.

Out of the box, the unit barely produced smoke and even that was intermittent.

Sent the loco to Lionel Customer Service last Thursday and they shipped it back to me on Monday - pretty quick.

The tech replaced the DC smoke motor/miniature fan and fiberglass batting.

So far, smoke is better than it has ever been.

RickM46

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Before I ordered mine, I had read somewhere that the smoke units had issues; but, I took a shot anyway.

It took 2 calls to customer service first.

On the first call, the rep asked me to see the Lionel video 'Smoke Refill 101'.  I did and followed that video's suggestions.  Still no smoke.

On the 2nd call, another rep gave me an RA number and sent me an RA email.

You have to return the loco, tender, remote, a copy of your sales receipt for warranty service, a letter stating the problem, and include your return address, the RA number, and print the RA number on the sides of the shipping box.

I had to pay shipping there.

The Trainworld outer box that I sent it in was on its last legs; so Lionel sent it back in a new outer box - nice touch.

The Lionel tech did no damage to the loco - just as pristine as when I sent it.

RickM46

 

Last edited by RickM46

I have made the following discovery regarding smoke production in my Lionchief+ B&O locomotive.

After its repair, it did produce smoke but a bit meager; but, that was using the supplied wall power supply.

Today, I connected its track to the ZW-L and ran it.

Big differences:

It used to take about 4 minutes to get some whisps of smoke; but now, less than a minute.

When I throttled up, smoke production decreased and you only got some smoke when at a slow speed; but now, she produces nice smoke at moderate speed.

So the ZW-L is supplying the necessary amperage for the smoke unit.

Happy Camper

I have made another significant discovery regarding smoke production in my LC+ B&O:

First, I was starving the unit of fluid by using the MegaSteam needle dispenser; the drops of fluid out of it are micro drops - you have to at least double the number of drops (good dispenser though, great for getting fluid down the stack).  However, as soon as I began using the Lionel pipette and putting 1 line of drops in the stack, smoke production went from anemic to almost as good as my Big Boy.

Second, I was being conservative with my ZW-L and only supplying about 16 volts to the track.  Today, I increased that to 17.96 (all the way up on the ZW-L lever), and the smoke unit came to life almost immediately with Big Boy like smoke production - well darn close.

RickM46

Last edited by RickM46
Originally Posted by BARailroad:

I have a LC+ Hudson, use Mega Steam, and use a MRC Dual Power transformer.  I get much better smoke production if I run the engine using maximum throttle.  

Yep, I believe getting enough fluid into the stack and enough voltage on the track makes a big difference.  You just got to make sure you don't let the unit run dry. 16 volts does not get it.

Due to my senior moments, I have been keeping a log for each loco of when I last added fluid (MegaSteam) and the quantity.

RickM46

 

Rick 

Thanks for the insight on the LC+ smoke units I am having the same issues.

I use a ZW-80 each for our outer 2 lines and I just bought a MTH 1000 to replace the old "Big Boy" ZW I was using for the 3rd inner line after I had read on this Forum that I could "burn up" engines and sound systems. I'll now use the Old ZW for the accessories.

Originally Posted by M1FredQ:

Rick 

Thanks for the insight on the LC+ smoke units I am having the same issues.

I use a ZW-80 each for our outer 2 lines and I just bought a MTH 1000 to replace the old "Big Boy" ZW I was using for the 3rd inner line after I had read on this Forum that I could "burn up" engines and sound systems. I'll now use the Old ZW for the accessories.

To be sure my ZW-L was not putting out over 18v, I got access to a true RMS digital multi-meter and made sure that when I turned the ZW-L all the way up to 20v on its lever, there was not more than 18v coming out of its hot post.  My meter said it was putting out 17.96v while at 20v on the lever.  That 17.96v made a dramatic change to smoke production in the B&O.  I read somewhere that the ZW-L is capped at 18v which it is.  Also read somewhere or maybe a Lionel video that accessories and their lights last longer at ~15v (maybe 14v)??.  That same place said that the light housings on switches tend to melt at too high a voltage.

RickM46

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