NW 2

I think you're doing the right thing.

Called Lionel no problems getting it set up to be shipped back and fixed. I am glad I have the original UPS shipping box. I asked if any other Lionchief NW2 locomotives had had a similar problem and "none sir" was the answer. Ah, good I have a fluke engine, flukes happen a whole line would be bad. Now to get a new  transformer assuming I don't have to pay for repairs, probably a MTH Z1000.

Sorry to hear you had to ship your NW-2 back for repairs.

My "problem" is the smoke works, but is coming out under the front instead of out the two stacks on top.  Anybody know why? Please see attached video.

Crossing my fingers because everything else (announcements, engine sounds, bell, horn, remote coupling, etc.) work fine.

Your problem is doubtless the alignment of the smoke unit and the shell.  It could be a missing gasket, bent smoke unit mount, or more probably the manifold that directs the smoke to the two stacks is out of place.  If you remove the shell, you should be able to see what is going on.

gunrunnerjohn,

Yikes!  Remove the shell?!?  I dunno...seems like a major operation to me.  This would be a BIG step up for me!  I had enough hassles just getting the smoke to work on our Strasburg RTR set's steamer.  And, then it is kind of weak after looping around the mainline a dozen times.

In general, I  understand Lionel's smoke is marginal at best.  Mega-Steam product appears to be much better from the testimonials I've read on their website...hmmmm, wait...

If smoke is coming out like you say, the only fix is going to be inside the shell.  If you're not thinking you can remove the shell, I'd send it back to Lionel to be fixed.

The shell is easy, just undo the screw in the front and it lifts up and take a look. You may need a Japanese industrial standard screw driver. Here is a topic with it opened up.

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/t...-nw2-switcher?page=2

It does concern my the lack of a shroud in this picture.

As for a new transformer it is mostly to have a faster breaker, and I noticed the electro couplers really chewed through the watts (coaches noticeably dim) the Lionel Post war TW ver. B I own. The GW-180 is just out of my price range and has most of the features on automatic voltage cutting of the more advanced ZW-L.

From this picture it seems obvious that the likely problem is the manifold is not aligned with the stacks, it's very easy for this to get twisted and cause what you see.  It's also very easy to fix.

I mustered up some courage and removed the shell from my Southern NW-2.  Yes, the smoke manifold seemed to be mis-aligned as there was smoke fluid spreading around the top of the manifold.  Not sure how to get the manifold aligned with the stack when re-installing the shell over it.  Frankly, when I struggled to get that rear clip in place, I could not be sure how accurate the stacks were lining up with the manifold.

I turned off the smoke for now because I was using the marginal smoke fluid I got with the Lionel Strasburg steamer.  Coal smell coming from an NW-2 just didn't seem right...

You just twist the manifold to the proper orientation and put the shell back on.  You can peek down the stack and make sure it's in place.

Or maybe more calls, the jury is still out!

Ah, finally I got mine back. What is a RCMC, Radio control manual control? It was replaced.

Sounds better too, properly balanced, you can hear the horn, crew talk, and bell over the engine rev, and the volume control works better too.

I believe M is motor.  Combined board for RC and Motor Control. G

Interesting that they call it an RCMC, which is the term for the Legacy electronics board.  The LC+ parts breakdown just calls it a PCB.

LIONCHIEF PCB / NW-2 / SOUTHERN 682166

Well, we already know they are not completely consistent with naming convention.  Remember the smart smoke conversation.

Of course that is a tech's note in the invoice system.  And that is usually an abbreviated text box.  So consistence can vary, probably not enough space to call it a  "Lionchief plus PCB NW-2"  G 

Thank you all.

Hm, the internal layout makes one wonder how a calf for the other three would be worked out. The former calf unit of BN NW2 546 is BN NW2 547 after the rebuild from a TR2. I don't know how long BN kept it as a TR2 cow calf set, if at all under the BN name.

Anybody have this problem with the remote coupling/decoupling?  Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't.  When it does work, there is an associated buzzing sound as the coupling is made.  And, I have consistently done the coupling on tangent (straight) sections of track.  Often I have to press the button on the remote a total of four times instead of two as instructed.

I really like this engine and what it can do.  My two grandsons learned the operation of the remote in a flash.

Yes, I have done that. Maybe I do not have enough juice applied to the rails.  I have the CW-80 transformer that came with our Strasburg set.  I usually don't "peg" the throttle, rather set it around half way.

The only other load on the CW-80 is for two remote switches.  Here's a photo.

Fastrack switches shouldn't present enough of a load to make any difference here.  Even while switching, they draw very little power.

Simple test is to raise the voltage to 18V and test again.  If it opens reliably, that is the issue.

I imagine that for LC+ it is expected to be operated in a command level environment with track voltage at 18V.  So the coupler circuit is probably optimized for that level.

It runs on lower voltage, but things like smoke output and coupler operation may be effected.   G

OK.  Thanks!  Should I apply maximum power to the throttle?

Yes or try it at different but higher levels.  3/4 or 7/8.  CW-80 max output is 18V so you won't hurt anything.   G

I run into the not uncoupling issue at times, seems to show up in the TW named 14-16 volt range. I assume graphite is how to fix a sticky electro-coupler? After coming back the rear one has a hard time closing properly.