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...Lionel #6-18006 READING T-1 4-8-4 Steamer?

I can't see anything in the manual.  Does this mean she'll smoke whether I like it or not?  The wick will fry if I let it run dry - right?

This is a honker of an engine and tender coming in at 28" long. It took me a bit to work the kinks out after she sat on a shelf, or in a box, for decades. My O42 curves are a little tight, so the connecting plug was causing a bind between engine and tender. I wish those wires were a bit longer.

Ponz 

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D&H 65 posted:

Ponz: It's been a long time since I sold my 18006 T-1, but it does have a "puffer" (with piston) smoke unit as I recollect. The one positive way to disable smoke would be to pop the boiler off the chassis and just cut the wire going to the smoke resistor. Tape the end of the cut wire or use a wire-nut to cover the end and re-assemble.

Yep - a puffer and it puffs rather well!  So well, I'd like a break now and then.  An on/off switch would be nice!

Ponz

AmeenTrainGuy posted:

Underneath the engine, there is a wire attached to a flat metal washer that is screwed into the engine frame. When removed the smoke unit will be shut off. If you can post a pic of the top portion of the underside of the engine, I can identify whether your engine has it.

I'll look

Ponz

AmeenTrainGuy posted:

Underneath the engine, there is a wire attached to a flat metal washer that is screwed into the engine frame. When removed the smoke unit will be shut off. If you can post a pic of the top portion of the underside of the engine, I can identify whether your engine has it.

Nope.  Not a wire to be seen anywhere.

Ponz

Chuck Sartor posted:

The smoke unit is permanently connected to power. No on/off switch on this engine. Either disconnect the wire at the e-unit lug, or don't put any smoke fluid in it.  It's not likely to burn out. Sounds like TrainGuy is thinking of LGB.

Any wire would require opening up the engine, which I'd rather not do.  What makes you think the wick wouldn't fry if I run her without fluid?

Ponz

Chuck Sartor posted:

Because the engine has a 27 ohm (14 volt) heater resistor. You would have to run the engine way too fast for it to get hot enough. the heater mounts vertically and tip of the wick sits in a small pool of smoke fluid at the bottom of the smoke generator. It will need eventual replacing, like they all do.

I half understand - I think.  If I'm running at, let's say at 10/12 volts, the smoker is getting hot enough to produce smoke.  So when the fluid runs out why doesn't that heat that produced the smoke cook the wick?

This beast is so heavy and I have it pulling so many scale Pecos River or Heavyweight Pullmans cars that I need 14 volts to get her going really fast.

Sorry I'm being so dense.

Ponz

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