AF 283 smokes better in reverse than in forward.

@rick s posted:

I am running just the engine on my layout.  No cars.  I am at the same voltage in forward and reverse because I am changing direction by using the direction button on my transformer.  The engine puts out a lot more smoke in reverse than in forward.  In fact, in forward it doesn't smoke enough.  The choo choo works great and sounds the same in both directions.  Is this a known issue that can be fixed?

This is what I have done when I have come across this problem.

Check to make sue that one wire from the smoke unit is connected to one of the brush tubes which in turn connects to a wire going back to the front tender truck rivet.

The other wire from the smoke unit I connect to one side of the field coil which gets full track voltage in the forward direction. If you connect the wire to the other side of the field coil you get less smoke in forward.

You should end up with good smoke in forward and less in reverse but this never bothered me this way. Or alternatively you could add a fith wire as AC did on some engines. This is easier to do with the direct wiring from engine to tender rather than the fibre board plug version.

Thank you.  I will give that a try. 

The 283 is a 5 wire engine from the factory. We do not have enough information to know for certain what the causes the low smoke. The choo choo is purely mechanical. The first thing I would determine is if the engine speed is the same in both directions. It may be faster in reverse due to the "faster in reverse" condition that appears in most older Gilbert steam engines. See Repair Clinic #20 at portlines.com for a description and how to fix it. If the engine is running slower in forward the piston will push less smoke up the stack.

Faster in reverse than forward - if your postwar AF flat-face commutator steam engine armature needs to be refurbished I recommend Bob Hannon in MD https://trainrefs.com.  He is very friendly, supremely knowledgeable about and experienced with toy train electrical systems, and does excellent work.  Your armature will work and last like new when he's done.  However, keep in mind that condition can also exist or be contributed to by worn out armature and/or axle bushings/bearings.  So be sure to check those out along with the armature, proper wiring, and good wire condition as mentioned.