Anyone have Neil Young Texas Special F3s?

BTW I'm curious how your smoke units perform Balto (i.e. average, above or below), or anyone else whose running one of these or the other NY Signature F3's?

Thanks,

Robert

Robert

Sorry to disappoint you but I don't turn the Smoke units on because of health reason.

Balto

Balto,

Many thanks for taking the time to get back with me, and no disappointment here...just sorry to hear you don't get to enjoy the smoke effects.

I didn't mean to hi-jack this thread either, but have been surprised by what I would consider below average output from the smoke units on these Legacy AA's.  I had read Lionel had made great strides on their smoke units, but these fan driven units seem to be on the weak side.  To top it all the powered A smoke unit has developed a 'whine' compared to the non-powered A (noticeably louder), and this after just a few days of run time.

Hope it doesn't need to go back for service.

Thanks again,

Robert

Robert, can you post a video of the set running.  It would be interesting to see what you are talking about.

This is the way I run my smoke units (I have Cab-1 Legacy).  For any new unit or one which has been taken out of action for days, I place 10 to 14 drops in the appropriate stack, blow down stack a couple of times to eliminate any air blockage.  I do this the night before I run engine.  This gives plenty of time for wick to absorb the fluid.  When I am ready to run I place an additional 3 to 4 drops in stack, set my smoke output on the CAB-1 and then run.

Do you control your engine with Legacy Cab1?  Maybe the output for that particular smoke unit is set different.  Just a thought.

Steve, Lady and Tex

Will do Tex.  I put about 12 drops in each tonight. I will try the method you suggested and let it sit over night and plan on giving them a run while videoing tomorrow evening.

I ran JT's Eliminator last run (which does smoke less than their standard scents) as I'm hoping it might quite the powered A unit's fan a little.

I'm running them with my new Cab1L/Base1L command set, so I'll be interested to see how it compares from based on your experience, once I post the video.

Thanks,

Robert

Well Tex, here's the video...better late than never [Note: my minimal count on drops Monday evening was ~12...I would guess between 12-14 rather than <12 and I added 2-3 to each before running tonight]

Now the non-powered A made almost no smoke that I could tell, even after repeatedly blowing down all stacks, and the powered A is well...just anemic in my estimation.  I'm sure it could very well be operator error, but I'm just not sure what is going on (or not going on in this case).  I also cut the sound at some point via the Cab1L so the whine of the fan motor(s) could be heard on the video...I hope.

Thanks,

Robert

PS Sorry these are kinda long and I didn't try to follow the engines around the whole loop because I was concerned for the quality of the video without a tripod.

Robert, thanks for posting videos.  I want you to do this, only because I don't use a Lionel Cab1L  ..... post on the Linel TMCC/Legacy forum a new question "New Legacy F3 AA not smoking properly".  Explain in the text what you see in each AA unit and include the noise you hear and that you are using a Cab1L.  Don't post any video, just the question.

The pro's on that forum are better qualified to solve your problem.  I will keep an eye on that forum to see how you do.

Steve, Lady and Tex

The horn doesn't sound quite as good as the 1999 Postwar Celebration model, but it's still pretty good. Thanks for the videos Robert.

This is a very nice product for those who live the TS. The look is superb.

Thanks for the tip Tex  I will start a new thread under the command control forum and see if those folks have any ideas.

Happy to share Mikado 4501!  They are a very nice looking set, and run very nice as well.  The horn is definitely different than my mth & wbb F units, and I really like the fact they all have their own unique sounds.  This one does have an odd 'tone' at the end of the horn sometimes, right at the tail end...you might hear it on the first or second horn sounding in the first video.

The dialog is pretty nice as well, along with the prime mover, brakes, etc.  Although the engineer keeps talking about running on fumes.  There could be a refuel button sequence and as it relates to the odd horn tone, I wonder if I've got it set on the 'quilling' feature.  I'm still quite a newb with the Cab-1L (even thought that was what you had Tex...thinking the "L" is short for Legacy), but I've still got lots to learn.

I actually changed the "momentum" setting without realizing it, and it freaked me out momentarily as the engine responded very slowly to throttle until I figured out how to change it back.

The red marker lights and the running, cab and number board lights are also very nice.  I like the sound control option mounted on top the powered A as well (the forward roof fan is a rheostat).

Here's a couple pics of the innards when I took the shell off to add a 9v battery...as Chris Dunn points out and you can see in the cover off pics, the guys are 'riding low' in the cab.  Can just make them out from the side window, but not really visible from the front...still very happy with the looks, colors, sounds and smooth running of these engines.  Maybe these model of Lionel smoke units need more "seasoning" as I saw mentioned in other threads, or would benefit from a little modification.

Thanks again,

Robert

Well, we have smoke!  [Thought it best to post this back here rather than leave a wrong impression.]  I filled them last night with a few more drops than before 16-18-ish.  I had done the initial 'prime' of the units as recommended, but perhaps became too quickly concerned about overfilling...maybe the answer all along was not enough smoke fluid??

At least it appears operator error was definitely a factor.

At any rate, wanted to share one last vid for those considering the engine set, and share my enthusiasm with the morning run (the back lighting from the east window in our train/guest room always makes the smoke look better in the morning).

So as the late, great Rod S. would say..."submitted for your approval..."

A couple notes:

The Lionel 'lighted' covered bridge was wired to the same 18v power supply as the track power in the first two videos (I removed it for this video thinking it may have been pulling too much power from the track).

The smoke unit on the non-powered A was turned on and running, and it had been filled with the same 16-18 drops of fluid last night, but I hope now it may improve with more fills & fluid.  I also think the flat design of the manifold and very gradual slope shows that Tex's idea regarding filling the unit hours before running is the best way to go.

My apologies for monopolizing this thread with the smoke unit discussion, but maybe others (especially new comers to Lionel Legacy F units) may find this helpful.

Even happier than before with my NY Texas Special set.

Thanks,

Robert

I ordered the set and then also ordered everything that came out separately afterwords.  As we know the 6-11194 has been delayed and 6-25757 2-pack also I guess.  I have received my powered and non-powered B's as well as the 6-81452 AA offered for sale in the Fall '13 catalog. 

I wonder if I am alone in this: The very first shipment I got was the Neil Young PRR AA's in a Texas Special outer shipper.  Since I am in MA, I ordered through Charles Ro and they seemed to know this was a problem others had happen, took care of it asap and the TS stuff came soon after.  Weird. 

I wonder if the hold up on the set is the passenger set.

You are not alone waiting for the rest of the Neil Young TS set.  The Texas Special Legacy "set" which includes the AA units and passenger cars are delayed as well as the add on passenger cars.  Lionel says August now, but I hope it is soon rather than later.

Steve, Lady and Tex