ok boys and girls finally got my k line scale 2-8-2 back with lionell rail sounds I am learning my lesson on this one and a err cruse in it runs great and looks great it has the old style puffer smoke unit but the arm that runs it is broke I tried several things but you cant fix pot metal. now for the question how to convert to a fan driven unit . it can stay on all the time. any suggestions
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If you are OK with continuous smoke the easiest way is to get a Lionel unit used on their tmcc diesel engines. Look for one labeled rectangular diesel as it will be easiest to fit in the narrow smokebox. You will still only get two chuffs/rev but will only have to hook up the two wires that currently go to the smoke resistor to the fan smoke unit. These come with a 5 volt regulator to drive the motor as well as the smoke resistor and you will be able to turn smoke on and off with your handheld.
At a later date if you decide you want 4 chuffs you can still use the same unit along with some new drive circuitry.
One example.
Pete
Not sure of the exact setup in your 2-8-2 but its probably quite similar to the scale Mikado 4-8-2, which I have worked on. Nice engines, but the plunger puffer is a pita. Kind of lame. I tried retro-fitting an MTH smoke unit and it fit just fine, but getting it to work was another story. The problem is that the cherry switch is operated by the same arm that operates the plunger, and when you remove the smoke unit there is not enough down force on the arm for the eccentric to operate the switch. Plus you can't leave the arm in place anyway, because the smoke unit requires that space. I spent countless hours working on it with no success. Finally I gave up, gutted it and put in PS_2. Works just great now and smokes like a champ. I have two scale mikes converted to PS-2 and they are great runners. If your ERR conversion does not need a cherry switch to trigger chuffs you are good though.
Let me know if you need any more information. I also have some pictures which I can send you offline. My email is in my profile. 
Rod
Rod Stewart - Isn't a 'Mike' a 2-8-2? 
Have a good day!
Yes it is, duh. My mistake. But my comments above apply. They are really a nice engine and K-Line did a great job on them. Well all except the smoker!
If the op's err setup does not need the cherry switch, the conversion to fan driven smoker is doable. If it does though, I think the best option is a reed switch with magnets. Another option would be one of grj's super chuffers and a chuff generator. That would allow for puffing smoke with no trigger switches needed. But whether there is room for all that is another story.
Rod
we got it all figured out used a lionel fan drivin smoke unit fits perfect and a chuff switch to time with wheels it works great
Happy to hear it's working well. What did you use for the chuff switch?
Rod
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