LionChief Penn 0-8-0 stopped smoking

Hi,

I haven't tried out the smoke for this engine yet. Have you had a problem with the loco going at slow speeds - like hesitating and making a clicking sound? This is the thread to my post on this.

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...-special-set-6-83072

OC Patrick:  No the engine runs fine.  I like the sound and considering it is a starter set, I think it's a great deal.  Based on my experience with two LionChief engines, they are powered by only motor and therefore don't pull a lot of cars.  Both my engines slow down in the corners (31 inch dia.) especially with 4 or 5 older Lionel cars in tow.  And let me add, I have to be 'ginger' with the remote when starting the 0-8-0 up.  I can get it to start very slowly if I am careful with the throttle.

On the 'NO SMOKE' issue.  My guests really like it because it blows smoke rings so I'd like to get it working again.

Cliff

Check down the stack. Does it look smokey but nothing is coming out?  If so check the piston.  It might be stuck. Sometimes adding too much fluid gums up the piston.  Also. The switch is on, right? Sometimes it gets shut off accidentally.

Thanks, we'll add fluid and see how much smoke the thing creates....

Can you give me some guidance on how to clean the smoke piston?

Take the shell off by removing the four screws on the bottom corners of the chassis.

Carefully lift the shell off. Sometimes sticks a little.

Remove one or two screws holding the smoke unit bracket down. Can't remember if it's one screw and a stud, or two screws.  

Slowly lift the smoke unit up making sure not to let the spring pop out. The Piston will come out first and the spring is above it. Remove both of them paying attention to the Piston position.  The cup part all of the Piston points down against the lever. ( if not familiar with it, it almost looks like it should have the cup holding the spring pointing up)

Take a Q tip or small Rag and wipe out the inside of the Piston cylinder. As well as clean the piston.  

Put the spring back in the chamber.

Put the Piston up into the Chamber against the spring.

Reinstall the smoke unit and shell.

Train Nut:  Thank you for the detail information on disassembly of the engine.  I took it apart.  The smoke piston was clean and functions smoothly.  I tested the engine and the smoke heater does not heat up.  I assume it is under control of the computer board and not being turned on.  The heater looks solid and doesn't appear to be broken.  I have a voltage multimeter and could test the voltage to see if current is flowing, but I haven't done that yet.  I reassembled the unit and discovered that the piston hits the bottom of the smoke chamber and causes the engine to hesitate slightly.  I reassembled it several times to see if I made some error.  I never ran the unit without the tender and sound, so I really don't know if it had been binding before.  Now it clicks,  I don't like that and will have to make some modification to prevent it.  I may just buy a new smoke unit if I can find it on the Lionel site.  Do you have any other suggestions?

kiehlclifford

I think I have the same clicking noise - does it stop once in a while when going at slow speeds?

Yes, and when I took the body off and watched it run I could see the smoke unit bouncing when ever the plunger was pushed up and produced the click.  I removed the plunger and the spring and retested the engine and it run very smoothly an all speeds, but especially real slow speed.  At some time I am going to reinstall the smoke unit correctly because I like the smoke, however I may have to file a little off the plunger so it doesn't strike the bottom of the smoke chamber and cause the binding, hesitation, and click.

ok - thanks. Now I know where the clicking and hesitation comes from. I'm a little wary of dis-assembling the thing - is it fairly easy to do? I would like to finally remedy this, since it was gift from someone to my son for his birthday. And the smoke doesn't seem to be a big deal for him, since he has a few other LC steam locos.

If you have a multimeter I would check for continuity across the resistor as well as voltage.. Just carefully put a small flat-head screwdriver in the top of the smoke funnel and pry the plastic funnel piece off. The resistor is on the underside of it. See if you have continuity and voltage.

Yes, look at 'Train Nuts' post above on how to disassemble.  Basically the heavy boiler lifts off the lower running piece.  There are no parts that fall out, or are contained by the two parts when together.  The smoke unit is easy to remove, 2 screws.  I simply removed the plunger and spring and reassembled.  You don't have to cut any wires.  Keep the plunger and spring for the future.

I'll do that - thanks again.

OC Patrick:  If you decide to remove the smoke unit plunger and reinstall, don't forget to turn off the smoke unit.  If you don't do that it will fry the heater.

Train Nut:  Do you know if the smoke unit is connected to the computer board on the LionChief 0-8-0, or is it always connected to track power through the on off smoke switch?

I believe it is hooked up to the circuit board. Because when you stop the locomotive and let it idle with the track voltage still applied, the smoke unit voltage reduces even though the track is still applied.

Thanks, I am trying to determine if I need a new smoke unit or circuit board.  Any ideas?

Basically, a smoke unit on these engines is a resistor and a manual piston. Resistor gets hot,  heats up the fluid in the wadding, and produces smoke. The Piston manually pushes air up through and out. If you're not getting any smoke production at all it's either a bad resistor or something in the circuit board.  As I previously mentioned, you should try the multimeter at the resistor. See if it has voltage and continuity.  Check the connections. Make sure they're securely fastened.  If all checks out good, it's most likely something in the board.

Train Nut:  Thank you for the help.  I will follow your suggestions.