Lost Chuff on K-line A5

Top suspect in these cases is the chuff switch, located near the smoke unit.  Many times it just needs a tweak of the lever to return the chuff.

It's the switch, and there should be a metal lever that is activated by the smoke unit puffer.  That lever frequently can be "tweaked" to restore the chuff.

OK, that is what I thought. I actually changed it as I had a spare from years ago but it still does not make a chuff. i will take it apart again and see if i am missing something. Thank you.

Make sure the smoke piston is not stuck in the bore, the switch won't activate if that happens.

 

Neil

Have you measured with an ohmmeter to verify that you are getting contact closures and openings?

Dale, not sure how to do that. Do I touch the two prongs that are attached to the wires?

Yes.  You should get an open ciruit indication in one state (same as when the leads aren't touching anything), and a low resistance reading in the other state.

 

If you have oil or dirt contaminating the switch contacts, you may only see the open circuit reading.

I also forgot to mention that when I do a reset or a shutdown, I do not get any sounds.

Do you have chuff running in conventional.

 

Bill

No, I do not have chuff in conventional.

Do you have any sounds running command or conventional.

 

Bill

The whistle and bell work.

Did you check your RS/SS switch, you should be in RS.

 

Bill

Don,

 

I am not 100% sure if chuff is affected by the "Blend" volume.  In TMCC mode, press the "1" key on the cab and see if this will restore the sounds beyond Whistle and Bell.  Also, make sure the SS / RS switch is on RS.

I turned the volume button on the tender, back and forth and I pushed AUX 1 with no chuff. Engine switch is set on run. Thanks for everyone's help but I am giving up for now. Maybe at a later date I will try again.

Inside the loco, on the front driver axle is a two lobe cam that raises and lowers the arm that pulls double duty. One function is that it pushes the bellow up to puff out smoke, the other function is it depresses the metal arm of the cherry switch. This cherry switch, usually black or green in color is either bad (most probable) or the metal needs an adjustment so the smoke lever properly depresses the arm to generate the chuff signal. We have these in stock at lionel replacement parts site or call in at 586-949-4100 ext 2 Mike Lionel