My post war lionel train isn't smoking - Help- Resloved, Thank you to those who helped

Jaydon, what locomotive do you have?

For what it is worth, I've always used liquid smoke fluid (Bachman, MegaStema) in my postwar units without issue, even ones that were not explicitly converted for liquid use. However, I find they do need a good bit of voltage and do need to be moving (actuating the smoke piston) to produce good volume of smoke.

Grampstrains posted:

How old are the pellets?  Those smoke units will also work with smoke fluid.  You might try three or four drops just to see if that works.

Brand new, I also want that old pellet smell

bmoran4 posted:

Jaydon, what locomotive do you have?

For what it is worth, I've always used liquid smoke fluid (Bachman, MegaStema) in my postwar units without issue, even ones that were not explicitly converted for liquid use. However, I find they do need a good bit of voltage and do need to be moving (actuating the smoke piston) to produce good volume of smoke.

I cant find any patten proffs, All I know is its a lionel Rock island 166 2-4-2

Jaydon posted:

bmoran4 posted:

Jaydon, what locomotive do you have?

For what it is worth, I've always used liquid smoke fluid (Bachman, MegaStema) in my postwar units without issue, even ones that were not explicitly converted for liquid use. However, I find they do need a good bit of voltage and do need to be moving (actuating the smoke piston) to produce good volume of smoke.

I cant find any patten proffs, All I know is its a lionel Rock island 166 2-4-2

Interesting... Lionel didn't make a Rock Island Steamer in the postwar era... Lionel did make a 6-166 Rock Island set in the 70's, but it was an 0-4-0...

For what it is worth, those newer engines were smoke fluid only.

So I got smoke pellets for notthing....

I ordered them becuase the trained engineer told me that it most likely uses pellets... oh well..

Thanks for the help

ok...it smoked at the show, but not at home? any chance you can post a pic of the engine?

Steamer posted:

ok...it smoked at the show, but not at home? any chance you can post a pic of the engine?

Sure, I'll get a pic

Just be aware that whether your engine uses pellets or liquid, too much smoke material will negatively impact the smoke unit.
When the engine is turned off and put away, the smoke stuff stays in the unit and will start making smoke again.
Many people think they need to put smoke stuff in at the beginning of each use. When this is done, the unit winds up over filled and stops working.

If you put a pill in a liquid smoke unit, try to get it out by turning the engine upside-down and shaking it.

Another common way to mess up a smoke unit is to damage the heater element by putting foreign objects down the stack.,

if it is a Postwar engine, there is a very small air hole that may be plugged.

Possibly it was smoking at the show off of the smoke fluid still in the reservoir ?

Heres some photos 

If you need the tender, Let me know

you have a Marx 1666, I don't know if they smoke or not. 

Jaydon posted:

Heres some photos 

Jaydon, that is a Marx (not Lionel) 1666 - great little engine! I believe that engine uses smoke fluid.

I saw it smoke and the seller told me it was lionel.... Wow

WEll thank you for enlighting me!

This has been really helpful, thanks guys

Marx made some bullet proof engines. as long as you didn't pay a Lionel price, you did OK.if you did, don't get bummed.just do your homework before the next show. we all had to learn.

Ha, I paid 25 dollar for this little engine

Thanks guys, I'm going to go try the fluid smoke

and from what I can find the 1666 does have smoke. I don't know if they all do, for example the Marx 4-6-2 #333 came with or without smoke.

you did fine with $25.

How many drops do I give her? I'm using ProtoSmoke Fluid Wood scent.

I have 2 Marx 1666's and both smoke very well. I use MegaSteam fluid in mine.

$25 is a good price for a running 1666 in nice shape.

handyandy posted:

I have 2 Marx 1666's and both smoke very well. I use MegaSteam fluid in mine.

$25 is a good price for a running 1666 in nice shape.

Only thing that is wrong with mine is the white side strip is a little worn. Mine has a rock Island tender. Also,How many drops do you use?

Funny, I can't get $10. for those engines. Does it have a tender?

Yes, A rock island tender

and welcome to the forum, great bunch here and plenty of know how.good to see young blood in the hobby. Marx is a great way to get a collection cheap, although Marx has some pieces that are going up in price.

Yea,Thank you guys for the help. I took a year brake from the hobby so Im new to it. Im gong to hunt these forums for helpful tips and tricks.

Once again, Thank you for your help it means a lot to me. If any one who has been in this hobby for awhile has any more helpful advice I'd be happy to listen. I'm trying to make a o gauge-HO layout (HO on a moutian) soo yeah. Time to hit the forums!

give it a few drops and see how it does. Maybe 5 or 6. I believe it can handle more but just to be sure start with a few and you can work up. If it starts leaking fluid you have to much

#STEAMER  hey Dave, thanks for all you add to this forum. Soooo much talent and wisdom here for all that look for it.

I especially like that you are, like others, ok with "Hey, thats a Lionel price, but don't fret......enjoy, you got a nice engine, do you homework for the next show" Priceless Dave, I just got an engine home that I will take apart for parts as the guy that fixed it, did not..... and you calm my heart, Dave.... Eli, Mitch, Paul, Roo, "Fix the oldies", Big_Boy_2005, and others.... a "Triple Dome Tank Car full of Thanks!!" 

well goosh....thanks!

don't put a lot of smoke fluid in this engine.  they only use about 45 drops.  this engine has a small resister wound element.  if you every need any parts for the engine contact me 440-943-4482   ken

45 drops...somebody forgot the dash.....?