I recently bought a 2000 Lionel Northern engine item no 6-28059, WP #179 from a forumite.
It's a really nice engine, but the smoke unit totally sucks, and I am trying to debug it.
Can anyone provide the wiring diagram for this locomotive?
I tried the Lionel site, and it's not available unfortuneately. I thought maybe a Lionel certified tech may have access to it when the rest of us peasants don't.
Thanks for any help.
Rod
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Most Lionel smoke units from that era were wired so the fan runs backwards. The 1st thing I would do is check for that. It is easily fixed by reversing the wires to the smoke fan motor.
Neil
Most Lionel smoke units from that era were wired so the fan runs backwards. The 1st thing I would do is check for that. It is easily fixed by reversing the wires to the smoke fan motor.
Neil
Unfortunately not that simple. The smoke unit was replaced before I got it, and it does sort of work. The air intake hole has also been drilled out. But to get any kind of noticeable smoke you have to use Aux 1 and hold #9 smoke boost down for like 10 or 15 seconds. Then it quickly peters out again. I am thinking there may be an issue with the power supply board or some such thing, but without the wiring diagram I can't troubleshoot it.
Rod
Would the scale size T1 PRR Duplex be in this group? mine is a horrible smoker if it smokes at all
Most Lionel smoke units from that era were wired so the fan runs backwards. The 1st thing I would do is check for that. It is easily fixed by reversing the wires to the smoke fan motor.
Neil
Unfortunately not that simple. The smoke unit was replaced before I got it, and it does sort of work. The air intake hole has also been drilled out. But to get any kind of noticeable smoke you have to use Aux 1 and hold #9 smoke boost down for like 10 or 15 seconds. Then it quickly peters out again. I am thinking there may be an issue with the power supply board or some such thing, but without the wiring diagram I can't troubleshoot it.
Rod
You still might have a backwards fan, poor smoke output is a symptom. You also might hae a burnt sleeve around the smoke element that is blocking the fluid. I would check both of those before a power supply problem. Sometimes just removing the blackened sleeve and repacking the unit helps considerably.
Neil
First step would be to check the wick, that's the prime element in smoke output if all else is correct. The Lionel recommendation is to cut any sleeve off the smoke heater and just pack the chamber, and I can tell you that works a ton better than with the sleeve on the unit.
First step would be to check the wick, that's the prime element in smoke output if all else is correct. The Lionel recommendation is to cut any sleeve off the smoke heater and just pack the chamber, and I can tell you that works a ton better than with the sleeve on the unit.
I think I will try that next. Thanks for the suggestion. I think there was a video clip on here a while back done by someone at Lionel, and I remember the bit about removing the sleeve.
Rod
You guys are right about repacking the smoke unit but also does that engine respond to the command aux1 aux2 then hit 9 then H and lastly aux2 to get the unit to heat up on high? or is that the rs 5.0
Removing that "sleeve" is easier said than done! 
Removing that "sleeve" is easier said than done!
Exacto knife with a new blade????
Removing that "sleeve" is easier said than done!
I did it the way Forest suggests, X-acto knife. It's actually not that difficult. Removing that sleeve is mandatory to getting better smoke performance.
You guys are right about repacking the smoke unit but also does that engine respond to the command aux1 aux2 then hit 9 then H and lastly aux2 to get the unit to heat up on high? or is that the rs 5.0
I just hold the 9 key (or + on the Legacy CAB2) down for a few seconds to get smoke boost. I don't think that Legacy units have a smoke boost, I've never needed one on those.
First step would be to check the wick, that's the prime element in smoke output if all else is correct. The Lionel recommendation is to cut any sleeve off the smoke heater and just pack the chamber, and I can tell you that works a ton better than with the sleeve on the unit.
I think I will try that next. Thanks for the suggestion. I think there was a video clip on here a while back done by someone at Lionel, and I remember the bit about removing the sleeve.
Rod
The substance of the video was to cut the sleeve off and drill out the fan intake hole to 1/4". For puffer units, I also cut the sleeve off and just pack them, works better for them as well.
Hello Rod S,
...just 71 days and counting to SuperTrain 2012.
My N&W A-Class loco is from the same era, and smokes like a chimney. Rather than modify the engine, I set the max speed per the manual to run at a steady pace, and then run the locomotive in top throttle. This tricks the smoke unit into running at full bore (similar to repeatedly pressing Aux1-#9). Been running it this way for more than 10 years without a hitch at the show; mind you it goes through a bottle of Steam-Juice in no time.
Rod M
Cool idea Rod, never thought that would make a difference!
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