Rock Island General Smoke

Sounds to me like the air plunger is not connected to the twin piston assembly. Easy to overlook if the body shell as been off the chassis.

Thanks Chuck, I have not removed any bodies, but I will check it out. Just seems the plunger wouldn't make much dif

with the minimal amount of smoke produced. And both of them are doing it. Guess I will unpack the third one and see

what it does.

The only reference I have is a Virginia and Truckee Service Station set General from 1988 that I have. It really puts out smoke.

But I think the innards in it are completely different than the Rock Island.

John

  I have found that most MPC Steam locos have weak smoke at any speed but too fast. The resistors need a bunch of volts and you can get good smoke in neutral by upping the power but as soon as they start running it is barely visible. The smoke units rarely burn out though.

I pulled out the third one and can find no evidence of smoke at all, not even the smell. I took one of the others apart and

the bellows was engaged so that is not the problem. These Generals have two position e units so I don't have the luxury

of letting them heat up while in neutral. It is kind of against the odds that three of the same loco can have similar problems, but

then again it is lionel.

Consider a few diode pairs in series with the motor lead.  This will allow you to run at higher track voltages and still have reasonable speeds.

Thanks for the help guys. I really don't want to make any mods because I am selling two of the three.

It appears that it is wht it is and not something wrong with the individual locos.

John