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I have a Lionchief Plus RS3 that  suddenly won't smoke. Bought (new) in 2015, I run the RS3 all the time and it gives no trouble. I usually run it without smoke operation though. However, I do like to run the smoke unit to show off to guests.  Today, with the new Lionel Pine scent in hand, I added a few drops and got nothing. The Smoke unit switch is turned on. I've let the unit warm up, ran it, etc. and still nothing.

I saw a troubleshooting tip on another thread about shutting off the sound switch to see if could hear the fan, and I could indeed hear the fan. I feel some airflow if I hold my thumb over it.

Grand scheme of things, it's not critical, just curious if there is anything I can check or try to get it going again. 

Thanks!

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Sometimes we tend to run the smoke units a little too dry. When you do the wick will get a good char and be unable to absorb the fluid. Carefully open up the smoke unit and see if the portion of the wick touching the resistor is charred.

If you're unsure along the way post some pics, plenty of help here. I believe the manual will tell you what screws to remove to pop the shell. 

Last edited by Jeff T

I think I am on the trail! Even though I drained the smokestack before opening the RS3, I still had some smoke fluid to deal with once inside. Some of the drops though, are brown - I have never added anything that wasn't clear! I can't get the circuit board to remove from the motor unfortunately, 1 of the 3 screws is fighting me. I can see the resistor you spoke of through a opening in the circuit board. From what I can see it's all gunked up. Almost like ear wax (gross I know) but that's what I see.

Wick. You can reorder from Lionel or your local hobby shop. When I'm in a pinch I've used tiki torch wick. Pull off the plastic shield and fluff it up a bit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkDlQ5Cwwlk&t=12s

This video will show you a bit. just be sure not to block the opening from the bowl to the fan.

You can also use a 9 volt battery, while the smoke unit is out of the engine, to test the fan.

Good Friday evening, 

I wanted to update this, and thank everybody who read and posted. I got my RS3 LC+ smoking again, but I did the "rob Peter pay Paul" thing by taking a smoke unit out of another LC+. It's all good, I don't run smoke on all my locos, just the RS3.

One thing that is eluding me, is the screw driver required to open a smoke unit - what size is it and where can I obtain? My electronics screwdrivers, as Klein Tools calls them, are too big for that circuit board.

Thanks again

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RickM46 posted:

One last comment on smoke units; I have had little luck with filling smoke units; I either over or under fill; I am the destructor of smoke units.  I've tried adding fluid at the end of the day and wound up drowning the fans and sending back to Lionel for repair.  Some say that there is also an evaporation factor if you do that.

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