Smoke Unit Problems

Sounds like the fan is probably not running.  If you used too much smoke fluid, you could have flooded it out and gummed up the motor.  Of course, the motor may have failed as well, it's not unheard of.

I'd suggest having someone look at it, could be an easy fix.

I am not very familiar with Lionel Lionchief locomotives, but is it possible to turn the sound off or lower the volume? If the fan motor is running, you should be able to hear it. If it is running or trying to, maybe too much fluid is in there. If it isn't humming, maybe the motor is gummed up, like John said...

Tom

John, or Tom - Is there a way to get the extra fluid out of the fan? Can I get the fan that could be gummed running again?    Or, do I have to replace the fan? 

Gettle08 posted:

John, or Tom - Is there a way to get the extra fluid out of the fan? Can I get the fan that could be gummed running again?    Or, do I have to replace the fan? 

Note: Before I embarked on writing all that follows, I should have said that maybe there's a simpler solution in getting some "Eliminator" fluid from JT's Megasteam to put in your smoke unit. It has been known to eliminate clogging from excess smoke fluid although this won't work if for some other reason - like a power wire that has worked loose -  your fan motor is not spinning. 

If this is the problem, it can be fixed by the user but means getting at the smoke unit inside the loco's body shell. It then has to be detached from the mounting holding it to the shell, the fan (impeller) removed, then the fan motor and both of them cleaned up if they've become saturated with excess smoke fluid.

Along the way I suppose you might find that one of the power wires to the fan motor has got detached or the funnel attaching the smoke unit to the outputs has been misaligned, but checking to see if you have any fan motor sound will probably tell you if that's the problem.

If you've done this before on other O gauge engines it's not a hard job. If you haven't done it, start by identifying the Lionel SKU for your engine (e.g. 6-84110, which is one of their Lionchief Plus GP7 versions) and go to the replacement parts page of Lionelsupport.com to see an exploded parts view. Here's what the smoke unit for the model whose number I have given looks like:

Part 5 is the set of screws holding on the smoke unit PCB. They have to come off to expose part 9 (fan/impeller) and under that will be part 4, the tiny screws that hold the fan motor in place. Taking off the PCB should reveal whether there is fluid residue in the fan housing, which might have seeped down into the fan motor.

Alternatively send it to one of the repair techs on this forum!

Today, I took the shell off, and then applied power to the engine, while holding the smoke unit in my hands.  The propellor was free and not gummed up at all.  When I applied power, however, the fan did not turn at all.  My conclusion is that the fan motor went.  I just bought the train yesterday, ran it for 20minutes, and the motor is bad.  I am going to call Lionel tomorrow to see if they will cover the faulty smoke unit.  I have not dealt with Lionel yet, but I am afraid, because even though this is a brand new engine to me, it is not brand new to this year.  The engine is actually from 2014.  Not sure, maybe sitting in the box that long was not good for the unit at all.   I am guessing I will have to buy a new smoke unit.  

The fan is a replaceable element, you don't need a whole smoke unit.  OTOH, it may not be the fan.  Try taking a 9V battery, unplugging the fan from the electronics, and powering the fan with the battery.  It should be able to spin it, but don't leave it on too long as it's more voltage than it's designed for.  If the fan spins, it may be wiring or the control board.

Something manufactured in 2014 will no longer be under warranty by Lionel, it's a maximum of three years after the manufacturing date.  Best bet for warranty is the dealer you bought it from.

John, That is what I was worried about with Lionel, and the fact that the engine is from 2014.  

I will try the battery and see if anything happens.  I hope that it is not the control board, because that leads into a bigger problem then.  The smoke unit does get hot, but just no fan.   

I have already called Lionel this morning, but won't proceed any farther, because I have to get a receipt.  I bought the train from this weekend at the York Train show, from Lionel Collectors Club of America.  They use a card swiper on a cell phone, so no receipt is given. Now I have to hunt down an individual to email me a receipt.  Once I get the receipt, Lionel is going to tell me it is out of warranty.  This is going to be fun.  

gunrunnerjohn posted:

  Try taking a 9V battery, unplugging the fan from the electronics, and powering the fan with the battery.  It should be able to spin it, but don't leave it on too long as it's more voltage than it's designed for.  If the fan spins, it may be wiring or the control board

John your the expert here, but I thought it has been mentioned,( possibly even by you)  that just because a fan will run on a 9v battery, doesn't mean it will run on the 5v its given from the PCB?

Good news, after talking with Lionel for a second time, they are going to warranty the engine.  The engine was actually built in 2015, so I am still in my three years.  Packing it up tonight, just waiting on the shipping label from Lionel in my email.  

Thank you to everyone who helped out.  Again, my son and I are new to this hobby, and so far, we have been impressed with the help and support that we have gotten from those that have been in the hobby for a lot longer.  I could not believe all of the support and help we got from the dealers at the York Train show this past weekend. 

Thank you to everyone

You're correct Rick, but not many people have 5V laying around.   I figured to find out if the motor was really dead first.  Truthfully, I test them with a bench supply at between 2-3 VDC, but not everyone has the ability to do that.