17
RailKing 6-8-6 Steam Turbine Engine
ProtoSmoke
®
Unit Operation
This steam locomotive contains a smoke unit that outputs smoke through the
smokestack on the boiler of the engine. The smoke unit is essentially a small
heating element and wick that soaks up and then heats a mineral oil-based
fluid that emits a harmless smoke. The smoke is then forced out of the stack
by a small electric fan.
With a few easy maintenance steps, you should enjoy trouble-free smoke unit
operation for years.
When preparing to run this engine, add 15-20 drops of smoke fluid through
the smokestack (see figure 4 on pg. 4). We recommend M.T.H. ProtoSmoke,
Seuthe, LGB, or LVTS fluids (a small pipette of ProtoSmoke fluid is
included). Do not overfill the unit or the fluid may leak out and coat the
interior engine components.
If you choose not to add the fluid (or have already added the fluid but choose
to run smoke-free), turn off the smoke unit switch located under the body (see
figure 5 on pg. 5). Failure either to add fluid to the unit or to turn it off may
damage the smoke unit heating element and/or wicking material.
When the smoke output while running the engine begins to diminish, add
another 10-15 drops of smoke fluid or turn the smoke unit off.
When storing the unit for long periods of time, you may want to add about 15
drops of fluid to prevent the wick from drying out.
After removing the engine from storage, add another 25 drops of fluid, letting
the wick soak up the fluid for 15 minutes prior to
operation.
If you experience poor or no smoke output when
the smoke unit is on and has fluid, check the wick
to see if it has become hard, blackened, and
unabsorbent around the heating element. Remove
the smoke unit inspection cover from the smoke
unit’s body (see Fig. 12 ). After removing the
chassis and inspection cover screws, lift the
inspection plate away and inspect the wick. If it is
darkly discolored and hard, it should be replaced.
You can obtain replacement wicks and instructions
from the M.T.H. Parts Department.
Smoke Unit
Cover Screws
Figure 12. Inspection
Cover Screws
