ProtoSmoke® Unit Operation
This Premier steam locomotive contains a self-powered smoke unit that outputs
smoke through the smokestack on the roof 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. Smoke volume is controlled by the
Proto-Sound 2.0 system.
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 Fig. 13). We recommend
M.T.H. ProtoSmoke, Seuthe, LGB, or
LVTS fluids. 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 water hatch
on the tender (see Fig. 14). Failure either
to add fluid to the unit or to turn it off may damage the smoke unit heating
element and/or wick 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. To remove the smoke unit you will first have to
remove the boiler shell (by removing the body mounting screws shown in Fig. 6 on
pg. 13), board and bracket that block the smoke unit assembly from being accessed.
4-8-2 U1F Mountain Steam Locomotive
18
Figure 13
add smoke fluid
Smoke Unit ON/OFF Switch
Figure 14
