Rail King Rugged Rails 2-8-0 Steam Locomotive Operator's Manual - Protosmoke® Unit Operation
18
Rugged Rails 2-8-0 Steam Engine
ProtoSmoke® Unit Operation
This 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 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. 11).
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
engine chassis (see Fig. 12). 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).
Figure 11
Figure 12
Smoke unit on/off switch