I just recently purchased a Aristocraft SD45 engine. I ordered it online, therefore I received no owners manuels or anything on how this engine is supposed to be cared for. I just generally run the trains that I have but I would like to know how to make the smoke unit work. I don’t want to end up wrecking it. Thank you for any help for a probably stupid question.
Dick
Hi Dick, Go to aristocraft web site you should be able to get the answers that you require, if that fails contact Lewis Polk lewis@polkshobby.com he will help. Hope this helps
Dick, Aristo-Craft has a forum that probably has covered this subject. Also, try Googling “installing Aristo-Craft smoke unit.” A bunch of stuff came up when I tried those words.
They use almost any smoke fluid. The capacity of the unit is not as advertised, but much more.
If it is completely dry, 3.5 ml will be fine. It can actually hold 4 ml, but any rocking motion will have it spill out and most people have trouble making sure it is empty.
It is supposed to have auto shutoff, but it does not always work.
It will run when power is first applied, even if out of fluid. If it is out and functioning well, then it will normally turn off by itself in 1.5 minutes or so.
If the fan spins very fast all the time, it’s broke… there is a 5 year warranty on the loco.
If the fan does not spin at all, it’s broke.
If there is very little smoke, the wick is probably bad, pretty much impossible to find new wicks.
The unit does not function well below about 7 volts, test at a voltage above that.
There is a voltage range where the unit will constantly reset itself, expect erratic behavior at that range.
For more detailed information, read my site:
We spent a lot of time analyzing and testing, about 20 units total over several weeks, 3 of us.
Regards, Greg
Go to www.aristocraft.com and you can download for free any information you desire for the SD45 or any other Aristocraft product. The smoke unit is really complicated. You put in smoke fluid, turn it on, and run the train and smoke comes out. You almost can’t hurt it. As Greg says, if the fluid runs out, it turns off.