My lionel Santa Fe engine when starting up will catch on fire where the smoking unit would be. Then it will blow out white smoke. But it doesn’t have a smoking unit. What should i do???
Send it to the repairman.
If it didn’t have a smoking unit before, it has one now.
Just do what the Chief told you to do and get it repaired.
Sounds like repair time.
I’ve seen pictures of real diesels with flames & smoke out the exhaust, they needed repair too.[:(]
Flames coming from a toy train are indicative of a problem. [swg]
Hopefully your SD80 is under warrenty because it needs repair NOW!! ANY further use could start a much bigger fire like your house!
Maybe that is why I keep away from the new Lionel products as you never know what it will do, reminds me of the CW80 transformer problems!
Lee F.
Lee, (phillyreading)
Agreed. That particular Santa Fe SD80 is clearly both a problem and a hazard.
That said, it is well known (or ought to be) that every electical appliance, toy or otherwise, has the potential for being a hazard.
Is it really helpful for certain forum-members to continue poor-mouthing the CW-80? Lionel has made improvements to that transformer and quality control seems to have improved, based on a non-scientific sample of recent postings. Do you avoid Amtrak because the “Best Friend of Charleston” blew up back in 1831? The “Best Friend” didn’t have a UL certification. The CW-80 does.
The fact is that hundreds of parents are going to buy a Lionel starter-sets this season, and they will inevitably get CW-80’s with them. Is there any point in scaring them to death, either by direct statements or implications?
Wouldn’t it be better to remind them to read the owner’s manual carefully and thoroughly, and to follow all instructions and cautions – especially those pertaining to safe operations?
With all respect,
My lionel SD80 is in the shop being repaired and i hope this doesn’t happen again.
Excellent analogy! [^]
Count me as a CW-80 supporter - mine replaced a 1033 that could not get the job done!
Had a firetruck shoot flames out of the exhaust one time, ejectors were stuck open. Hope your ejectors are working properly.
Dennis
Not sure what would be smoking but get it fixed.
1033 should be in the trash. Never had any problems with CW-80s or new Lionel products…and I buy a lot of it. Not sure why everyones engine is smoking and transformers are blowing up.
Send it to me, not the trash [I got several 1033’s that are working great]. I’ve got CW80’s that are not. I’m sure Lionel has worked on their earlier problems. In fact, send me all your PW KW’s and ZW’s too.
Well sir, you can count me out. The only reason that I own one is becuase I havent been able to sell it or trade it yet.
I have been trying to find a good reason why Columbus is the largest city in the U.S. without passenger rail service. I believe this must be the reeason. [:D]
Give Ebay a try - plenty of folks who will put it to good use!
Gentleman,
Well, at least a few people have spoken up in support of the CW-80. The rest are doing just what I don’t consider helpful – posting vague complaints without details. Perhaps this isn’t the right thread, but I’d like to see more specifics in these complaints.
Perhaps they don’t have the time. Maybe they are standing on a platform in Columbus waiting for a passenger train…[:)]
You know it. Five years and still not on a train. If I stand here for one more year, I am getting a refund on my ticket!
wolverine49,
It just seems strange that most of the problems are coming from one company; LIONEL!!!
I agrree that almost all appliances do have the potential to catch on fire but not near as often as a Lionel product!
Due to what I read & what experiance I have had with modern Lionel products I am staying away from new Lionel completely. The 6-23011 switches were a total failure for long term! Bought a lower priced Lionel diesel a few years ago & it would not pull more than four quad hoppers at a slow pace, a GP-7 Illinios Central, sold it on ebay to get rid of it.
Not trying to bash Lionel just give an accurate report of things that have happened!!
Lee F.
Funny, I never seem to have any more than a minor problem now & then, wheather it from Lionel or the other manufacturers. By reading the forums, a hobbyist soon learns what to buy or what not to buy. I don’t know of many products sold today that aren’t subject to having a possible problem. Lionel may sell more than other companies. I don’t know the figures. I say anyone who has all these problems as they say, should now know to stay away from buying them ! Leave therm for the rest of us to get a good deal on ! My TMCC system has worked flawlessly & I’m on my 2nd. set, due to selling everything out some years ago & starting over. My Lionmaster Challenger has worked perfectly since I got it. everything else is still working perfectly also. I wouldn’t buy a CW-80 or those switches, since I use Gargraves track & will add Ross switches.
Their % of problems is probably less than 10%. That is good with electronics and those coming from overseas. I think Lionel and all the companies are doing pretty good.