AF Franklin smoke unit

The smoke unit can be rebuilt but you have to "unpeen" the front of the smoke unit to remove the fiber disk. Doug Peck (Portlines Hobby Supplies) has the rebuild kit (ID:1669 - $8.95). The kit is also available on eBay for $10.00 and $3.00 shipping (seller  "littlesteamers").  Make sure you don't pay 20 or 30 bucks from rfgco.

Here is the blurb from Doug Peck's "repair clinic":

II.  FRANKLIN,  DOCKSIDER,  & GILBERT-HO  ENGINE SMOKE UNITS

These smaller smoke units are constructed very differently. 
To rebuild these units,
1.) Unsolder the lead on the front of the smoke unit chamber which connects to the edge of the chamber ("ground").
2.) File away, or "unpeen" the front edge of the chamber.
3.) Now the front disk will pull out of the chamber. You will note that this unit has what looks like a wirewound resistor attached to the front disk; this is the heater element.  Inside the chamber should be some wadded wick material which absorbs fluid and keeps it in contact with the heater element. However, I have encountered many of these units with no absorbent material at all, which explains poor smoke production.
4.) If the disk is undamaged, you can clear the solder from the two holes, and replace the heater element( which we supply with a fiber sleeve around it). Test insertion to be sure the wire lead at the rear end does not contact the back of the chamber. (If you can't avoid that lead touching the chamber body, then just be sure that lead is the one that gets soldered to the edge of the body in step 7 below.)
If the disk is damaged, then you will have to salvage one from another unit, or make a replacement from something like circuit-board material.
5.) Disk is reinserted, with some soft wick material loosely wrapped around it, if you have any available. Don't wrap it tightly, however, so it doesn't burn.
6.) Seal the edge with epoxy, or JB Weld.
7.) Bend the shorter lead (the one from the piston end of the smoke chamber) over, and solder it to the edge of the chamber, like the original [this = ground]. (Be sure you do this with the correct lead….otherwise you can create a short.)

Note that Doug's kits and the littlesteamers kits (they are the same) include a new fiber disk. I've done the repair and it's not difficult. Be careful not to remove too much material when "unpeening) the front edge of the chamber as the element and wick are already a tight fit in the chamber.

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NOTE: Lionel sells a complete smoke unit (for Docksiders - 6408039200) for $18.50.  It is listed as 18ohm. It would be a nice, easy replacement for the Franklin but I think the Lionel Docksiders have regulated smoke voltage, so some modifications might be required for a retrofit. Retapping the mounting screw holes might also be required. I purchased a couple of the Lionel smoke units just before I discovered Doug Peck's replacements so I never got around to trying the conversion. If anyone has tried it I'd be interested in hearing the results.

 

Thanks for the info. I guess their standard unit wouldn’t fit. Between reverse units and smoke units, the old engines I’ve acquired have really been keeping me busy, but I think I’m getting to know their quirks.

The smoke unit in the Franklin was used in the Gilbert HO engines and the S unit will not work. Sorry.

Another problem with the Franklin is the chassis is "hot" but relies on the drawbar for its electrical connection; not a very reliable connection! I add an extra wire from the front truck to one of the motor mount screws with a small "eye" connector--this gives the smoke unit a much more reliable power supply, and they smoke much better then.

Mr Dewey; just finished adding a wire from the tender front truck pick up to the motor mounting screw as per your suggestion; my Franklin smoke great and runs better; great idea; thanks much; Falcon70

traindavid posted:

Another problem with the Franklin is the chassis is "hot" but relies on the drawbar for its electrical connection; not a very reliable connection! I add an extra wire from the front truck to one of the motor mount screws with a small "eye" connector--this gives the smoke unit a much more reliable power supply, and they smoke much better then.

I like it. Much better than tearing the smoke unit apart and potentially causing additional problems that did not previously exist..

Isn't it nice when something you fix actually WORKS!?

Craig,

The smoke unit (for Docksiders - 6408039200) does NOT fit the Franklin it is to big and the shell will not fit. As mentioned the repair kits are available from several dealers including myself.