Continuation of my 2025 rehab I found the white wire detached from the smoke unit when removing the chest. Not sure where it goes and how it goes to the unit itself! I have been looking for this info but to no avail.
questions will arise to attempt to keep the old gal smoking I do have original pellets!
additionally is there some kind of spring involved (which I don’t see) in this rehab procedure?
thank you for your help and your patience.
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Check out my thread about restoring a 2026 - especially on page 2 - lots of info on the smoke unit.
New Lionel 2026 Restoration | O Gauge Railroading On Line Forum (ogaugerr.com)
That wire is broken off from the element its self. The heater element will need replacing as trying to repair without causing a short will be difficult.
OK thank you.
Currently, after considerable time scraping and sanding I believe I have found the tab to which the power wire is soldered. See photo. Does that look right? Please Advise, do I attempt to solder the wire on the brass tab?
the other side appears to have a nub for ground wire.
@Leroof posted:Currently, after considerable time scraping and sanding I believe I have found the tab to which the power wire is soldered. See photo. Does that look right? Please Advise, do I attempt to solder the wire on the brass tab?
the other side appears to have a nub for ground wire.
Chuck’s got the right answer here, unless you’re **** bent on trying to preserve the original ( lord would only know why ) just buy a new one, ….Chuck could also recommend something to convert it to fluid instead of pill type heater…..unless he says the old flat type works fine for fluid,…
Pat
No that is ground for the smoke element. Need to pop the shiny metal top off of unit and is a good chance to clean up unit. Wire feeds through small hole in top piece. I can send photos and description of repair if you need
Here is how it is wired courtesy of RichieC:
https://ogrforum.com/...4/SMOKE%20GROUND.pdf
You can carefully unwind one turn of wire on the element when you disassemble it and solder a new wire or the old one onto it. Disassemble like Jagrick said. Clean out the old wax. My 2026 didn't originally have a piston spring so I added one (small end goes up). It also didn't have a gasket between the top of the unit and the shell, but when I added one it seemed to tight so I removed it.
I added a tiny piece of fluffed up wick to the chamber without blocking the puff hole and used liquid smoke fluid in it and it works great.
John
The crazy thing is the shiny metal cap is one that fits “In” not on the unit! It won’t even budge unless there is a secret? this is mighty stuck or made to survive atomic blasts!
If I can manage to get the cap off I will try the unwind one wire on the element and solder new power lead.
Thank you John and every one else who responded.
More on this another time.
I did unearth the hole in the top for power wire Jagrick! Thanks.
a whole lot of cleaning to be done! Good thing I retired this year!
those nichrome wires look good 2 me from the opening.
Well I got the cap off!
wires test conductive. Formica is shiny! Nothing looks too burnt.
will attempt a repair of power wire, why not!
You can touch the two contacts with transformer and wire should heat up right away. The nichrome is silver soldered to the contacts because of the heat but you can use plain solder to connect the lead wire though.
Well, not sure how reliable (or safe) it will be. It’s only 50 degrees in the basement but I think mission accomplished for now. it smokes and I appreciated the heat! It didn’t heat up right away but patience and perseverance today seems to go a long way.
thanks to all & kudos to Jagrick!!
i did email Jeff @ TT. Just in case this becomes funky.
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