Help with main stack smoke unit in VL ATSF 3000.

I have zero experience with this engine, and I may be stating something that is obviously wrong, but have you thought about removing that big screw, just to the left of the plate, that goes up into the boiler bottom?

Chuck

Kevin,

 I worked on this engine quite a ways back. If my memory serves me right, you'll  need to take the front boiler door off. I think you can remove the Phillips screw in your photo to remove it.

Alex

Like Alex says, take the big screw out.

What I do in these situations is loosen the suspect screw and see if that loosens the part I'm trying to remove.  If so, I figure I'm on the right track.  If not, I tighten it back up and keep looking.

I will try again.  I use the same seek and find method you described John.  I did remove the screw holding the boiler door.  I separated the door from the boiler but I didn't remove it.  Once separated I thought the metal support bracket would fall away, of course it didn't.  I will remove it completely tonight.  Thanks for the help boys!!  I really appreciate it!

Try working on it before the margaritas 

D*mn the Margaritas, full speed ahead.

I just looked down the stack of my 3000 to see if there is a screw fitting holding the smoke unit to the stack. It appears that there isn't but it looks like the brass funnel of the smoke unit might be press-fitted on to the base of the stack as I can only see the inside of the funnel looking down the stack:

If so, the unit might need to be pulled down to get it free. According to the Lionel replacement parts photos, the metal plate is indeed the main smoke unit bracket:

Working backwards from what I'd guess was the easiest way to install this part in the first place, it would seem from the bottom rather than through the front of the boiler but hard experience (of 3rd Rail steamers) teaches that it is in fact through the front and then pushed up to engage the stack.

BTW, one of the 3000s that Alex M worked on was mine so he'll know better than I do how to get it apart. 

Shockingly I did not enjoy a margarita before I took apart my 3000 Doug!  However, once I failed to remove the smoke unit the first time around I did need one (or two)!

I  removed the handrails from the stanchions on the door of the boiler, then removed the "big screw" and that allowed the door to come away easily from the boiler.  When I removed the screw the first time the shell was upside down and I did not see that the handrails were preventing the removal of the door.   The smoke unit then came out easily.  I replaced the resistor and repacked it and the stack smokes like the proverbial chimney!  

But no happy ending yet, when I bench tested it the fan motors for the whistle and blow down work BUT,  I got no smoke from either!  Now it is time to get the Patron and limes!