Lionel 2026 smoke unit reassembly

Yes, you are correct. Lionel's original parts diagram seems to indicate that it was to be installed large-side-down:

http://pictures.olsenstoy.com/cd/locos%5Clocsua4.pdf

The spring should go into the bottom part I believe and not between the piston and the cup.  The small part of the conical spring sits on the lever.  Here is a picture of my 2056 smoke unit.  Note the spring between the piston and smoke lever actuated by the side rods. 

If the Lionel diagram is correct(I assume it is) you seem to be missing a few parts.  I don't think the piston edge just sits on the smoke lever.  You need a pin and a different spring.  Unfortunately I do not have a 2026 to check. 

If you have a loose cone shaped spring that is made out of a light gauge material, it is probably a 2026-44 smoke unit spring.

It goes in between the smoke unit's cylinder (cup) and piston to gently push the piston down. It just drops in while the engine is upside down.

Some pictures of your 2026 would be helpful.

The 2056 pictured above is constructed differently.

Thanks for all the input.  The Lionel diagram had me a bit spooked as it did, indeed, seem to suggest I was missing parts, specifically the smoke crank.  I then realized that the diagram was for 2025.  CW Burfle has it right.  If you look at the photo in my original post, you will see a T-shaped bar. This is actuated from within the motor assemble and serves a crank-like function to move the piston up and down.  Once it's all back together, fingers are crossed that it runs!  Thanks again!

Thanks CW for the correction.  However what holds the piston in position.  JB's picture looks like there is nothing there for the smoke lever rod to hold the piston in position but the outside edge in which case it would just fall over and out of position.  Maybe JBs picture is not good enough and there is a cross piece in the piston bottom for the lever to rest against. 

quote:

However what holds the piston in position

Nothing holds the piston in position. The piston is trapped between the puffer arm and the cylinder cup. In order to insert the piston, I usually either loosen the smoke unit mounting screw, so I can tilt the whole smoke unit up to provide room to install the piston, or I remove it completely.

The smoke lever is driven by a cam that is cast into the rear of one of the wheels.

I am not positive, that engine might have a small pot smoke unit. On those units, the cover fits over (outside) the heat pot, and the heater assembly does not have a ceramic form. The earliest ones were wound differently for "O" and "027' engines. All of them were relatively easy to burn out if you try to clear them by putting the engine in neutral and turning up the voltage.

It's my opinion that Lionel went to the large pot smoke unit, with the ceramic form, to allow them to use a longer piece of heavier gauge wire, less susceptible to burn out.

Update... Awesome!  After nearly forty years of sitting in storage, the 2026 took off like a bandit!  Everything works.  Original headlamp lit up and I even burned up a smoke pellet from 1948. The truck wiring on the whistle tender was brittle and flaked off with the slightest touch, but after a quick replacement with new wire, it also works.  Considering how hard my dad played with this thing as a kid and that it had not been under power since the early 70's, my expectations for any such success were low.  They don't make 'em like this any more!  Thanks again for the replies.  Jason.

That's the beauty of postwar. With a little maintenance, they almost always run.

JB:  That's awesome.  I bet it sure brings back memories. 

CW: Thanks for the explanation.