Lionel 4-4-2 smoke unit help

Hi Liam!

Olsen's Toy Train Parts should have the Smoke Generator you're looking for. If not, try Jeff at the Train Tender in New York. Just type in "The Train Tender" on your browser & it should come up for you. I think they are around $16.00 in cost. Take Care.

I suspect you just need a smoke resistor, more like $2 at the same parts suppliers.  I'd repack it with new wicking as well.   As long as the piston is going up and down, they only "working" part in those is the resistor.

On the start engines they are sleuth sealed units.  You can open them in some cases, but the seal/seam is at the bottom and if you don't reseal it well it will leak fluid.

I have rebuilt them and added screws to clamp tight.  G

Thanks for the replies, Gunrunner John how do you replace the wicking and resistor in this unit? I have successfully replaced wicking and resistors and mechanical units but never tried it on these. I have 4 of the 4-4-2s and all smoke very well except you get nothing on this one. Where is the link to the smoke unit on the olsons train website? Thanks, Liam 

How about an actual model number for your locomotive.  I'd like to see the Lionel parts diagram so we can be on the same page.

Is this your smoke unit?  If so, I think GGG may be right, best to replace it whole.  I was thinking of the other style that has the plastic cap with the resistor.

 Correct that is my unit gunrunner John. Where is the link to the smoke unit on the olsons train website? Thanks, Liam 

I have the same type of engine with the same type of smoke unit.  Plastic and heat really don't mix.....  Mine melted (I was young at the time, didn't really know to keep it full of fluid) and burned out.  My dad bypassed the smoke unit resistor so I could at least run the engine and have the headlight in operation.  It isn't exactly one you can work on like the newer units or the postwar ones, so replacing the whole unit would be best.

Not sure if Olsons stocks parts that new.  You might have to go straight to Lionel or one of the other parts suppliers.

If that is your unit, I didn't find that one on Olsen's

You want part number 6108738200 on the Lionel website

http://www.lionel.com/Customer...7f-8bb6-327351120578

It is # 27 in that parts list.

Liam

   We have the smoke unit you need. Our price is $16.00 and that includes sales tax and shipping.

Bill

Lionel Factory Trained Repair Tech

Independent Lionel Service Station

Electric RR Dealer

U.S Army Retired

Jump on that deal, shipping from Lionel is around $10!

Thanks boxcar Bill I willprobably buy it from you on Friday do you take PayPal?

  Yes, we take pay pal.

Thanks Do you have a website or should you send me an invoice from PayPal.

Check his profile, he has an email address there.

Liam,  Some starter engines had a second switch where the reverse unit switch was to turn power on and off to the smoke unit.  It is a good back fit to prevent burning these units out.  Otherwise you do need to keep the wick wet with smoke fluid.  G

I agree, I think it's almost mandatory to have a smoke switch.  Not many people want the smoke on every locomotive to be active at all times. 

I think Boxcar Bill's price of sixteen dollars is a very good for the smoke unit. I would go with that.

Just to expand on the subject though I thought the following would be interesting.

I have one of Lionels Polar Express  starter set engines and it would not smoke at all at anything lower them full power. After checking it out I found that the constant voltage board could not produce smoke at anything lower then ten volts input.

I e-mailed Lionel and they wonted sixty-five dollars to fix the problem they built and that did not include shipping.

So as per the advice of one of our members I got in touch with JDS and for a few extra bucks I got a fan driven unit that will produce smoke at around 5 volts.

I had a few other items added on as well and look forward to it's arrival at my house in a few days.

As I said Boxcars price is more then fair and if that is all you need then It's a no brainer, go for it.

But if anyone is interested in an up grade check this site out,

 www.jdslimitedproductions.com

570-772-9815  ask for Jeffery.

Have Fun,

Mario E.

Thanks for the reply Mario I have had a number of modern Lionel bad smoke units and what I do to get a lot better output is putting in pink insulation and putting a new resistor in. I buy those liquid smoke unit conversion kits on eBay and those work very well.  also sometimes wire the board straight to track power and you can get a nice big plume of smoke under 10volthand it really smokes well on any voltage. Here is a video of the new Polar Express Berkshire with whistle steam that I did a smoke unit rebuild on. I also got marvelous results on a starter pennsy 0-8-0 at first it barely smoked at all but now it blows out huge puffS, these conversions can be done for about five dollars. I will definitely jump in on Boxcar Bills offer that is definitely the best price out there!