Need Advice on installation of Replacement Smoke Unit on Lionel #6-8100 MPC #746 Reissue

I would skip the fuse and not leave the engine in neutral for 5 minutes, the fuse is to prevent over heating the smoke unit element and burning the wick.

Paul

I can send you a copy of the parts diagram if you need it...

Marty

The fuse is part number 8100-90 and is only 1.75 at TTender.com.

If you are looking for more smoke, that will be difficult with a 36 ohm element. If that figure is true, it is to protect the plastic housing. A 18-24 ohm element will get things going, but probably too well.

Martin Derouin posted:

I can send you a copy of the parts diagram if you need it...

Marty     

That would be great if you could send a copy of the parts diagram.I have never had so much trouble replacing a smoke unit in a  postwar or MPC train in my life.But then again, this is a one of a kind unit, no wonder they never put them in any other train after this one.-Kenny

Rob, thanks for the link to the Train tender.

I think I will go ahead and order the fuse, might as well do this stock, that way maybe everything will come out alright this time.

Last time, the replacement element did not last even 3 months before it diminished in smoke output greatly.

I took it to a local train store, and the old guy yanked the fuse out and said,"I wonder who da hell out that in there",I said,"Maybe the factory",to which he replied,"I've been working on Lionel Trains for 50 + years, and Lionel NEVER had a fuse between a smoke unit and the e-unit,someone added that as extra protection after they bought it"

Only later did I think of downloading the instructions for the LOCO,and sure enough, they mentioned about the fuse in the instructions.I must admit ,I was quite surprised to find out myself. Thanks again for the part number.-Kenny

These pages are online at the Lionel Support website:

kennyb posted:

...no wonder they never put them in any other train after this one.

Until 1983, anyway.

ADCX Rob posted:

kennyb posted:

...no wonder they never put them in any other train after this one.

Until 1983, anyway.

Right -- the 6-8307 Southern Pacific Daylight used that smoke unit and fuse.

And then the same set-up was also used in the 6-18001 Rock Island and 6-18003 Lackawanna Northern locos from 1987-1988 as well. I'm not sure if the fuse carried forward from there, although the smoke unit did get used through at least the late-1990's.

I'm not sure what the big deal is about replacing this smoke unit? (Other than the fact that they're getting tough to find.)

TRW

Yep,at $60.00 with postage, just want to make sure it's done right, that's all.

For that kind of money, if I had one, it would get fan driven smoke!

gunrunnerjohn posted:

For that kind of money, if I had one, it would get fan driven smoke!

GRJ, How much would you charge me to put a fan driven smoke unit in this 1981 #611? It would look freakin' bad *** on that train, with the smoke coming out the sides.Before the old one blew outfit was smokin'like crazy, and it looked great with that smoke coming out of the sides like that.  

Or where you just jokin'around?Let me know. Thanks.-Kenny

Well, doing the extra plumbing to get the cylinder smoke wouldn't come cheap, so I'd probably stick with the stock smoke unit.  I did say that "if I had one", my labor is much cheaper when I'm working on my own stuff.   I think fan driven cylinder smoke would really be cool, and I do someday want to try that.