Pellet Smoke Unit Repair

Many call it smoke packing.   I have repaired a few and know what you mean.     There are 2 kinds generally offered.  One like the original, a light density.  The other is a heavy density.   I prefer the heavier density.   If you are going to run liquid, then the heavy would be fine.    There are various sellers available. 

I usually also convert to the round resister, liquid unit. Complete conversion kits are available.   If you can save the old flat, mica based unit without breaking it, then you can reuse.  I don't know how long it may last.   With smoke pellets they tended to last since they ended up being coated with the residue and avoided corrosion.   

Also check for a cone shaped spring in the flapper.   I always put one in if missing or if it has lost it's "spring", which can happen after 60-70 years.  The small part of the spring goes down, against the moving part of the flapper.   

Pink fiberglass works great.

You can buy about any Postwar part you can name from Jeff Kane, "The Train Tender", online. All his parts are listed on his website. https://ttender.com/

He has very good prices and fair shipping charges. There are substitutes for the smoke unit element but for Postwar I prefer to use "original" type parts.

John T.

I assume you purchased a 671-225 heater element by itself. The stack gasket is 671-181 which is recommended by Lionel to be changed out whenever the cab is removed. The entire smoke unit which would include the fibrous white material mentioned would be 671-170. I would check a high caliber parts supply house to see if the material is available separately.

I too had some originals burn out over the years and as others have stated, refuse to retrofit a liquid unit.  Mazzone's meta-terphenyl pill scent is one of a kind...

Wall fiber insulation or any tiki torch wicking can be used as packing material under the ceramic wire pot.

The pink fiber insulation seems to work well in our engines.

Here is a part list if parts are needed, smoke unit lining part #671-212. Jeff Kane at the train tender as mentioned above. Hope this is helpful.

Thanks to everyone for their responses.