PW Pellet Smoke Unit from 2046 Lionel Engine- Repair or Upgrade??

Replace the element with the same type after cleaning out all the residue. You can use pellets or fluid with these. Fluid burns much cleaner and won't clog up the unit. All of the repro parts guys stock these. ttender.com is one source. There are many others.

Pete

@Carl J, @Norton is correct - replacing the element is relatively easy and they are very hardy - they can be run dry without worry and accept pellets and fluid! When I service these, I always add a 2026-44 piston return spring. It makes for quieter operation and I perceive better plumage of smoke.

Both are very simple installs. You can usually find the replacement of the original or the conversion kit on eBay.   Usually cost anywhere from $10 to $20

I go with the keep it original guys. You can use pellets or fluid

Jim

I want keep it original with the smoke pellets.  There is nothing like the aroma of smoke pellets.  There is something holy about it.   

Jim

The 2046  was my favorite postwar steamer. They run, smoke and pull great. I have 3 or 4 of them.

Fix it! Find some of the ni-chrome wire and rewind it. A couple tips: you'll need to count the winds around the core, and get a similar length of wire. Too long and it won't get hot enough. Too short and it will get too hot and break again. Also, ni-chrome doesn't really solder. If I remember correctly, there is an eyelet that you can tie the wire to, then put a drop of solder on, to hold it in place.

Bingo, the wire is encupsulated in solder vs being adheared as usual.

  The fluid works too. But over time, as the pellet residue builds, mixing fluid in producess a slimy gunk that seems to slow the wicking process no matter what is used.  I would stock up on a few bottles of pellet and stick with them.(testing a suppliers pellets before committing to a bunch as some crummy smoking aftermarket ones existed years ago) 

Also, in the resivoir, there is a raised boss and hole for air. Note the height so you can guesstimate how much fluid it may hold.  The wire element can run dry without damage if fluid is used.

   Rewound ones can usually be found on de-bay. Remove a half wrap at a time then test to find the sweet spot. 

I think the wire gauge is 32. You can find it but it will be on a roll and likely cost much more than a few elements.  The early elements were 16 ohms. Some of the repros are 18-20 ohms and don't smoke as well. The ones from Jeff Kane at the Train Tender should be 16 ohms. If you get one that reads more than 16 ohms then you can unwrap a turn or two if you are not satisfied with the smoke output.

Pete

Everyone—

Thanks so much for all your responses on keeping the smoke unit a pellet type, and replace the heating element or rewinding with new nichrome wire. I did find a number of suppliers of the replacement heating elements.

Just as a future reference for part numbers:

671-169 original wire wound heater

671-225 updated wire wound heater w/ ceramic

671-212 smoke heater liner (fiberglass?) 

671-181 stack gasket fits on top of heater between die-cast engine stack.

Carl J

Carl J posted:

PW Pellet Smoke Unit from 2046 Lionel Engine- Repair or Upgrade??

 Just for the record, the conversion to liquid only is really a downgrade, not an upgrade, as the performance of liquid & pellets is so much better with the nichrome heaters, and the elements last so much longer.

I wonder why no manufacturer uses the anymore....

Very labor intensive / expensive.