In another forum someone posted these pictures looking for guidance on what to do with this smoke unit. I am hoping you guys can help. Is this meant for smoke pellets? What is the white gunk build up? This is different from any smoke unit I have worked on.
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It is a postwar smoke unit that takes pellets or liquid. The gunk on top is just residue that can be "smoked" off with a heat gun and/or cleaned up with something like IPA. It looks like the 2026-29 heating element may be broken and require replacement.
The picture down the stack shows the heating element nichrome wire laying in such a manner indicating it may have a break in it.
I use liquid in these units just as they come from the factory. Those have a 671-212 lining under the heating element.
Power engine and you will know if smoke unit is good or does nothing it will smoke at least a little bit if good without adding anything to it for a test.
If its bad and you can solder, the wire is availlable cheap by the foot at train tender just count the wraps on the old one
Nichrome wire does not solder well, hence the crimped connections (you may see solder on the rivet to connect the normal wire lead). The 2026-29 is available ready to install from the train tender as well.