How to Repair a Lionel Smoke Generator
You enjoyed several hours of watching smoke coming out of your old model steam locomotive. But recently, the smoke has not been spewing out like it was when you first bought it, and in some cases, not coming out at all. You inserted a second smoke pellet hoping that will help, but to no avail. You pry off the smoke unit cover to find a heavily pellet-crusted residue that is blocking off the hole that supplies air to the unit that allows it to billow smoke. You also discover the heater coil is damaged and in need of repairing.
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Instructions
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1
Remove the smoke unit cover with a screwdriver.
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2
Check the air hole to see if it's clear of any buildup or residue. Use a sharp knife to clean out the residue in the smoke unit.
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3
Remove the old heating coil and the smoke unit lining with a screwdriver--the coil heats the smoke pellet causing it to create smoke.
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4
Replace the smoke unit lining with a new lining.
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5
Rewind the heater coil with a spool of Ni-chrome wire. Make the correct number of tight windings on the ceramic base, and attach the wire to the eyelets with a crimping tool, without damaging the fragile base.
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6
Put the smoke unit cover on and drop in a waxed pellet to see if it spews smoke.
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Tips & Warnings
Lionel smoke pellets are no longer produced, and buying them on a collectors market can be expensive.
Provided the heater coil is intact, your chances of repairing the smoke unit are good. If the heater coil is burned out, the chances of repairing are not as good.
