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Guys, The old wick in my smoke unit needs replaced.  so I am cutting Tiki torch wick to fit inside of the unit.  Now, the old wick appears to be in long strip strands. woven into the coils.  how have you guys put the new wick inside?  a big stuffing of it that touches the coils?  or strand it like the factory did.  20160127_00041320160127_000335

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It seems like the MTH users tend to have the strand almost "pinched" between the two resistors to ensure that they're making good contact with the heat source. This appears to also be how they come from the factory according to your pic.

And, as GGG said, be sure that the notch that exists in the top edge of the smoke bowl (which allows good airflow from the fan to the smoke chamber and out though the stack) is unobstructed by the batting.

The wick needs to go between the heating elements and then down into the body of the smoke unit in order to pick up the fluid. As GGG mentioned, the air way between the fan and the stack must not be blocked by the wick.

This question comes up often. Somebody should make a close up video showing how to replace smoke wicks for future reference.

 

I tried two methods of installing wicking.

The first and more traditional way is to wrap the wicking around the resistors, and let it dangle into the fluid well. However doing so, the wicking chars in a short period of use.

A better way is to over-stuff the wicking into the fluid well such that it naturally contacts the resistors. I find that this technique is easier to do, it allows more smoke fluid per fill, the wicking lasts longer, and the smoke is profuse. 

MTH Smoke Unit Assembly.bmp

 

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Bobby Ogage posted:

A better way is to over-stuff the wicking into the fluid well such that it naturally contacts the resistors. I find that this technique is easier to do, it allows more smoke fluid per fill, the wicking lasts longer, and the smoke is profuse.

Which is exactly what I recommended in another thread.  Since with TMCC, you can't really use the two resistors, that's the way you have to do it anyway.

Last edited by gunrunnerjohn

Here it is almost 2 weeks later and the new wick on my Blue Comet is used-up; or at least appears to be. I've run it daily (about 20-30 minutes per day) since replacing the wick and gasket, and this evening smoke output dropped significantly.  I took the unit apart, and this is what I found.  

burntwick

I added smoke fluid (JT's) before each run and during each run as soon as smoke output slowed down. What did I do wrong? Or is this the normal life expectancy of a wick?

Thanks

John

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BlueComet400 posted:

Here it is almost 2 weeks later and the new wick on my Blue Comet is used-up; or at least appears to be. I've run it daily (about 20-30 minutes per day) since replacing the wick and gasket, and this evening smoke output dropped significantly.  I took the unit apart, and this is what I found.  

burntwick

I added smoke fluid (JT's) before each run and during each run as soon as smoke output slowed down. What did I do wrong? Or is this the normal life expectancy of a wick?

Thanks

John

they do go black like that eventually. I'd have to say you're probably running it dry though. Use more fluid. Don't wait for it to "slow down" smoke production.

I have a fairly large mainline running around the basement. It only lasts a few laps. If we run an engine for an extended time, we have to keep adding fluid.

I still have burned my share of wicks. I use more fluid now, more often. I still have to change wicks every so often. Forget to add, and you can count on the wick getting charred. When you pull the wick, it should be very wet.

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