I've observed the same thing with the new Legacy smoke units. I just ran my Milwaukee S-3 at a museum open house and I had to refill the smoke unit every five minutes.
I don't find maintaining the smoke units to be especially burdensome. Yes, one blows an element or has to be repacked every once in a while, but rebuilding a smoke unit isn't exactly rocket science. A few steamers like the S-3 and some brass ones are hard to take apart, but most of them are no big deal. While you have it apart you can do the Mike Reagan modifications that give you more smoke output and better resistor and wick life.
At least it's not like 10-15 years ago when 50% of Lionel fan motors were wired backwards.
Originally Posted by RickO:
Unfortunately smoke units are a regular maintanence issue, just the way it is.
The more often you use it, and the higher the setting, the more often the need for rebuilding.
This is compunded by the fact that the newer legacy units have "jumbo" resisitors that can only be run a few minutes before additional fluid is needed.
IMO the "add ten drops" is a joke, the folks that mention adding an entire eyedropper at a time are probably correct.
I run mine on the lowest setting and get good smoke production. I also only use the smoke for short periods to extend the service life, but I know the units will eventually have to be rewicked. Its the "nature of the beast".
