0-6-0 Switcher - Smoke Unit Issues RSE

Dan~

Go to Lionel, lionel customer service, then parts and type in dockside. I think all the diagrams and parts are the same.

This link may work.

https://www.lionel.com/custome...;submitButton=Search

I have 4 docksiders and i think all the smoke units are the same.  2 of the units i bought used had did not smoke. Both appeared to be a reed/valve problem. In one, the plastic reed (not sure what to call it) appeared to get hot and curled. The other appeared that the reed was stuck closed. I unscrewed it, gently lifted, re fastened and it worked fine.

I think I had to purchase an entire smoke unit to get the part I needed.

Good luck

WMC,

Thanks for the reply, the link is great for parts!  I figured there was something of a common designation considering all the different versions of the this engine. 

If anyone has any additional advice about the possible damage done I would appreciate the input

Thanks
Dan

I just tore into my new North Pole Central Dockside today and sure enough, I did get a new one from eBay.  I found that the reed valve was indeed stuck closed and distorted.  I carefully unpeeled it and it is just not working.  Smoke in the tube but no air through the smoke box to move it out the stack.

I tried a piece of 35mm film.  It worked for a little bit then it distorted.  I tried flipping over the original mylar and it only puffed at high speed.  

Oh, I think mylar is impervious to smoke fluids of most any nature.  It's also rated to 300F easily.  

It's the reed valve, that's the problem, the weak link.  These things smoke like the dickens when they smoke.  All I can do now is order parts from Lionel.