2026 later model smoke puffer lever

I have one of these engines at home. I can check it later and will post some pix.

The pilot/ steam chest casting appears to be incorrect for the later 2026....that appears to be the pilot from either an earlier 1666 which didnt have smoke, or early 2026, with the smoke lever mounted in the motor....Pat

I think I may have answered my own question. On page 148 of the Greenberg Lionel Repair Manual there is a diagram that shows 2 small tabs on the boiler casting that would hold the lever in place. I did not notice those tabs before. My boiler does not have these tabs so I think I have an early 2026 boiler with a later 2026 motor/smoke unit.

My bad....I have a 2037

I think your getting yourself a little confused about the two different types of 2026 locomotives. On the left a late 2026, with smoke lever provision, and capture prongs on the steam chest/ pilot. On the right, an early 2026 with no smoke unit provisions....because early 2026 had the smoke lever as part of the motor. Your engine appears to be a late 2026, with an earlier steam chest/ pilot. Common practice to swap these around since it’s the first piece to be broken when they took a nose dive from a table top.....usually to a concrete basement floor.....Pat

Thanks Pat,

What I have is a boiler like the one on the right (early) - no smoke lever provision - and a motor/smoke unit with the silver lever(late). The steam chest has the "grooves" for the silver lever but there is nothing to retain the lever on the boiler.

JohnT

Another simple way to distinguish the two types is early has handrails, or if the handrails are missing, at least the holes will be there for the cotter keys. The later has no hand rails and no holes machined or drilled. The sample I showed on the right is a hacked up early 2026 that somebody wallered out a front mount e unit hole into it ....again, it’s easy to play musical motors, steam chests, etc. with a lot of these Prarie type steamers.....you definitely have the later motor, let’s see yours from top side....it’s easy to distinguish the two........Pat

Just need the later pilot assembly is all John.

Chuck. do you happen to have one?

JohnT

I'll check tomorrow. Most likely yes.

Yes