My late model Lionel Brerkshire produces less smoke than it did when I first got it. I have been careful to keep smoke fluid in it so that the unit will not burn out. I put in about 5 drops. Can anyone tell me what I’m doing wrong?
George
5 is not enough. Bet you will find the packing charded. Take the top off and check. If so, clean the element real carefully [do not break an of the wires]. Cut that wick [sock looking thing] off. Remove the old packing. Install pink insulation [yes house type]. Be sure the insulation does not block the air hole from the fan chamber to the smoke chamber. Put top back on making sure the element touches the insulation. Soak it good. Keep it pretty wet [as smoke goes down, add about 8 to 10 drops].
GEORGE,
Great name by the way same as mine. First if it is a TMCC engine make sure you hit the aux 1 and number 9 to produce smoke. And regaurdless of what you have either TMCC or conventional a little blow down the stack with unclog any air bubbles. Hope this helps.
laz57
My PE berk seems to be fading too…I did do the pink insulation MOD when it was new and got improved performance afterwards. I didn’t cut the “sock” off the heater element though…I may open mine up again for a repacking and see how that sock looks. I’ve been good about keeping my smoke box good and wet with fluid. I think you just have to repack them once in a while; I’ve been running the heck out of my PE, never without smoke!
Roland
George and Roland.
I experienced the same thing with my Lionel Polar Express Berk (George, you have the same smoke unit, just a different Berk shell). Here’s what I did;
After opening the shell, remove the screw that holds the smoke unit to the frame. This makes it easier to remove the top (cap) of the smoke unit. With the cap off the unit, carefully cut off the tubular shaped cloth “sock” from the heater element (under the cap) with a hobby knife or small scissors. Take care not to damage the heater element. Once you’ve done that, the hardest part is behind you.
Now remove all of the fiberous stuff from the bowl of the smoke unit. Replace it with pink “cotton candy” type insulation. I’ve found that you want enough so that when you put the cap back on, the element will nestle into the insulation. Be carefull not to block the air holes. If the cap goes back on a little loose because of the insulation, not to worry. The shell will hold it down.
Put the cap back on, then re-attach the smoke unit to the frame with that screw. The Lionel Berks do not have a fan-driven smoke unit. But make sure the puffer mechanism is moving freely. Make sure the little donut shaped gasket is on the top of the cap. Pop the shell back on, being careful not to pich any wires (like the one to the headlight) and load the unit with 8-10 drops of smoke fluid. It should now smoke you out of the room.
As Roland said, you will need to repack the smoke unit with new insulation from time to time. I’ve found this to be true. Ours lasted a little over a year.
Jim
REPEAT REPEAT REPEAT!!!
Thanks to everyone for the replies. I have looked at the Lionel website exploded drawings for some direction on how to get the boiler shell off. It is usually a matter of removing some screws under the Cab and pilot. The Lionel drawings are not real explicit on this however. I think it is a relatively straight forward thing but I don’t want to screw it up. Is it obvious as to how to do this?
Thanks,
George
When you flip the engine over, you will see two screws at the very rear of the cab. Remove them. Then up near the pilot wheels there are two more. Remove them. That’s all there is to it. If you mix the screws up after you take them out of the shell, the two thin ones go in the front.
Jim
I usually reserve a snowy weekend in January for my yearly smoke unit re-packing. I keep a short step-ladder up-stairs next to the attic crawl-space hatch to access my wadding supply!
I’ve also heard that Tiki-Torch wicking sold at Home Depot or Lowes works well.
But the real secret is cutting off that dang-blasted sock!
That, and using J.T.'s Mega-Steam!
Jon [8D]
Hey Kool, I have heard the same thing. Was told it did NOT char as bad.
I filled my Polar Express smoke unit with J.T.'s Mega-Steam (Apple Harvest to be exact) after it was repacked. It smoked up a storm and I was very pleased! Been using it in a few locos since with great results. [bow] Gonna go listen to the Monkees play “I’m a Believer” now. [tup][tup]
Jim
Yep, I heard the same thing Chief !!
Thanks, John
Ok I think I have this message thing figured out.
Sorry to beat a dead horse here.
I am an n-scaler by heart and do not have the luxury of being familiar with smoke units. Geez after all these years we are finally getting some sound boards 
I took the advise of chiefs solution for my ailing PE smoke unit. It didn’t smoke like I would like to see. I wanted to cloud the room.
I have removed the top but I opted to un-solder the wire from the light bracket to lift my top instead of unscrewing the unit. Looking in the top I see the element. it is brown with a little bit of white lettering. I can not make it out. Are these perhaps voltage ratings or stock #'s? There is no apparent sock that I see unless you are refering to the brown outer caseing of this element. Could it be that since this set was manufactured this year lionel didn’t put socks on because of possible complaints in the past, or did JOE SMOKE just have a bad day when mine was built and forgot to put it on???
I also did not see or find any doughnut that was refered to in the post. Where should it be? Should it be between the bottom part of the can and the top that I took off?
Any way the only so to speak of sock I see is on the wire coming in from the board to the top of the smoke can. it is white in color and appears to be a rigid braided type of material. Once it gets to the tiny hole in the top it then becomes just the brown element then on the other side the wire coming out and through the other tiny hole on the other side. This of course is the one I said I un-soldered.
Also I have both materials that has been talked about. TIKI wick and insulation. If I use the tiki should I remove the outer web first and just use the fibers? Who has tried both and which one works better.
I appreciate any help that can be given.
mark
Here’s a link to my Polar Express Berk pulling some streamliners.
My smoke unit’s heating element had a cloth-like tube around it. It had become charred and brown from scorching, but was still recognizable as being cloth. That’s what needs to be removed. I’ve only used the pink insulation and it works great for me. Make sure the element is nestles into the insulation. I use it in post war pill-type smoke units with good results as well.
Good luck.
Jim
Wow I would love to have mine smoke like that.
How many drops of fluid do you start with?
I just looked at mine again. No appparent sock. Could mine have burnt off? I scrapped the element with my hobby knife and it felt like ceramic.
How can I post a picture so you could see it?
That was last year after the first time I did the procedure. Believe it or not, it smokes twice that much now. Not kidding. I started with 8-10 drops, then when output goes down, I add 4-5 more drops.
Bee careful with that hobby knife and the heating elelment!
You need a hosting page like Photobucket (free) to post photos.
Here’s a link to a parts list and wiring/assembly drawings for the PE Berk.
Make sure you have the piston and spring in the correct positions. Otherwise, it won’t puff the smoke out.
If I have never touched the piston and spring should it be fine other than if it doesnt puff. I have not touched anything else other than taking the shell off and lifting the top.
I am going to check this photo bucket sight out.
I appreciate the help.
I got it What do you think, NO sock??
No sock in that photo.
What I meant was, make sure you put the spring in under the smoke unit bowl, then the piston.
Jim
Jim,
Thanks for your help. No sock huhhh? I cant imagine why not this was a brand new set never opened.
As for the spring I never lifted the bowl, I only lifted the top off.
Do you have a comment on the doughnut. Where should this have been had I had one. The parts list you gave me only shows the whole bowl set up
Geeeeeez am I a pain or what?