Greetings all. Has anyone tried the new smoke pellets for O gauge trains? I have several postwar engines and I just recently ran out of pellets. I can buy the old ones on several auction sites but I was curious about the new ones. Do they work as well as the old ones and do they smell the same? My wife doesn't object to the smell of the old smoke pellets. I think she actually likes it. Smoke fluid on the other hand will have her down in the basement in minutes, especially if we are running MTH engines. I don't care for the smell myself. I have tried the different flavors, pine, cinnamon, unscented, but nothing is as nice as old school. Thanks for your response.
It is my understanding that the new repo pellets ( from what JimmyT told me) work fine and smell the same as the original ones. I just run liquid in my smoke pellet engines and it works just fine as well.
Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
You can use liquid in your existing smoke unit and it seems to work fine. Better yet is to convert the old pellet smoke unit to use liquid smoke.
Whether you use liquid or pellets, DO NOT do the liquid smoke unit conversion downgrade. It limits your use to liquid only, and the elements do not last nearly as long as the nichrome wound elements.
Rob
I have used the reproduction smoke pellets that are currently being made by the folks who own Trainz. They work and smell just like the original Postwar Lionel SP pellets. It's all really a matter of personal preference. I do not care for the odor of smoke fluid, and don't like the idea of intentionally putting oil vapors into the air inside my home.Smoke from smoke pellets smells pleasant to me, and becomes dust.
ADCX Rob Whether you use liquid or pellets, DO NOT do the liquid smoke unit conversion downgrade. It limits your use to liquid only, and the elements do not last nearly as long as the nichrome wound elements.
I second this to me if it's supose to be a pellet engine and it's been converted to liquid that's a down grade of the engine and the resale price.
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
rtraincollector ADCX Rob Whether you use liquid or pellets, DO NOT do the liquid smoke unit conversion downgrade. It limits your use to liquid only, and the elements do not last nearly as long as the nichrome wound elements. I second this, to me if it's supose to be a pellet engine and it's been converted to liquid that's a down grade of the engine and the resale price.
I second this, to me if it's supose to be a pellet engine and it's been converted to liquid that's a down grade of the engine and the resale price.
I also agree the liquid replacement is a down grade. My 1953 736 is the best smoker on the layout using liquid in it.
The new pellets work fine, kinda pricy though.
"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks
Charter Member- Tardis Train Crew (TTC) - Detroit3railers- Detroit Historical society Glancy Modular trains- Charter member BTTS
sir james I...kinda pricy though.
The availability of new pellets has driven down the price of original pellets immensely. The SP pellets were selling at incredible $$ amounts, sometimes over $1 each, some years ago.
Deffinately not a downgrade. A conversion is the proper term. Perhaps you installed an inferior kit. I have converted nearly all my postwar pellet engines to liquid and they smoke great espessially with Megasteam fluid with no failures. With liquid smoke it's important to not let the smoke units and wicks dry out. Always add a few drops of liquid before running. The better conversion kits include a proper wick and a piston spring. My liquid smokers outsmoke any pellet engine 2-1.
BTW, I would not do this to any mint or near mint locomotive. This is a conversion ment for runners.
No Al they will last but not as long as the original you have to look at the ones weare talking about are now 70 years old but by taking them to liquid your taking away part of the functionality of the engine as it is with the Pill you can do both once you convert to liquid you can't and it depends on the person but to me and a few others in here agree its a down grade it all a point of view. Now if someone want a liquid put in I would tell them the difference and let them make there own decision I would not try to sway them either way as it's there engine. I would say I wouldn't if it was mine but it's yours and your choice here is what the difference is blaa blaa blaa
BigAl 956I have converted nearly all my postwar pellet engines to liquid
It's just not necessary. Save yourself the time, expense, and inconvenience, and keep the pellet heaters. They smoke better with liquid than with the pellets already, especially with MegaSteam or MTH fluid. I've used liquid in pellet smokers since the 1970's.
I was at a show last week and got confusing information. I have a 726 from 1946 that uses a dimpled bulb to heat a smoke pellet. I was told that there are 2 versions of smoke pellets and that newer SP wouldn't work. That I should use original old pellets or new liquid dropped into the dimple, also that there wouldn't be a problem putting liquid onto a hot bulb. Any experiences?
The original 1946 smoke bulb pellets are noxious, hazardous, & very corrosive.
You will have no problem with the SP type pellets, original or repro, aside from the usual issue of the liquified pellet material being prone to spill out of the bulb dimple. Some folks have used a "sock" on the bulb of their own design to reduce spilling and enhance smoke output & pellet material retention(works with smoke fluids too).
ADCX RobThe original 1946 smoke bulb pellets are noxious, hazardous, & very corrosive.
AND unavailable. Where did he think you could find the ammonium pellets?
I have an original container that came with the 726 - new, has about 20 left; just inquiring as to my options. Sounds as if I don't want to use them. Hielsie
Usually those pellets breakup and decompose. The original container was intended to be air-tight to prevent decomposition, but after so many years.......Some folks might be interested in the container with the pellets as a collectable. Trying to use them would be a very bad idea.
They were corrosive and toxic.
I have a few bottles one the most are just dust as I call it
hielsieI was at a show last week and got confusing information. I have a 726 from 1946 that uses a dimpled bulb to heat a smoke pellet. I was told that there are 2 versions of smoke pellets and that newer SP wouldn't work. That I should use original old pellets or new liquid dropped into the dimple, also that there wouldn't be a problem putting liquid onto a hot bulb. Any experiences?
Definately confusing but more rare. The bulb type heaters are more primitive, used an inferior design pellet that has not been reproduced. They only survived a year or two before being quickly replaced by the more common heater and pill version. In many cases Lionel service centers converted the bulb smokers to the revised type due to many of the reasons mentioned in this thread.
There have been articles written about using the old bulb smokers, they are rare enough that I'm not sure if I would recomend a conversion and I do see replacement bulbs at shows so they are servicable.
Lionel sold kits to convert those smoke bulb turbines and Berkshires to use heater type smoke units. They included the smoke unit, a new boiler front (door), a new smoke stack, light bulb, and new parts for the puffer mechanism. Those conversion kits were available right up through 1969. (The kits themselves are collectable)I have handled a fair number of 1946 turbines and Berkshires. Very few had been converted. I think the conversion diminishes the value of the engine. Original smoke bulbs are around.
In addition, the smoke bulbs have been reproduced, and are good quality. Avoid the early replacement bulbs, which are just automotive bulbs with a depression in one side. The good reproductions look just like the originals.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.
Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month