Lionel 736 berk rod repair. What is left and right?

[Firelock76]

I use Megasteam myself, the coffee "flavor" to be exact.  Amazing, it really does smell like coffee!

I tried the cinnamon bun scent but didn't care for that one, smelled like a burning bakery!  But that's my own opinion anyway, don't let it keep you from experimenting.

[northernpike]

My berk is later, with plastic rear trucks.  I like the cast ones but they are pretty expensive to swap out.  Megasteam works great in my other P W pill units and they never burn out.  The liquid ones always have melted caps and don't seem to last.  I think I am gradually going to swap out the liquid resistors to the pellet element with Megasteam.

[Firelock76]

One thing I found out recently with a pellet-type smoke unit on one of my post-wars, keep the exterior clean and shiny.  I'll explain.

My 2056 Hudson stopped smoking, and I assumed the smoke unit had given up the ghost.  I pulled the heating element and checked it for continuity and it checked out fine.  I noticed during the disassenbly that the casing of the smoke unit was very crudded up so I gave it a good cleaning until it shined, the heating element goes to ground through the smoke unit casing.  Relaced the batting while I was at it and after re-assembly it smoked like a champ.

And yes, I use liquid smoke.  As far as modern liquid smoke units are concerned keep 'em wet if you can't turn 'em off.

I'm curious, how old is your 736 Berk?  Mine's from 1953 and had the pellet type smoke unit.  By the way, I've cleaned that one out and replaced the batting as well.

[ADCX Rob]

northernpike

...It seems the liquid repro ones burn out faster In my PW engines...

They do. 

Stay with the all metal pellet type using extra batting under the element and you will have a great smoker with pellets or liquid.

[rtraincollector]

My personal prefference is to have the pill type it came with. as you can use liquid or pill in it. you have liquid thats all you can use in it. 

I do believe you are correct on the left side as sitting in the cab. But to be sure call Jeff Kane at the train tender, he is sure to have ethe parts you need. www.ttender.com

 

[northernpike]

Started working on my berk that's been sitting a while due to broken eccentric crank.  If you are sitting in the cab looking forward, it is the left hand (firemans side).  Would  that be considered the left side for rod and crank parts In Lionel parts numbers?

Also, liquid smoke unit in tough shape.  Thinking of replacing that also. 

What is better, going back to old pellet resistors and using mega steam liquid or using liquid in a liquid repro.  It seems the liquid repro ones burn out faster In my PW engines.

Thanks for advice.

Northern