picked-up the above without a smoke unit in it. But when opening the front of the boiler it appears that there is a empty "prong" which I assume would take the wire end of a smoke unit, similar to the LGB smoke units, but the factory sent me two gray square plastic units with what appears to be wire elements in the center. I can't figure out why or how to put this into the engine. Isn't there a smoke unit similar to the LGB unit that can fit into the stack? or can I use an LGB smoke unit in the Big Hauler?

Jim- I have two melted stacks here off a Big Hauler that someone had tried an LGB smoke unit in. I don't know how they installed it, or whether it was a 5v unit on 12v, or what. Just make sure you space it out from the Bachmann stack. The Old Curmudgeon

LGB smoke units should not melt a plastic stack if operated properly. There should be an air gap between the smoke unit body and the stack. Even so, LGB units can be held in the fingers while operating so they should not get hot enough to melt a plastic stack.

A 5 volt unit on 12 volts is another matter entirely....

- gws

Like I said, George, I didn't do it, I just have the results here. I personally rip 'em all out of mine. The Old Curmudgeon

An LGB unit is the hot setup.

See link for details

• Big Hauler Tips

Was that an intentional pun George???

yep

- gws

Thanks George for the info.

Jim- The smoke unit bolts to two tabs in the boiler- you must remove the boiler to access. It is wired to the on/off switch in the smokebox. Most of the stcks in Bachmann products (in my experience- others may not have had any problem) are made of plastic that tends to melt with a smoke unit in the stack, hence the lower mouny.The Old Curmudgeon