Lionel 2243 F-3 pull aluminum passenger cars?

On level track it should pull three aluminum cars and the B unit.  However, if you introduce tight curves into the equation, you might put a strain on that single motor.  

Thanks for your reply, Dan.  My 4 x8 layout has O-31 curves so it should work out for me, sounds like it would have been a problem on O-27.

The Santa Fe 2243 "A" unit was the first engine I had when I got Lionel trains as a child in 1963.   It still runs, and when I saw your post, I couldn't help but go try it out myself on my current layout.    I've got a set of five 2500-series passenger cars (one each of 2530, 2531, 2532, 2533, and 2534) that I normally pull behind a Santa Fe 2343 ABA.  With the dual motors in the 2343, it runs with no problem.  Alas, the 2243 doesn't do so well.  I was able to pull 4 of the 2500-series passenger cars and get up to a good speed after some engine wheel slip when starting up.  But with five of the passenger cars, the wheel slip was such that it never got up to speed.  I don't have the corresponding 2243C "B" unit, so I tried a 2353 dummy "A" unit, but it ended up having a coupler problem, so I couldn't run a real experiment with it and, say, three of the passenger cars.

I'm on GarGraves track, with O-72 curves.  The passenger cars almost certainly would roll easier if I refreshed the lube on the wheels/axles, in which case maybe I could get an extra car into the train.  But the 2243 has never been a very good puller for me, so it mostly sits around unused, and I keep it really only because it's my original Lionel engine.

Just convert it to a dual motor engine. I converted my Dad's 2245 Texas Special to dual motors by adding the 2nd motor and powered truck. Piece of cake for about $40.

Like Laidoffsick, I converted mine to dual motors and like all of my F3s, it's a pulling animal.

Roger

Good idea!  I've put Electric Railroad AC Commanders in all my post-war engines so I can run TMCC, which will add another $75 to the cost.  But still, it's something I should put on my list to do over the Christmas holidays.

Laidoffsick posted:

Just convert it to a dual motor engine. I converted my Dad's 2245 Texas Special to dual motors by adding the 2nd motor and powered truck. Piece of cake for about $40.

Was the 2245 Horizontal motored? Those are a little easier. IIRC all the 2243's had the vertical motor rear motor which requires either a 2383 type frame or a good machinist and the 2383 style powered  front truck with pilot.

BobbyD posted:

Was the 2245 Horizontal motored? ...

That's a trick question.

They were made both ways - horizontal(early) & vertical(late) motors.

But the 2243 has never been a very good puller for me, so it mostly sits around unused, and I keep it really only because it's my original Lionel engine

I love these engines!!2243's! have two, check the amps while running ..I am sure once you take that motor apart and lobe the bottom of the motor bearings and wash out that old grease and use silicone lube it will be better than you ever remembered! Good luck DANiel

I have the 2243A and B from Christmas when i was 5, and I have 6 of the re-issued aluminum passenger cars to pull. I bought another 2243 on Ebay and wired it with my original so that they would run in sync on one E-unit. I did it many years ago according to a Jim Barret article.

BobbyD posted:

Laidoffsick posted:

Just convert it to a dual motor engine. I converted my Dad's 2245 Texas Special to dual motors by adding the 2nd motor and powered truck. Piece of cake for about $40.

Was the 2245 Horizontal motored? Those are a little easier. IIRC all the 2243's had the vertical motor rear motor which requires either a 2383 type frame or a good machinist and the 2383 style powered  front truck with pilot.

Yes the one my Dad has is a horizontal motor version. These are all his from his childhood in the 50's. I re-worked and re-painted all of them. The Santa Fe B unit was a $50 junker from EBay that had been covered in spray can primer, about 10 times. I stripped it and repainted it so he has an ABA now. The 2245 was converted to dual motors after re-painting it because it just wouldn't pull much, even on level track.

At 360 W with 2 PH and TPC 400 I can run a 1954 2245 A and C with 4 well lubed Williams 2500 type cars.  Any more and I run the W Katy UP heritage and the 2245 C and 6 W 2500 AL TS cars.

Laidoffsick posted:

BobbyD posted:

Laidoffsick posted:

Just convert it to a dual motor engine. I converted my Dad's 2245 Texas Special to dual motors by adding the 2nd motor and powered truck. Piece of cake for about $40.

Was the 2245 Horizontal motored? Those are a little easier. IIRC all the 2243's had the vertical motor rear motor which requires either a 2383 type frame or a good machinist and the 2383 style powered  front truck with pilot.

Yes the one my Dad has is a horizontal motor version. These are all his from his childhood in the 50's. I re-worked and re-painted all of them. The Santa Fe B unit was a $50 junker from EBay that had been covered in spray can primer, about 10 times. I stripped it and repainted it so he has an ABA now. The 2245 was converted to dual motors after re-painting it because it just wouldn't pull much, even on level track.

The repaints look great. I've done a few steamers but the diesels are a whole different deal. Great Job. I love the old F3s.

In the past, more than just a "couple" years ago, I would run my 2243 ABA (both A's powered) and pull six 2500 series cars, well lubed with synthetic.  Yes, they did slip wheels to start, but as they gripped, took off and never looked back.  I like the idea of adding a second motor to some 2243 and/or 2245 engines. 

LaidOffSick, what source do you refer to where one could acquire the motor/truck necessary for the conversion?  I have more than one AB set of 2243 and 2245, so keep one set original and one set of each with dual motors.   YES!!  Great looking repaints, sir.  But, this is what we all have come to expect from someone so talented.

Jesse    TCA 12-68275

Jesse I purchased the motor and powered truck from EBay.

Laidoffsick posted:

Jesse I purchased the motor and powered truck from EBay.

How much did you have to mill out the frame ? 

I'm late to this string, but I just had to uphold the pulling power of the 2243 single motor Santa Fe.

I just bought 6 Lionel 2500 series PW aluminum pass cars.  Of course cleaned and lubed them before putting on the track.  Had my 2343 pulling them on my 027 gauge track.  Pretty sight with all the lights working.  After reading this post, I had to try one of my 2243.  It pulled all 6 without a problem.  Slightly higher voltage than the 2343.  I had it pull 14+ PW cars without issues in the past except for stringlining and decoupling.

I also run two 2243 in tandem, ABBA, and what great looking power there.

Here's my two sets of 2243's being inspected by the yardmaster. They run great! I'm sure I could add a coach car and they would pull them no problem.

@ADCX Rob posted:

That's a trick question.

They were made both ways - horizontal(early) & vertical(late) motors.

That is why I asked the question.

@Kunde posted:

How much did you have to mill out the frame ?

I believe just to make a matching keyway in the front as used for the rear motor.

In case I wasn't clear, one 2243 with one vertical motor pulls all 6  2500 cars, no problem