Lionel RS-3 Motor conversion question

Easier and probably about the same money to just get a new power truck. This one doesn't have Traction tires on it so it's going to slip, and getting the gears on without breaking them will be a chore. You have to pull the wheels out to get the gears on.

I'm with the Nut.   Just look for a power truck, it has the gears, motor, and traction tires.

Ditto. I added a second powered truck to a starter RS 3. Runs great now and can pull a decent string of cars.

I did the same to my Area 51 RS-3.   Easy fix and works well.  I also repainted it and added a few mods as well!

-Pete

Thanks for the reply’s.  What kind of motor truck should I be on the look out for?  I can’t find a parts breakdown on the loco either, I just don’t want to get the wrong one

https://www.lionelsupport.com/...p;q=rs-3&match=0

If you go to the Lionel site and look for replacement parts you should be able to find your model. The link should take you to all of the RS-3 parts.

The truck is less than $30 bucks. I would think you just need to take from the wires coming from the E-unit and connect the 2 motors in parallel or serial. I bought a Southern RS-3 off of the auction site and was distressed to find it was a entry level engine. Lots of plastic, not very heavy. I am going to add another motor truck to mine and weight in the form of birdshot. You can also wire the pickups and tap into the input side of the board which will effectively lengthen your pickup footprint and help to avoid stalls on turnouts. I also have a Happy Holidays RS-3 from I think the 90s. IIRC it had a metal frame and railings. I want to get them open side by side and see if I can swap the shells. I want to wire the Happy Holidays with the mini LEDS from (? I have it bookmarked on my home PC) and I think the plastic rails would be safer.

Frank

I am having trouble finding mine.  I found the lion chief plus Pennsylvania locomotive, do the motors interchange or are they completely different?

Thank you so much for all the help!  Really appreciate it!

@Grampstrains posted:

Lionchief plus RS-3 has a different motor and diecast trucks.  If you type in RS-3 under parts and go to the BNSF engine it is just like yours.  You will need part # 2 - the motorized truck.  The cost is $25.00 but if you wait Until the Lionel parts sale Nov. 6-8 you can get if for half price.

part number 6308249101 ?  Thanks for your help

@Grampstrains posted:

That's it.