Menards F3, running as a pair.

Im surprised they didn't make a non powered A of B unit to go with this engine.

@tncentrr posted:

Im surprised they didn't make a non powered A of B unit to go with this engine.

Because this was allegedly a test production run to be customer evaluated.

Rusty

@Rusty Traque posted:

Because this was allegedly a test production run to be customer evaluated.

Rusty

I agree with Rusty. I would not be surprised it a dummy A comes along, but a B unit would surprise me being as it would be a big tooling cost.  Then again, a power unit of any kind came as a big surprise.

Steve

@Steve "Papa" Eastman posted:

A fellow forum member sent me his F3, it won’t work for his purposes.
The issues with this we’re exactly the same as I reported and video'd with my first on except this has no diesel sounds. Bell, whistle and crew sounds are good. Here’s where it gets fun. I started by running #2 with #1’s remote. Worked well. Ran #1 with #2’s remote worked great. Put them both on the track and tried to run with 1’s remote. #2 tried to move, but #1 was dead. I then used both remotes and now have powered A-A’s running, one remote is set in forward and the other in reverse.
This is exactly how the Lionel Ready To Play sets function when trying to run more than one engine.

Steve

Steve,

Very interesting set of results.  I wonder if Menards knew this was possible to run two engines at one back to back?

You should let Ray know of your test results as it may be of interest to them.  

I'd love to see a video if at all possible.

Thanks!

@Allegheny posted:

Steve,

Very interesting set of results.  I wonder if Menards knew this was possible to run two engines at one back to back?

You should let Ray know of your test results as it may be of interest to them.

I'd love to see a video if at all possible.

Thanks!

Menards has subscribed to my YouTube channel so they are well aware of my opinion of unit #1. I will do a video of my results with #2 and running in tandem. When I’m done playing, I will send an email with my recap. Problem right now is time. We are doing a exhibition this weekend, then lots of work preparing for the TCA Convention.

Steve

Ok, the diesel sound issue on #2 was simply a matter of moving the switch so sounds DO work. Here’s a short clip of them running together.

Steve

Very cool. I wonder if one board has enough power to run both with a wired tether as a A-A, then a single remote would work. Interesting that they have unique radio frequencies too.

Lot's of potential here.

The trailing A unit backup light being illuminated in an A-A combination would drive me nuts.  I know it will not be there if training dummy unit is produced, but, you know, a lot of us like 2 powered units.  Like Tim Allen used to say, "More power, huh, huh, huh!

Chuck

I ended up putting this B unit with it.  Matches and runs really well.  Weighs as much as the engine.

https://mthtrains.com/30-2921-4

John

That is cool!  Wish I had a second unit.  Question - how do you know when the second unit is at exactly the same setting in reverse on the remote vs the first unit in forward on its remote?  I found that my unit seemed to hit reverse a notch sooner than forward.

Ron

One might try popping the motors out of the second unit to see how they operate as a pair.  If the pulling power is not degraded it may be a simple AA solution.

@RON ARNDT 091718 posted:

That is cool!  Wish I had a second unit.  Question - how do you know when the second unit is at exactly the same setting in reverse on the remote vs the first unit in forward on its remote?  I found that my unit seemed to hit reverse a notch sooner than forward.

Ron

Ron

It was just a matter of feel. No accurate method.

Steve