Post War F unit w/ Dual Horizontal Motors

The other thing to check is the circuit breaker on the transformer. A worn breaker will exhibit the exact symptoms you describe. Replacements are available from most Lionel parts shops for ~$10-15.

Chris

LVHR

Wate a minute, if I read your post corrfectly, on one track it runs fine and on another it does not and the voltage drops. Sounds to me like a power problem. I would check the power feeders to the track. If the feeders are too small or if there are not enough or if the track connections are not good the voltage will drop just as described.

Al

OK let me clarify..... As I stated in my 1st post, I have 17.6 volts going to the track. Thats what it reads on the volt meter, all the way around, with nothing on the track. I'm using a 180 watt brick from Lionel.

The engine has full power with the E-unit in Neutral. When going Forward or Reverse,

something is eating up the power. Both motors are turning and trucks move freely!

It is NOT my brick, the track, or the feeders. Other engines run fine on the same track.

Thats why I originally ask...

Brushes? E -unit? Horizontal motors?

You CANNOT measure the "goodness" of your track wiring with a voltmeter without a significant current running to/through the track.  Even the thinnest wire would give full voltage if there is no load.

Put the F3 on the track in Forward at the farthest point from the input power connection, but below stall voltage so that it doesn't move, and then measure voltages starting at your transformer terminals and working along until you reach the locomotive.  If you don't have the same voltage at all points, you need to improve your power distribution.

FWIW, I am rebuilding one of the trucks on a horizontal-motor F3 that ran fine in the forward direction, but in reverse it locked up.  The problem was worn axle bushings.  The thrust on the worm gear and worm wheels in the truck caused one axle to lock.  BTW, these locomotives take a ton of current.