Question on the Postwar F3 Horizontal motors.

When I worked at Madison Hardware in Detroit in the 90's, we had quite a few of these.   The plastic gear, I believe is a replacement gear, maybe was used to reduce noise.  It can be replaced with a metal gear.  I have no idea on the part no.  There were also two size's of metal studs that held that gear in place.  The small opening took a pin that you would tap in to place.  If the motor had the larger hole, the holding stud had a bearing on its shaft.  Have seen no difference in performance issues.  I believe the brush cap went to plastic when magnatraction came out...

Marty

GGG: The biggest two changes in the horizontal motors I'm aware of are the two you pointed out. My 1952 2343 has the newer brushplate assembly. The earlier version has what is known (to me anyway) as the "Atomic" motor brushplate assembly with the two pleated tube brush holders. The newer version was likely cheaper to produce.

My 1952 2343 has both idler spur gears in steel(?); my 1954 Texas Special had the nylon idler gears. The nylon gears are somewhat quieter.

I haven't come across any reading material over the years that clearly points this out, especially the nylon gears.

The nylon gears were first used in 1953 on the SF 2353, the NYC 2354, and the WP 2355 diesels. All post-1953 horizontal motor F3s should have these nylon gears. The change was made in an attempt to quiet the famous growl of the horizontal motors. Any nylon gears found on earlier units are replacements, not factory issue.

Jim

So, does this stud holding the nylon gear just pull out?  The other question is finding the part number for the magnetraction axle.  It is a thicker axle, and the wheels don't have gears, so the Switcher axles I have seen with wheels would not work.

I had a bent axle, and a wheel that won't stay on that axle.

I actually tapped the axle and it straightened pretty well.  (Just the smaller diameter portion that goes into the wheel was bent.  The swedging is still good and the wheel won't rotate on the axle, so maybe I can just epoxy it on the shaft.

Looking for replacements parts is what found difficult since they don't match up to the early units or the vertical motor units.  Seems like a Lionel documentation gap on these engines.  G

I have removed these studs using side cutteer pliers and carefully wedging it out.  Once you get enough of it out, you can use the ends of the needle nose pliers to get it out...

Marty

Olsen's has a parts list and exploded drawing with the part numbers for the 2343.

http://pictures.olsenstoy.com//2343p.htm

Martin

Thank you.  The Post War manual just points you to the older 2333 section.  Looks Like Olsen did a nice job updating the data, or the original Lionel Service station included the info.  G