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Old Town San Diego, open longer hours, and 7 days a week for the Summer.... FREE ADMISSION. Gary Hickok operates strictly on donations. If you're visiting San Diego this Summer, stop by and say HI. There's great food and shopping for all.

 

My El Capitan made a visit last week

 

 

Last edited by Former Member
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Yes John, both sets of power, ran with 2 powered units. The F7's ran great, 6 hours non stop and didn't even get warm.

 

The F3's have never run together as good as the F7's. After 2 hours the B unit tore up an idler gear in 1 of the trucks, and locked up tight. It did the same thing when it was brand new, and Lionel replaced the whole truck under warranty. Those trucks are no longer available so I pulled that idler gear out, swapped the axles so the traction tire axle is the drive axle and the other spins freely. (This is how the F7's are set up from the factory, 1 drive axle per truck.) Now the F3B runs really smooth and seems to be better paired with it's lead A unit. I think that idler gear has been wobbling for awhile causing it to bind up.

 

The layout does have a grade, I'm guessing around 2%, but the 9 and 10 car train was pulled at ease with 2 powered units. The only issue is speed up and down the grade because Odyssey is turned OFF. Real trains do the same thing so it's not that big of deal. I'm am seriously considering putting a Cruise Commander M in the powered units though.

 

The cars are very heavy, and if your multiple powered units don't run well together, you will eat up traction tires at the minimum. I am considering getting another powered B unit for both sets. Then I can swap shells to run 3 powered units in an ABBA, and/or just run an ABBBA for a bigger train. Sometimes I just have to tell myself... "STOP". enough is enough  

Last edited by Former Member
Originally Posted by Laidoffsick:

Yes John, both sets of power, ran with 2 powered units. The F7's ran great, 6 hours non stop and didn't even get warm.

 

The F3's have never run together as good as the F7's. After 2 hours the B unit tore up an idler gear in 1 of the trucks, and locked up tight. It did the same thing when it was brand new, and Lionel replaced the whole truck under warranty. Those trucks are no longer available so I pulled that idler gear out, swapped the axles so the traction tire axle is the drive axle and the other spins freely. (This is how the F7's are set up from the factory, 1 drive axle per truck.) Now the F3B runs really smooth and seems to be better paired with it's lead A unit. I think that idler gear has been wobbling for awhile causing it to bind up.

 

The layout does have a grade, I'm guessing around 2%, but the 9 and 10 car train was pulled at ease with 2 powered units. The only issue is speed up and down the grade because Odyssey is turned OFF. Real trains do the same thing so it's not that big of deal. I'm am seriously considering putting a Cruise Commander M in the powered units though.

 

The cars are very heavy, and if your multiple powered units don't run well together, you will eat up traction tires at the minimum. I am considering getting another powered B unit for both sets. Then I can swap shells to run 3 powered units in an ABBA, and/or just run an ABBBA for a bigger train. Sometimes I just have to tell myself... "STOP". enough is enough  

Thanks for the info. I have the Lionel scale F3 ABBA set, #18 with a powered B. I only have 9 El Cap cars so I should be okay. Will keep an eye on the tires though!

Last edited by tr18

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