Wire Gauge(s) for LIONEL PW Horizontal motors?

#22 wire is fine for this task.  For the electronic E-Unit, I've used the Dallee #400 for a couple of locomotives, and Lionel also has their conventional reverse unit, the number escapes me right now.

 

For the F3s, be sure to use a flexible wire with a loop that can bend when the motors rotate.  It is best to anchor the wire to the top of the motor so that the bending strain isn't on the part of the wire that is soldered to the brush and field terminals.

 

Make certain that you include the insulation between the battery/relay bracket and the frame.  All of the parts connected to the + terminal of the battery must float.

For the e units, you can get replacement pre-wired 4 finger and 2 finger contact with shield.  It saves a lot of time.  Jeff at the train tender has them as well as the flex wire.  If you are redoing the Motor New brushes and springs are a good thing to do as well.  I have been repairing a number of engines so I have been able to get the bulk pricing.  Its been rewarding to restore these great engines.

I have been replacing the old-style brushes with the newer ones with the embedded wire leads.  This eliminates the need to have current flowing through the interface between the brush and the spring or the brush support.

gunrunnerjohn, seeing the picture of the Dallee 400 reminded me that I installed one or one highly similar over 10 years ago.  I ran the engine for the first time in a very, very long time and enjoyed the absence of the buzz of the OEM e-unit.  My other three PW F's have the OEM units and ran them as well.  Thanks for the reply on the wire size.

 

Brewman1973, I checked my Greenberg Repair Manual and Olsen's Library and both give the e-unit p/n as 2333-80.  Train Tender does not show this item in stock; nor does Olsen's.  If you know of an alternate part number, please advise.

 

Dale, thanks for the tips.

 

You can get the E-Unit rebuild kits at Henning's Trains Tel: (215) 362-2442

grj, thanks for the Henning's referral; I'll give them a call.

 

Also, checked the Greenberg manual and the twin vertical motor F3's used an e-unit, p/n 100-5, that might work in my application and seems to be available from a variety of sources.

Lionel used 24 gauge wire to connect the e-units and motors. 41 strand Super-flex wire is available in red, green, and blue. Most parts dealers should carry it.

I had enough 2333 F3's come into the shop with melted insulation on the wire from the P/U's, I always replaced it with 20 gauge wire.

 

I also gave customers the options of adding a second pick-up on the rear truck to improve performance through switches, etc. It would also reduce the current load through the front P/U power feed wire.

 

To add a second pick-up you need:

 

622-134 Collector Assy x1

2333-34 Collector Insulator x 1

2333-42 Insulating Washer x 2

671-112 Insulating Spacer x 2

4-40 x 3/8 RH screw x 2

20 gauge wire 6 - 8 in long

 

Save to original truck bottom cover and screws if you want to be able to restore it to original condition at some point.

Hi Guys,  lot of good info here.  Most 3 position e-units have the same basic parts, in the Greenberg manual, they have a section on e-units with part numbers on page 184 (7th edition).  the drum (part# 259E-1), the plunger and pawl, the shield (pt# 259E-41), single contact (100-46) and multiple contact (100-45). 

You can find the contacts on Jeff's site on this link (go to page 1).  He has a picture for both items so you can see what they look like.

 

http://www.ttender.com/partslist.html

 

hope this helps, Dave