Lionel 783 runs slowly

[NYC20]

My Lionel 783 Hudson purchased in 1984 has always run rather slowly.  I have heard that this was a common problem with 783s and that in later issues of this Hudson, a different and faster motor was used.  If this is true, is there any way that I could upgrade my loco with the faster motor?

[sir james I]

Yes they are slow growlers. I never liked the performance of this one. Mine had a driver rubbing against one of the magnets. Then I later installed the newer brushes with solder on pigtails. Other than that just keep it lubed good. A newer motor from the same MPC era SHOULD be an exact fit but may be kinda pricey by now.

[NYC20]

Thank you.  I don't think I have any rubbing parts but I will check that.  I doubt that new brushes would make any difference.  I have not run this very much and it always has been slow.  It's really fast enough on a level track at 18 volts but I doubt it would go up a steep hill very well.  I've been thinking about boosting the track voltage but that would come at the cost of burning out lamps faster or replacing them with higher voltage lamps (if possible) or adding resistors, etc.  If anyone knows where I might find a faster motor that would fit, I would appreciate it.

[sir james I]

I know how you feel the 783 was my first scale Hudson and was a big disappointment. Others that followed performed way better

[NYC20]

Thanks.  I wouldn't say mine runs poorly, it's just a bit slow.  At full throttle on a ZW pulling 5 Lionel NYC aluminum passenger cars, it's adequately fast and does not make any untoward noise so I don't think there's really anything wrong with it.  They just should have outfitted it with a faster motor.  MPC really took advantage of the pent-up demand for a loco like that; at the time they were almost impossible to buy.  Now, they're not worth much at all.

[sir james I]

Living in the area I took mine directly to Lionel service. Knew the guy that worked on it, so I guess mine runs as good as it could be made to run. I still was disappointed with it so I did not buy the 784 B & A. I did buy the gray 785 and that's a good runner.

[NYC20]

Thank you!  I'm not sure what I am going to do about this (if anything) but one thing I thought about was to buy a 785 and swap shells with the 783 so I would have a faster 783.  So I very much appreciate your telling me that the 785 has a faster motor.  Or, maybe I'd just use the 785 as is.  I'm a NYC fan as that is the road that ran through my town when I was growing up.  Occasionally a 20th Century Limited would be routed there.  Thanks again.

[sir james I]

NYC, me too. The 20th Century stopped at Toledo but it blew through town at 70mph. I use to walk 3 blocks to watch it race by. The 785 has open spoke drivers and no Magnatraction, but mines runs a lot better than the 783.