Lionel 2343's - Service Before Holiday Running - Who do you recommend?

[FEClionel]

Hey Guys,
Have my original 2343's and they probably have never been serviced - except for adding some lube to gears and motor before I ran them for 30 minutes this year. I live in South Florida - not a lot of Service Stations here. Should I send them away? - What you recommend?

[ben10ben]

Early engines, like the 2343, were designed so that almost anyone who could turn a screwdriver could work on them, and get good results.

Rather than sending them off for service, I would suggest that you save the money, and instead purchase a copy of the service manual for postwar Lionel trains put out by K-line(for no more than $20), and a soldering iron or gun if you don't already have one.

Anyway, take the motors apart as much as you can easily, and clean everything that looks like it needs to be cleaned. I use sandpaper on the commutators, and goo gone on any ball bearings and gears. After you have cleaned everything, buy two sets of new brushed(no more than $5 for both) from any one of a number of parts suppliers, and re-assemble the motor, putting oil on any parts that move except for the brushes and commutator. Refer to the service manual for any instructions on how to put something back together if you get stuck, and for any special instructions on mounting particular pieces. Finally, when you get everything back together, also replace the pickup rollers(no more than $5). This just requires a pair of pliers(needle-nosed preferably), and sometimes a flathead screwdriver.

After you do all this, your engines should run just like they're new.

[daan]

@ FEC Lionel, I have a complete online how-to-do manual for cleaning and servicing the F3 unit's on my homepage. Though it's written in Dutch, I think you'll be able to know what you'll need to do. I never had one of these and was able to service them thoroughly. Cleaned the collectors in the engines, greased the gears, etc. You even don't have to use a soldering iron, 'cause the wiring is long enough to handle the motors while attached. (Mine is a 2353 by the way) My homepage is http://communities.zeelandnet.nl/data/lionel and the subject you need is "motoronderhoud". I've pictures with the text, so you can see things if you can't follow the text. If something isn't clear enough, just give a mail.

[lionelsoni]

I use an ink eraser on the commutator. It gets it perfectly clean without roughening the surface.

Be careful removing the brush plate--it is very easy to lose the brushes when they pop out of the holders. If you remove the brush plate slowly, you can easily see how much bru***ravel is left as the springs pu***hem out. Unless they are worn down almost all the way, there is no real need to replace them. If and when they do wear out, you can replace them easily without taking the motor apart.

[Anonymous]

there is more than one configuration for F3 motors. 2343s for example, have an horizontally mounted motor, while later F3s have vertical motor shafts. Play it safe, GET THE MANUAL if you have never worked on trains before.

[lionelsoni]

You can find service information at
http://pictures.olsenstoy.com/searchcd3.htm?itm=192

[Buckeye Riveter]

Boy have I been negligent !! [B)][:(] My poor old Marx Engine which was given to me in 1955 by my Grandfather has never had any service by me or anyone else. I just put it on the track and around and around it goes.

I think I will put some grease on the gears tonight after reading this post. Maybe it will then last for another 50 years.[:)] And since my Lionel Alco is only 40 years old, it should not need service for another 10 years. [:D]