SF 2333's are home and rebuilt!!!

[Anonymous]

Well, went and purchased the SF 2333's that I have been looking at over at Train CIty here in Erie, PA. well played with but intact with no battery acid damage and all the wheels tight on the axles. Only problem was a chunk missing out of a flange on the rear wheel on the powered units rear truck. Tore the powered unit down to the frame, pulled the wheel with my puller and replaced it with a NOS one from my parts bin. Cleaned and regreased all axles, gears and motors, cleaned communtators, brushes were good, no signs of overheating on either motor. Horn even still works! Powered chassis runs quieter than my 675 steamer on the test track. When I started polishing the shells back up I noticed they are the less common early 1948 rubber stamped shells and not the later heat stamped shells. While played with and having thier share of scratches, they are not ready for a full repaint by L&L screen printing, each of those scratches has a story and thats half of the fun of postwar trains. They look just perfect on my overhead layout, smooth running on just the transformer from my orignal 1655 starter set. Currently they are pulling a postwar consist of freight cars, 10 cars in all, all older trucks, no needle point bearings here!, and that includes the heavy diecast frame, 6 axle crane. I have no slippage and plenty of power for more. I have never needed magnetraction on my layouts and most are getting a bit weak now anyways from age. I prefer smooth running to a smidgen of extra power myself.

[1688torpedo]

Hello LGBF7! Sounds like you have a nice set of F3s. Hope you enjoy them for many more years to come.

[jakeoregano]

Hi,

I have a set of 2343's. Generally good condition but they seem to only run on one speed--slow. They too have some play scratches but that's part of the story of the trains. Makes me feel like I have something that was actually enjoyed before I got them.

I had a couple of questions for you regarding painting and repairs...do you have a link for the company you listed that does painting of shells? Do they do other kinds of restorations on vintage trains? Do they sell paint to match?
Also, around where I live in Columbus, OH, I can't seem to find anyone that does repairs on the pre and post war Lionels. I can do some things myself, but things like motor rebuilds/ repairs I would rather have a professional do. Do you do repairs?

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

yes I do repairs, I am acutaly the mechanic for Charlies Siegle that owns Train City here in Erie, PA. Lionel post war F3 diesel are my specialitiy for rebuilding. L&L screen printing doesnt seem to have a website but they usualy have an add in Classic Toy Trains each month normaly. His restorations of F3 shells are museum quality. Email me at [e-mail] if you want to arrange to have me get your 2343's up and running. Normal charge for F3 diesels are $25 plus any parts they might need and shipping costs. Yours probably need the motors gone thru as well as the trucks, lots of dried grease by the sounds of it. Hopefully the motor armatures havent been cooked from the extra strain, not common but possible. Just put a hour or so run time on the 2333's, I just love the smell of hot oil and ozone from running a set of postwar F3 diesels!!!! Thanks Mike and Michele T

[Anonymous]

Just recently got my 2333s[Southern] back from Lil Choo Choo repair and they growled around for first time in 16 years.[:)]