POstwar F3 Question or two!!

[3railguy]

If the wiring insulation is OK, you could have some binding somewhere in the gear train such as a misaligned bearing block in the trucks or a motor shaft with too much free play (or not enough) as someone else suggested. Adding a thrust washer reduces free play. I would not lube every session. That would be too much and you'll eventually end up with oil all over the track.

[andregg1]

Hi
I fix all my  Postwar f3, so now, no more  noise.
The procedure is not easy but  is not  end of the world.
You need to  reduce the free play  between the bearing and body on the truck.
and reduce the distance between the idler gear and worm gear.
The free play in the bearing can be reduce with brass shims. (easy)
Now with a smooth file rework the surface where the truck touch the motor, this is the only way to reduce the back-latch between the gear.
Tip: oil the motor every session
Result: run smooth very smooth.
Sorry for my english, I hope to help you.
I will post pictures later.
Andre.

[chuck]

Pickup trucks should not be getting hot.  Make sure you but the insulating plate back on between the pickup assembly and the truck frame.

[msacco]

A few months back I stripped down my 2354 and degrased and basically cleaned and lubed and put it back together. the rear motor was a bit noiser than the front so that bothered me.

    New brushes and commutator cleaning were done. I wound up replacing all four bronze bearing in the trucks. The openings looked a little mishapen which might have happened from me getting the difficult rear shaft out.

   In any event, I reassembled and it runs well, but now both motors are equally as noisy. I know these are called growlers but dang they are noisy at slow speeds especially. Is this normal? I get that growl but there's also this rattle/vibration sound that's always present. Again is this how they're supposed to sound? Don't have another one to compare it to either!

   My second question would be heat. After only a few minutes the pickup and the bottom of the truck get very hot. I know there's two powered trucks here, but really only the pickup truck get this hot. The fuel tank area also becomes pretty hot. Again, is this normal.

    Don't want to keep running this iif something is up. Seems like I did everything right but I just don't know.

thanks,

Mike S.