Feedback request: Athearn Genesis F7 owners.

[AntonioFP45]

Hello Crew.

I plan on getting 3 F7s in the future. I own one Stewart F7 and have been amazed by its performance. I was turned off by Athearn based on the performances of a couple of Genesis SD75Ms that my wife's cousin owns.

However, according to Paul3 and some of you, the Athearn Genesis F7 is a very good performer. I've seen a couple on Ebay as well as at my LHS. I keep an open mind.

Questions:

(1) To those of you that own one or more of these units, are they quiet running or is there a bit of growl?

(2) How is the current draw? I want to equip F units with sound, so the lower the motor's current draw the better

(3) Any maintenance headaches, like cracked axle housings, etc?

I apprecite your input.

BTW: To Paul3: You can be annoying at times, but I admit that you got me thinking.....[;)] Much obliged!

Peace and Thanks, everyone!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AntonioFP45

Hello Crew.

I plan on getting 3 F7s in the future. I own one Stewart F7 and have been amazed by its performance. I was turned off by Athearn based on the performances of a couple of Genesis SD75Ms that my wife's cousin owns.

However, according to Paul3 and some of you, the Athearn Genesis F7 is a very good performer. I've seen a couple on Ebay as well as at my LHS. I keep an open mind.

Questions:

(1) To those of you that own one or more of these units, are they quiet running or is there a bit of growl?

(2) How is the current draw? I want to equip F units with sound, so the lower the motor's current draw the better

(3) Any maintenance headaches, like cracked axle housings, etc?

I apprecite your input.

BTW: To Paul3: You can be annoying at times, but I admit that you got me thinking.....[;)] Much obliged!

Peace and Thanks, everyone!

Antonio
The early Genesis F7 units, first year of production, had poor wheelsets, but Athearn inproved the gearsets and most of the units you purchase today are good. I installed Kato wheel sets in the units that had problems. The noise is low, but some of them require some work. The detail is excellent except for the cut bars and mu hoses, but this is fairly easy to add.

I can't speak of the exact current levels, but it is resonable and sound can be added.

I have about twenty of the F7's and F3's and they are great models overall. The maintenance of these units should be minimal after check out.

You should enjoy them for sure.

[jrbernier]

I bought a Milw F9A about a year ago - Good looking engine, runs fine and with DCC, I MU it with a P2K GP9 - no problems.

Jim Bernier

[Don Gibson]

Genesis F's are decent engine's with occasional assembly 'glitches'. Had to replace 2 motor's - which Athearn did cheerfully for me - out of 14. They went bad in their boxes over 2 years. 3 amps.

If you use DCC, that would - pardon the expression - "blow" the DCC module , and last I heard, Athearn still void's their warrantee with any modification's. Word of caution.
Compared with Stewart -no glitches ALL my Stewart's(F's or otherwise) are 0 defect's, and pull 0.25 amp's to Genesis 0.4a.

BIG plus for GENESIS: Open grills for letting SOUND out - especially in an empty B unit. I use an IM 'Smart dummy' for sound, but for the same money I can pull the 'innard's' out ot a powered Genesis and throw them away. Now the whole body becomes a baffle for an AB or ABB.

Too bad the D&RGW or AT&SF didn't run on the FL coast. I won't mention AMTRAK.
You're in the paint biz? Hmmm.

[Anonymous]

I have an f7A& B powered units. They are extremely quiet and run smooth as silk. I have DCC and sound in the units and they perform well. One for the finest units on my layout. ...Bill

[Anonymous]

Antonio,

I have some early F3's A/B sets in the Genesis series and they have been trouble free. I just coverted one set over to DCC and that went well. I love the fir and finish of these units and would like to get more, but I too am waiting to see the BLI F-7s.

Chris

[AntonioFP45]

Thank you, Chris.

[:D]

[Anonymous]

My cousin had the early Genesis F7 unit and he had no problem with wheelsets. Maybe just lucky [:)]

[AntonioFP45]

Hey guys,

I appreciate your helpful responses!

From what I've read it appears that they are not a bad way to go! I especially like the open grill feature since I do want sound. [;)]

As for the paint schemes.............it doesn't matter. I'll give them the old "91% Alcohol bath" as I want to paint the units in SCL's "BumbleBee" scheme.. Yep, my airbrush will be getting a workout on quite a few locomotives, including P2K E units.

So I'll likely buy one Genesis F7. As for the other two units, I'll wait for the BLI F7 to see how that loco is going to perform and sound. I certainly hope they do a decent job on the body.

Thanks!