I have an intermittent short in the real truck of my Atlas O F3 two rail.
I can't seem to figure out how to get the motor off and get the black
negative wire repaired.
Advice?
ncng
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there should be two screws holding the motor mount to the top half of the truck block. One on the bottom, and a smaller one on top.
PRR Man posted:there should be two screws holding the motor mount to the top half of the truck block. One on the bottom, and a smaller one on top.
You must be talking about under the flywheel?
Thanks-Mark
There are no screws to remove the truck under the flywheel
Matt Makens posted:There are no screws to remove the truck under the flywheel
Thanks, got it, I had already undone the screws, just did not tug the motor enough.
Have you had shorts in these Atlas O unit before?
ncng
Most of the shorts I fix in trucks are a cut in the wire insulation that grounds to the frame and short out in certain positions, I've also seen the plastic insulator for the pickup roller get mangled somehow and the screw for the roller shorts out to the truck.
Matt Makens posted:Most of the shorts I fix in trucks are a cut in the wire insulation that grounds to the frame and short out in certain positions, I've also seen the plastic insulator for the pickup roller get mangled somehow and the screw for the roller shorts out to the truck.
Matt,
Still need some advice with a intermittent short in Atlas O 2 rail F3.
Units previously worked perfectly for 6-7 years.
1) I start them under DCC and try to bring them to speed. 2 rail F3A-F3B set has
sound comes up first, then units move, A unit stalls and immediately restarts
after 8-12", it continues every 8-12", B unit is pulling as instructed.
2) Take A unit off track and B unit pulls train with no problems.
3) I took A unit apart and first suspected "black" wire short on frame, I could not
find the problem on either truck. I could not see any other problems. I am not a novice.
4) I put back together and A unit ran correctly for 30-50 feet. Now does NOT go
through restart process, but sound comes up as normal, but A unit will not move no matter
how much power i give.
Nothing looks out of place, Suggestions???
With Regards,
ncng
Do you have a parts diagram of the F3? I couldn't find one on the Atlas website.
I have an Atlas F3, but haven't had it apart since I got it a few months back. But I have taken apart my Atlas GP9 in the last few days so maybe the trucks are close.
The parts diagram for the GP9 doesn't show the screws that hold the bolster and chassis insulator plates onto the trucks, but all 4 screws on each truck have a small plastic washer on them, which I guess are for isolating things. Check to see all 4 on each truck are there.
I've been waiting for years for Atlas to offer a Seaboard Air Line F3. Never happened so I got one off Ebay for a good price and made the mods and repainted it. NOW I see they're FINALLY offering a SAL unit 
.
Isn't that how it always works?!?!?!
I have a pair of Atlas F3 A units. When coupled back to back I have found that at times a short occurs through the couplers to the frame. You may want to look at that.
Bob Delbridge posted:Do you have a parts diagram of the F3? I couldn't find one on the Atlas website.
I have an Atlas F3, but haven't had it apart since I got it a few months back. But I have taken apart my Atlas GP9 in the last few days so maybe the trucks are close.
The parts diagram for the GP9 doesn't show the screws that hold the bolster and chassis insulator plates onto the trucks, but all 4 screws on each truck have a small plastic washer on them, which I guess are for isolating things. Check to see all 4 on each truck are there.
I've been waiting for years for Atlas to offer a Seaboard Air Line F3. Never happened so I got one off Ebay for a good price and made the mods and repainted it. NOW I see they're FINALLY offering a SAL unit
Isn't that how it always works?!?!?!
Yes Bob,
No alot of SAL stuff out there, I am a big one for atleast one car for each Fallen Flag, so I have
a 40' SAL boxcar.
FYI-yes the F3 does have those same plastic washers to insulate, they are all in place.
Have a great day!
ncng
PRR Man posted:I have a pair of Atlas F3 A units. When coupled back to back I have found that at times a short occurs through the couplers to the frame. You may want to look at that.
I'll have to look into that, they did run for several years with no problem, so maybe something
slipped or broke?
ncng
It's a quirky thing. With one engine leading, it's fine. With the other leading, I get the sporadic shorts
