Lionel F3 A-A DIESEL LOCOMOTIVE SET Parts list manual

The F3 A-A twin diesels are Postwar-era replicas of General Motors’ F3. Used for both
passenger and freight service, the F3 diesels were a common site on many railroads.
The magnificent Lionel F3 A-A set includes one powered and one non-powered unit. The
powered F3 is equipped with two Pullmor motors, Magne-Traction, and features a wealth of
realistic detail. These A-A diesel engines are built to run on either “O” or “O27” track.
LIONEL “MAGNE-TRACTION”
This locomotive is equipped with “Magne-Traction” which means that its driving wheels
are magnetized by powerful Alnico magnets inserted in the driving axles in order to grip
the track and enable the locomotive to pull heavier loads and climb steeper grades without
slipping on the track. Be careful not to let pins, paperclips, carpet tacks or other small iron
objects come in contact with the locomotive or they will be attracted to the wheels, gears, or
axles and interfere with the action of the locomotive. NOTE: “Magne-Traction” is not effective
on aluminum, brass or other non-magnetic rails. The locomotive also includes four traction
tires, which will improve traction on both magnetic and non-magnetic rails.
Instructions for Operating
LIONEL F3 A-A DIESEL LOCOMOTIVE SET
73-8368-250 3/12

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LOCOMOTIVE FEATURES:
Powered F3 A-unit
• ElectronicE-UnitwithDirectionLock
• Transformercontrolledforward,neutralandreverseoperation
• Electronicdieselhornandbellwithvolumecontrol
• Operatingcoupler
• DualpowerfulPullmormotors
• Magne-Tractiontrackgrippingsystem
• Tractiontires
• Lightednumberboards
• Lightedcabinterior
• MinimumCurve:0-31
Non-powered F3 A-unit
• Operatingcoupler
• Lightedcabinterior
• Operatingheadlight
The following Lionel marks are used throughout this Owner’s Manual and are protected under
law. All rights reserved.
Lionel®, LEGACY™, FasTrack™,TrainMaster®, Odyssey®, RailSounds®, CrewTalk™, TowerCom™,
DynaChuff™, StationSounds™, Pullmor®, ElectroCoupler™, Magne-Traction®, CAB-1®Remote
Controller, American Flyer®, Lionel ZW®, ZW®, MagniVision®, TMCC®, Lionelville®, Wireless
Tether™, Powerhouse™, LionMaster®, Conventional Classics™, Postwar Celebration Series™,
TruRail™, PH-1 Powerhouse®, Powermaster®, Powerstation-Powerhouse®, Accessory Motor
Controller™, AMC™, Accessory Switch Controller™, ASC™, Action Recorder Controller™, ARC™, Track
Power Controller 300™, TPC 300™, Track Power Controller 400™, TPC 400™, Block Power
Controller™, BPC™, Operating Track Controller™, OTC™, FatBoy™, Lionel Lines®, Joshua Lionel
Cowen Series™, Lockon®, TrainSounds™, MultiHorn™, MultiWhistle™, Choo-Choo™

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1
RUNNING YOUR LOCOMOTIVE WITH A LIONEL TRANSFORMER
Transformer operations
Caution! Do not power your locomotive with direct current (DC).
Damagetosensitiveelectroniccomponentsmayoccur.
PLACE YOUR TRAIN SET ON LIONEL OR LIONEL-COMPATIBLE O
GAUGE TRACK.
THROTTLE UP YOUR LOCOMOTIVE WITH YOUR
TRANSFORMER.
Your locomotive is designed to operate on 8-18 volts
alternating current. Virtually all Lionel and Lionel-compatible
alternating current transformers are suitable.
Throttle up your locomotive and it will begin to move in the forward
direction. Adjust track voltage until your locomotive moves at your desired
speed. To increase speed, increase track voltage. To decrease speed, decrease
voltage.
PressingtheDIRECTIONbuttononyourtransformerwillsequencethe
Electronic E-unit to the next operating state in the repeating sequence of:
forward, neutral, reverse, neutral, and so on.
To stop the locomotive, cycle the Electronic E-unit to neutral or turn-off
track power.

4
Transformer operations
LOCKING YOUR LOCOMOTIVE INTO FORWARD DIRECTION ONLY OPERATION
WhentheElectronicE-unitDirectionLockswitchisintheRUNposition,yourlocomotive
sequences through a repeating pattern of operations: forward, neutral, reverse, neutral, and so
on.
To lock your locomotive into forward direction only operation, you can deactivate the
ElectronicE-unit’ssequencingfunction.FollowthestepsbelowandrefertoFigure1forthe
locationoftheElectronicE-unitDirectionLockswitch.
Always turn off track power before removing the locomotive from the track.
1. Turnofftrackpower,waitthreeseconds,andremovethelocomotivefromthetrack.Now
slidetheElectronicE-unitDirectionLockswitchtotheLOCKposition.Yourlocomotiveis
now locked into forward direction only operation.
2. Place your locomotive back on the track. Power up the track and press the direction button
on your transformer to confirm that the locomotive is now locked into forward direction
only operation.
To restore the forward-neutral-reverse sequence, turn off power and remove your locomotive
fromthetrack.SlidetheElectronicE-unitDirectionLockswitchbacktotheRUNposition.
Place the locomotive back on the track and restore track power.
Note!
Figure1.Switchlocations
SND NO SND
LOCKRUN
LOCK
RUN
SND NO SND
FRONT Horn/Bell switch
Electronic E-Unit
Direction Lock switch

5
Transformer operations
Both F3 A-unit locomotives are equipped with operating magnetic knuckle couplers, a
revolutionarydesignfirstintroducedbyLionelin1945.
LionelmagneticcouplersreacttothemagneticfieldgeneratedbyaLionelRemote-Control
Tracksection(availableseparately,6-65149or6-12746forO-27gauge;6-65530forOgauge;
or6-12020and6-12054forFasTracklayouts).
Placeyourlocomotive’scouplertriggerdiscoverthecentralcoilofaRemote-Control
TracksectionandpressUNCOUPLEonthecontroller.Themagneticfieldpullsthedisc
downward, and the knuckle opens.
One operating technique favored by Lionel railroaders is the “moving uncouple.” Press
theUNCOUPLEbuttonasthelocomotivepassesoveraRemote-ControlTracksection.The
magneticfieldwillopenthecoupler;theconsistremainsbehindasthelocomotivemoves
on. But be careful—the speed of a newly uncoupled and moving locomotive can increase
dramatically.
USING YOUR LOCOMOTIVE’S MAGNETIC COUPLERS
Figure 2. Magnetic coupler operation
Remote-Control
Track Section

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Transformer operations
SOUNDING YOUR LOCOMOTIVE’S ELECTRONIC HORN AND BELL
UsetheHORNandBELLbuttonsonyourtransformertoactivatethelocomotiveshornand
bell sounds.
IfyourtransformerlacksHORNandBELLbuttons,youwillneedtoinstallLionel
no.610-5906-001SoundActivationButtons(availableseparately)toactivatethelocomotive’s
horn and bell sounds.
Connectthebuttonsasshownbelow.BesurethatalltrackpowerpassesthroughtheSound
ActivationButton(s).
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POWER
SUPPLY
POWER
SUPPLY
FOR AC TRANSFORMERS LACKING A BELL BUTTON
FOR AC TRANSFORMERS LACKING BELL AND HORN/WHISTLE BUTTONS
Existing wire
Black wire
Red wire
Lionel no. 610-5906-001
Sound Activation Button for
activating the bell
Lionel no. 610-5906-001
Sound Activation Button for
activating the
horn
Lionel no. 610-5906-001
Sound Activation Button for
activating the bell
Black wire
Black wire
Wire nut Red wire
Red wire Existing wire
Common/Ground/U
Power/A
Common/Ground/U
Power/A
To adjust the volume of the horn and bell sounds, use the powered F3 A-unit radiator fan
volumecontrolknob.SeeFigure8onpage13forthelocationoftheVolumeControlKnob.
Todeactivatetheelectronichornandbellsounds,slidetheHORN/BELLswitchtotheNO
SNDposition.SeeFigure1onpage4forthelocationoftheHORN/BELLswitch.

7
Operating and servicing your set
LUBRICATING YOUR LOCOMOTIVES
The life and performance of the locomotive depends to a considerable extent upon proper
care and lubrication of the motor and other moving parts. Since your locomotive might have
been stored on the dealer’s shelves for some time, be sure to lubricate it according to the
lubricationchartinFigure4and5onpage9beforerunningitforthefirsttime.Lubricate
carefully but never to excess. A small amount of oil or lubricant, properly applied, goes a long
way. Be careful not to get any oil or lubricant on the running surfaces of the wheels or on the
rails, or your locomotive will lose traction and do not lubricate locomotive rollers.
The motors of this locomotive require occasional lubrication with a few drops of light
machineoil.Seepage10.
AcompleteLubricationandMaintenanceKitNo.927(6-62927)whichcontainsallthe
material and equipment necessary to keep your outfit in top notch condition may be obtained
from your authorized Lionel dealer or service station.

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SND NO SND
LOCK
RUN
Operating and servicing your set
LUBRICATING YOUR LOCOMOTIVES
Help your Lionel locomotive lead a long and productive life on your railroad by maintaining it
properly. To keep your locomotive lubricated, we recommend that you purchase a Lionel Lubrication
andMaintenanceKit(6-62927),availablefromyourauthorizedLioneldealerorservicestation.
WhenyoufindthatthelubricationpointsillustratedinFigures4and5appeardry,lubricateyour
locomotive after you have removed any accumulated dirt and dust. There are two basic rules to keep
in mind when you are lubricating your locomotive: use only a small amount of lubrication and avoid
getting grease or oil on your locomotive’s wheels, roller pick-ups, or the track.
Non-Powered Unit
Figure5.Lubricatingthenonpoweredunit
Figure4.Lubricatingthepoweredunit
Underside of non-powered F3A unit
Lubricate with Lionel oil sparingly
Lubricate with Lionel oil sparingly
FRONT
REAR
Powered Unit
Underside of powered F3A unit
Lubricate with Lionel grease sparingly
Lubricate with Lionel grease sparingly
Lubricate with Lionel oil sparingly
Lubricate with Lionel oil sparingly

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Operating and servicing your set
LIONELLIONEL
LUBRICATING YOUR F3’S PULLMOR MOTOR ARMATURES
Your powered F3 A-unit will require occasional lubrication of its Pullmor motor armatures. Ifyouhearexcessnoiseduringoperation,orifthelocomotiveslowsdownintermittently,
you may need to oil the top armature bearing.
1. Removethefrontscrewontheundersideoftheframeandliftthebodyupslightly,pulling
itforwardtoreleasethetworearclipsfromtheframeslots.SeeFigure7onpage11.
2. ApplyasmallamountofLioneloil(twodrops)inthearmatureshafthole.Referto
Figure 6.
3. To reinstall the shell, first insert the rear tabs on the body into the slots on the frame. Line
up the screw holes on the frame and body shell, and reinsert the screw. Make sure all of the
wires are inside the body before you tighten the screw.
To prevent damage to the locomotive body, do not overtighten the body screw.
Note!
Figure 6. Pullmor motor lubrication

10
Operating and servicing your set
Make sure to insert the rear tabs on the body into the
slots on the frame before inserting the front screw.
Figure 7. Lamp replacement
Lionel part no. 600-0363-300
REPLACING THE LAMPS IN YOUR F3A UNITS
YourF3A-unitsareeachilluminatedbya14-voltlamp.Duringthecourseofnormal operation, they may require replacement.
1. Removethefrontscrewontheundersideoftheframeandliftthebodyupslightly,pulling
it forward to release the two rear clips from the frame slots.
2. To remove the lamp, gently push the lamp down and turn counter clockwise to disengage
thelampfromthesocket.RefertoFigure7.
3. ReplacetheexpiredlampwithLionelpartno.600-0363-300,availablefromyourlocal
LionelAuthorizedServiceCenterorLionelService.(Formoreinformation,seeLionel
Serviceonpage16.)
4. Toreinstalltheshell,firstinsertthereartabsonthebodyintotheslotsontheframe.Line
up the screw holes on the frame and body shell, and reinsert the screw. Make sure all of
the wires are inside the body before you tighten the screw.
To prevent damage to the locomotive body, do not overtighten the body screw.
Note!