Lionel F3B User manual

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Lionel F3A powered and
F3B non-powered
diesel locomotive set
Owner’s Manual
®
featuring and
73-8100-250
04/99
LIONEL

Congratulations!
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2
Table of contents
Transformer operations
Running your F3 set with a Lionel transformer 3
Using your F3’s ElectroCouplers 4
A note on Magne-Traction 4
Your F3’s Railsounds system—the basics 5
Experiencing the range of your F3’s Railsounds system 6
Notes on Railsounds 6
Installing the Lionel no. 610-5906-001 sound activation button 7
TrainMaster Command operations
The Command control environment 8
Running your F3 in the TrainMaster Command environment 9
CAB-1 commands for your F3 9
CAB-1 numeric keypad commands for your F3 10
Tuning your F3’s performance 11
Assigning your F3A-B units a new ID# 12
Maintaining and servicing your F3A-B set
Replacing your F3A unit’s lamps 13
Replacing your F3B unit’s rear lamp 14
Lubricating your F3A-B set 15
Lubricating your F3’s Pullmormotor armatures 15
Lionel Service 16
You own one of the most sophisticat-
ed model trains ever built—the
Lionel TrainMaster Command-equipped
F3 A-B diesel locomotive set From the
crisp detail and expert decoration on the
outside to the advanced technology and
brute power under the hood, the Lionel
F3 A-B set is ready for duty on your
model railroad Experience the superiori-
ty of today’s Lionel
• Two powerful Lionel Pullmor®motors
(in powered A unit)
• Lionel Command™reverse unit for use with
the Lionel TrainMaster®Command™model rail-
road control system
•Railsounds™diesel sound system—digital
samples from a real Electro-Motive Division F3
(in non-powered B unit)
• Magne-Traction® (in powered A unit)
• Die-cast Electrocouplers™(Front of A unit,
back of B unit)
• Directional headlight and illuminated interior
on A unit, directional backup light on B unit.
• CrewTalk™and Two Part TowerCom™
(in command mode)

Transformer operations
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3
Running your Lionel F3 set with a Lionel transformer
Place your F3 set on Lionel or Lionel-compatible
O gauge track.
• Note the pull of Magne-Traction between your powered F3A and
the steel track Magnetized wheels and axles increase your pulling
power (more than 25 cars on straight and level track) and keep
your F3 set on track while passing swiftly through curves
2
2Power up your F3 set with your transformer.
Note!
3
3Move ‘em out!
• Get your F3 set moving. Press the DIR button on your CAB-1
remote or Lionel transformer This sequences the Liontech
Command reverse unit (LCRU) to the next operating state The
LCRU alternates between three states: forward, neutral, and
reverse
• Adjust track voltage until your F3 set moves at your desired
speed To increase speed, increase track voltage To decrease
speed, reduce voltage To stop the locomotive set, cut track power
• To select a single operating state (example: forward only), you
can deactivate the LCRU’s sequencing function Get your F3 set
moving in the desired direction, then slide the reverse unit control
switch on the powered F3A’s underside to PROGRAM/LOCK
See page 12 for the switch location and positioning
1
1
• our F3 set is designed to operate on 7-18 volts alternating current.
Virtually all Lionel and Lionel-compatible alternating-current
transformers are suitable; we recommend the TrainMaster
Command model railroad control system
• DO NOT POWER OUR F3 SET WITH DIRECT CURRENT (DC) Damage to
sensitive electronic components may occur
• When you first power up your track, the F3 set will wait between
3 and 8 seconds as it “listens” for digital language from the
TrainMaster Command Base (available separately) When it’s
determined that it’s on a conventional (nonCommand) railroad,
the powered F3A’s headlight and cab light will illuminate and the
F3B’s Railsounds will fire up At this point, the F3A is in neutral
(This occurs when placing the F3A on your railroad for the first
time Thereafter, they start in forward after every three-second
power interrupt )

To use your F3A-B set’s
Electrocouplers in the non-
Command environment, you must first
couple a piece of rolling stock equipped
with Lionel magnetic couplers directly to
your F3A-B set The magnetic coupler on
the rolling stock will then react to the
magnetic field generated by a Lionel
remote-control track section (available
separately) Place your rolling stock’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 coupler opens
Transformer operations
A note on Magne-Traction
Your powered F3 is equipped with
Lionel Magne-Traction, magne-
tized wheelsets and axles that help
increase tractive effort during opera-
tion Because the wheelsets are mag-
netized, take care to prevent small
metallic objects from attaching to the
wheel sets and working their way
into the F3’s motor assembly They
can damage your locomotive
Magne-Traction is not effective
on nonferrous track
Note!
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4
Using your F3A-B set’s Electrocouplers in the non-Command environment
Your F3A-B Electrocouplers will NOT
open manually or by using a remote-con-
trol track section
Note!
Remote-control track section
Using your powered and non-powered F3A set’s Electrocouplers in the
TrainMaster Command environment
The front of your Lionel powered
F3A and the rear of the non-
powered F3Bunit are each
equipped with an Electrocoupler™
that responds to either the COU-
PLER F (front) or COUPLER R (rear)
button on your CAB-1 remote
when operated in the Trainmaster
Command environment Simply
press either button on your CAB-1
remote, and that coupler opens
Magnetic coupler on the rolling
stock coupled to your F3A-B set
Your F3A-B set’s
Electrocouplers are
NOT designed to be
opened manually
Note!

Your F3’s Railsounds system—the basics
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5
Lionel Railsounds is the most realistic
model railroad sound system in the
world Your F3A-B set features digital
samples from an authentic F3 for
the ultimate in
realism
Begin by
installing a 9-
volt alkaline
battery in the
F3 B unit This
ensures
interuption
free operation
of Rail-Sounds
Remove the
two end
screws, lift off
the B unit’s
body Connect
the 9-volt bat-
tery to the bat-
tery clip and
place the battery into the holder
Replace the body and reinsert the end
screws
Although track voltage
powers Railsounds, the
battery is required for uninter-
rupted operation and shut-
down sequences Use only
alkaline batteries; do not use
“heavy duty” batteries
Apply track power and the F3’s
Railsounds system delivers an authentic
start-up sequence, followed by sounds of
the locomotive at idle As the F3’s speed
increases, the
RPMs move
through four
levels of roar
Sounds return to
idle only after the
locomotive has
come to a com-
plete halt To
silence diesel
RPM roar (horn
and bell remain
unaffected), slide
the Railsounds
switch to its SIG
(signal) position
before powering
up the locomotive
See page 12 for
the B unit’s switch location and positioning
To return to the diesel RPM roar, return the
switch to the FULL position
Discontinue locomotive
power for 10 seconds before
changing the Railsounds
on/off switch
If Railsounds “drops out”
during track power inter-
rupts, replace the battery
Install a 9-volt alkaline battery in your F3 B unit Remove
the two end screws, lift off the body, connect the battery to
the power cord, and place the battery into the holder
Note! Note!
Note!
Volume adjustment knob

With Railsounds, you experience
the sounds of real railroading
like never before Simply put, it’s the
most sophisticated, authentic model
railroad sound system in the world
•Four diesel-roar levels. Your F3’s
speed determines the level of diesel RPM
roar—automatically, if you prefer: idle,
slow, medium, or full-speed output
• MultiHornTM. A different horn sound
every time—a Railsounds exclusive
• Mechanical bell. Press BELL on your
CAB-1 or transformer to begin the
effect; again to discontinue
• Full control of RPMs. Prefer hands-
on control of diesel RPM roar? Want to
“ramp up” RPMs before pulling out,
just like real diesels do? It’s easy with
Railsounds Place your F3 set in neutral
and increase track voltage to maxi-
mum RPMs will continue to increase
as long as the F3 remains in neutral,
eventually reaching their highest level
Now, decrease track voltage to the
desired speed level Press DIR on your
CAB-1 remote or transformer, and
head out with your F3 at full churn,
just like the real thing RPMs will
remain at that level until the locomotive
has come to a complete halt Experiment
with controllable RPMs—it’s a blast!
• Reverse unit reset sound. Power
down your track, wait for 3-5 seconds,
and listen for the air-release sound—
that’s the F3 set telling you its Liontech
Command reverse unit has just reset to
forward operation
• Shutdown sequence. No other
model railroad sound system shuts
down like Railsounds Turn off track
power, and after the air-release reset
sound, you have 2 seconds to restart
your F3 If you’re done with opera-
tions, Railsounds will commence with
an authentic F3 shutdown sequence
about 2 seconds after the air-release
reset occurs
Experiencing the range of your F3’s Railsounds system
Notes on Railsounds
• Use the non-powered F3B unit’s
roof-mounted “radiator fan” volume
control to adjust sound output (See
page 11 for its location )
• Listen for incidental locomotive
sounds during Railsounds opera-
tion They’re automatic and, of
course, authentic
• The 9-volt alkaline battery you
installed ensures continuous F3
diesel roar
• Longer track-power interruptions
(including locomotive derailments)
cause Railsounds to shut down after
about 7 seconds
• For even more authentic Railsounds
effects, operate in the TrainMaster
Command environment
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6
Transformer operations
Battery must be installed for
shutdown sequence
Note!

7
7
Installing the Lionel no. 610-5906-001 sound activation button
To operate the bell and horn sounds
when operating your F3 set with con-
ventional transformers, you’ll need to
install the Lionel no 610-5906-001 sound
activation button (available separately)
Connect the button(s) as shown below
LIONEL
SOUND
ACTIVATION
BUTTON
12
12
LIONEL
SOUND
ACTIVATION
BUTTON
LIONEL
SOUND
ACTIVATION
BUTTON
For AC transformers lacking a horn/whistle button (two no 5906s required)
Lionel no 610-5906-001
sound activation button
for activating the bell
Lionel no
610-5906-001
sound activa-
tion button
(for horn)
Lionel no
610-5906-001
sound activa-
tion button
(for bell)
Black wire
Red wire
Red wire ATTACH TO GROUND TERMINAL
ATTACH TO POWER TERMINAL
TO YOUR TRANSFORMER
The no 610-5906-001 sound activation button (available separately)
works with any Lionel AC transformer except no 6-4690 Type MW
Transformers made by other manufacturers may not be compatible
with Railsounds
Note!
ATTACH TO GROUND TERMINAL
ATTACH TO POWER TERMINAL
Red wire
TO YOUR TRANSFORMER
CUSTOMER’S WIRE
BLACK WIRE
Note!
All track power must
feed through “Sound
Activation Button”
Do not bypass button
For AC transformers with a horn/whistle button

The Command control environment
Lionel TrainMaster Command is
the advanced model railroad
control system from Lionel Your F3A
is equipped with an LCRU unit, and
the F3B with an LCRX for digital
Railsounds control TrainMaster
Command gives you the power to
operate multiple Command-equipped
locomotives on the same track, at the
same time
TO OPERATE IN COMMAND, OU NEED
ACOMMAND BASE AND A CAB-1
REMOTE. Find them both at your
authorized Lionel retailer
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8
TrainMaster Command operations
Place your F3 set on Lionel or Lionel-compatible
O gauge track.
• Make sure track power is OFF before placing them on the track.
• Make sure your Lionel Command Base is ON and its communi-
cations wire is connected to the COMMON post on your Lionel
transformer or the U on any of your installed PowerMasters
• Once positioned on the track, increase track voltage to FULL (on
PowerMaster, slide the CMD/CONV switch to CMD)
2
2Address your F3 set using CAB-1.
• Press ENG and 1 on the numeric keypad of your CAB-1 remote This
command is sent by CAB-1 to the Command Base, which then trans-
lates your command into digital code That code is sent around your
railroad’s outside rails in the form of a digital “halo ” All Command-
equipped Lionels listen to this digital communication, but they do not
respond until they hear their individual ID number—in this case, “1 ”
• The digital language of TrainMaster Command—and not track
power—controls the actions of Command-equipped Lionels Track
power is simply like gasoline in the tank of your car—it gives you the
power to go places, but it doesn’t tell you where to go or how fast to
get there
• All Command-equipped Lionels come factory-programmed with
an ID# of “1.” To change the ID#s of both your F3A (equipped
with an LCRU) and F3B (equipped with an LCRX, designed to
control Railsounds digital sound systems), see page 12
3
3Move ‘em out!
• Throttle up or press any command button on CAB-1 Your F3 set
will respond to your every command Read on
1
1

Running your F3 in the TrainMaster Command environment
Press AUX2 to
turn your F3’s
headlight on and
off
Activates keypad
D IESEL AIR - RELEASE SOUND .
Press HALT to shut
down all Power-Master
electrical output on your
railroad Stops all
Command-equipped Lionels in
operation
Turn the THROTTLE
to the right to acceler-
ate, left to decelerate
Engine RPMs will
increase or decrease
with throttle settings
address Locomotive #1
PowerMasters set to CMD or traditional
power supplies ON FULL
Press ENG
Press 1 (the ID#)
Throttle up/press any command button
Example
CAB-1 commands for your F3
9
9
Press WSTL/HRN to acti-
vate the F3 horn, release it
to discontinue M
ULTI H ORN
DIESEL HORN SOUND
.
Press DIR—the locomotive
decelerates to a complete
stop; turn the throttle up, and
the locomotive will accelerate
in the new, opposite direc-
tion THERE IS NO NEUTRAL
STATE
D
IESEL AIR -
RELEASE SOUND .
Press BELL once to activate
the bell, again to discontin-
ue D IESEL MECHANICAL BELL SOUND .
Press and hold BRAKE to slow
down or stop Release BRAKE
and return to the previous
speed Engine RPMs decrease
once stopped RPMs will
increase once brake is released
and train begins moving
S QUEALING BRAKE SOUNDS .
Non-powered F3B unit
rear coupler releases
C OUPLER RELEASE SOUNDS .
Powered F3Aunit
front coupler releases
C OUPLER RELEASE SOUNDS .
Press and hold BOOST for
extra power Release BOOST
and return to the F3’s previ-
ous speed
Your Command-equipped F3A-B
set comes factory-programmed
with an ID# of “1 ” (Both the LCRU
and LCRX are ID#1 ) To get your
F3A-B set in action, set PowerMasters
to CMD or set all power supplies on
full Press ENG and “1” on CAB-1
Turn the throttle or press any com-
mand button; your F3A-B set is ready
for Command operations

CAB-1 numeric keypad commands for your F3
10
10
TrainMaster Command operations
0
Stops and resets the F3’s Resets
the F3’s direction to FORWARD
Resets Railsounds to automatic RPM
operation
H ORN BLOWS . RPM S RETURN TO AUTO -
MATIC .
1
Raises the volume of Rail-
sounds
S OUND VOLUME INCREASES .
2
CrewTalk™ is the sound of
unintelligable walkie-talkie communi-
cation
C REWTALK ANNOUNCEMENT
3
Raises Railsounds RPM level
Starts up Railsounds
RPM S INCREASE .
S
TARTUP SEQUENCE COMMENCES .
4
Lowers the volume of Rail-
sounds
S
OUND VOLUME DECREASES .
5
Activates the Railsounds shut-
down sequence Just like the real
thing, your F3’s RPMs must be at idle for
shutdown to occur Press 6 repeatedly to
lower RPMs until they won’t descend fur-
ther Your locomotive is now at idle Press
5 to initiate the shutdown sequence
C REWTALK
ANNOUNCEMENT
/ D IESEL SHUTDOWN COMMENCES . Remember,
the horn, bell, and RPMs will not sound
until you restart Railsounds
6
Lowers Railsounds RPM level
RPM S DECREASE .
7
TowerCom™is an audible
announcement that includes that
engine’s road number and/or name Your
locomotive features the NEW TWO
PA RT TowerCom announcement By fol-
lowing these simple steps you will trigger
a unique standby or departure message
There will be a 4 second delay before the
message plays This allows for interactive
audio between two TowerCom equipped
units After pressing AUX-1, pressing 7
produces the standby announcement If
you press 7 a second time, you will get
the departure announcement Also, by
inserting any command between AUX-
1 and 7, you will get the departure
announcement We suggest BRAKE,
since while stationary, this has no func-
tion
8
Turns F3A’s cab interior light off
C REWTALK ANNOUNCEMENT
9
Turns F3A’s cab interior light on
C REWTALK ANNOUNCEMENT
When you press AUX1 on
CAB-1, you turn the
numeric keypad into 10 com-
mand buttons The keypad
lets you control extra com-
mand features (until you
press any top-row button
like SW, ACC, RTE, TR, or ENG)
The CAB-1 keypad over-
lays included with your F3
are designed to help you
learn the auxiliary features
specific to this locomotive
R AILSOUNDS SOUNDS IN BOLD ITALIC .
DIESEL ENGINE
RESET
VOLUME
CAB LIGHT
RPM
S
SHUT
CREW
TALK
TOWER
COM
DOWN
OFF ON
➠
➠
➠
➠
START-UP
AUX1