USA Trains EMD F3 User manual

8
EMD F3
DIESEL LOCOMOTIVE
OW ERS MA UAL
USA TRAI S
662 Cross Street
MALDE , MA 02148, USA
www.usatrains.com
Your F-3 A unit contains a “scale” pilot front coupler and coupler pock-
et which adds the “realistic” look to the pilot area of your model. This cou-
pler is not designed for operation. If operation of the pilot coupler is
desired, you must change the front coupler using the following proce-
dures.
1. Turn the locomotive upside down
and remove the two screws holding
the coupler mounting block to the
underframe.
2. Slide coupler and front “break-a-
way” plate forward from front of
locomotive leaving the larger open-
ing in the pilot.
3. Remove coupler from mounting block by removing the coupler arm screw.
4. Reattach operating knuckle coupler arm or hook/loop coupler arm by
screwing it to coupler mounting block. Make sure coupler is right side up.
5. Reattach coupler mounting block to frame using two screws from (1)
making sure coupler centering spring is attached to coupler arm.
A U IT FRO T PILOT CO VERSIO
(1) Remove These Two Screws
(2) Coupler arm screws
1. Turn the locomotive upside down and remove the two screws holding
the coupler mounting block to the underframe.
2. Remove the coupler arm (D) from the coupler mounting block (A) by
removing the center screw (E).
3. Attach the optional coupler arm provided (D) to the coupler mounting
block by reversing Step #2 above.
Due to the spacing difference between hook/loop and knuckle coupler
you must use optional couple arm provided. This will keep the rubber
diaphram at the same distance as the hook/loop coupler.
4. Reattach coupler mount block to frame using two screws from (1) mak-
ing sure the coupler centering spring is attached to coupler arm.
5. Attach USA knuckle coupler (B) with #4 Screw (C) provided.
K UCKLE COUPLER I STALLATIO
A
E
D
B
C
(1) Remove These Two Screws

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Dear Customer,
Congratulations on your purchase of this highly
detailed replica of the electro-motive (EMD) F3.
The engineering and design staff at USA Trains
has spent many hours reviewing original blue-
prints and developing a locomotive that looks
authentic and will provide you with many hours
of operating enjoyment all at a reasonable price.
Over 400 parts make up this model - the level of
detail found in brass locomotives costing thousands of dollars for a fraction
of the cost. This locomotive will enhance the appearance of any model-
ers railroad.
Please read the following instructions which will help you understand
and operate the numerous features of this locomotive.
Happy Railroading
USA TRAI S
After World War II, EMD’s offering in the road freight market was the
“F” series locomotives. A total of 1807 F3 units were produced between
1945 and 1949 which makes it one of EMD’s most popular units. These 1500
H.P. units served many of America’s railroads for numerous years.
The accurate reproduction of this locomotive by USA Trains will allow
the modeler to have his favorite railroad F3 running among the other fine
locomotives previously made by USA Trains.
HISTORY OF THE EMD F3
FEATURES
• Powerful dual-motored 8 wheel Power Trac drive train
• Dual operating smoke stacks “puff real smoke”
• Directional red/green marker lights
• Front single or dual headlights for prototypical modeling
• Backup Light
• Constant voltage Lighting
• Metal handrails
• Interior cab lighting
• Opening cab doors
• Detailed cab interior with engineer and control panel with gauges
• Authentic detailing including brass side & roof screens, real rubber
diaphrams between units, authentic pilot detail and rotating roof fans
• Expert decoration reproducing authentic paint schemes of your
favorite railroad
Please call our parts department for prices and availability or visit our
web site www.usatrains.com • Phone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]
ITEM No. PART No. DESCRIPTION
20 R22-135 METAL WHEELS WITH GEARS (2)
21 R22-115 REPLACEME T MOTOR TRUCK (1)
22 R22-122 SLIDE SHOES & SPRI GS (4)
23 R22-136 TRACTIO WHEELS WITH GEARS (2) (for rubber tires)
24 R22-117 TRUCK SIDEFRAME (2)
25 R22-137 RUBBER TIRES (4)
26 R22-326 STEAM GE ERATOR I TAKE/EXHAUST
27 R22-327 FUEL TA K (specify color)
28 R22-328 SIDE GRILLS (2) (specify color and A or B unit)
29 R22-116 REPLACEME T MOTOR O LY (1)
30 R22-134 STIRRUP FOR SIDE FRAME (4) (specify color)
31 R22-331 TRUCK MOU TI G BLOCK (1)
32 R22-332 COUPLER MOU TI G BLOCK & PIVOT (no coupler)
33 R22-333 AIR HOSES (2)
34 R22-334 COUPLER LIFT BAR WITH 4 HOLDERS (1)
35 R22-335 LIGHT BULB A D WIRE (
Cab )
36 R22-136A LIGHT BULB A D WIRE (
umber Board )
37 R22-000 MOTOR BLOCK BOTTOM PLATE
R50001 USA TRAI S SMOKE FLUID
R50002 USA TRAI S CO DUCTIVE LUBRICA T
15 3220
2123 252427 22
2 8
14
33
17
102677 5,6

6 3
ITEM No. PART No. DESCRIPTION
1 R22-301 DIESEL HOR (2)
2 R22-302 A TE A
3 R22-303 BRASS ROOF GRILLS (2) (specify color)
4 R22-304 WI DSHIELD WIPERS (2)
5 R22-205 SMOKE STACKS - PLASTIC (2)
6 R22-206 SMOKE STACKS - METAL (2)
7 R22-108 SMOKE U IT ( on fan driven)
7 R22-454 SMOKE U IT (Fan driven)
7 R22-554
SMOKE REGULATOR BOARD (Required for fan driven unit)
8 R22-308 DIAPHRAMS (2)
9 R22-309 ROOF FA w/ ROTATI G FA BLADE (specify color)
10 R22-310 BRASS LIFT RI GS (10)
11 R22-311 LE S COVER (1)
12 R22-312 LIGHT BULB A D WIRE (Headlight)
13 R22-313 UMBER PLATE (specify number)
14 R22-314 REAR BACKUP LIGHT LE S
15 R22-315 LADDERS (4) (specify color)
16 R22-316 COMPLETE PILOT I SERT w/COUPLER
17 R22-317 COUPLER SPRI G & MOU TI G PLATE
18 R22-318 FRO T PILOT COUPLER (scale dummy version)
19 R22-114 TRUCK SIDEFRAME SPRI GS (8)
1
153031 29
4
93 2835
11
13
36
16
18
12
Due to the high level of detail designed into the USA Trains F3A & F3B,
some simple assembly is required.
(1) Coupler Lift Bar Assembly ( 1 )
Insert 2 eye bolts onto each side of lift bar and insert all 4 eyebolts
onto frame as in diagram below.
(2) Air Hoses ( 2 )
Insert right and left air hoses into frame as shown in diagram below.
(3) Smoke Stacks
Insert (2) plastic or (2) metal stacks into smoke stack holes on top of
locomotive
OTE: If running with smoke units on, metal stacks must be used due
to heat of smoke unit. (See smoke unit operation next page).
(4) Truck Sideframe Stirrups ( 4 )
Insert one truck side frame stirrup into each truck sideframe as shown
on the diagram below. Proper installation will cover the top two side
frame screws.
OTE: Apply pressure to middle top slotted piece to ensure
side frame will stay on during operation.
ASSEMBLY
1
1
2
3
Apply Pressure
4

4 5
POWER REQUIREME TS
The locomotive is designed to operate on direct current (DC) with out-
puts of 0-22 volts.
CO TROL SWITCHES
The locomotive contains five switches to operate the on/off motors,
on/off smoke generator, on/off lights, on/off sound, and on/off backup
light. The control switches are located on the underside of the locomotive,
between the front motor truck and the fuel tank. (see diagram below)
OPERATIO
LUBRICATIO
Your locomotive was lubricated at the factory and under normal oper-
ating conditions will not need to be lubricated during the first 50 hours of
operation. The locomotive has three lubrication points. (See diagram
below)
1. SIDEFRAME JOUR AL BOX: The axle ends fit into brass bushings which
bring power into the locomotive. These brass bushings should periodically
be cleaned out and lubricated with a small amount of USA Trains electri-
cally conductive lubricant (USA Trains Part #R50002). Use only our conduc-
tive lubricant to avoid loss of electrical contact which could cause your
locomotive to lose power or run erratically. The frequency of lubrication
depends on your operating conditions.
2. AXLE LUBRICATIO : Two drops of oil should be placed on all four contact
points where the axle enters the gear box. An ultra light oil such as
Hob-E-Lube (#HL653) is recommended.
3. GEAR BOX LUBRICATIO : Under normal operating conditions, the gear
box should not have to be lubricated. However, you may want to lubricate
the gears after each 100 hours of operation by removing the six screws on
the bottom of the gear box to expose the gears and applying moly grease
by Hob-E-Lube to the gears on the axle only. Do not apply grease to any
electrical contacts inside the gear box as you may hinder the electrical
contacts required for smooth operation.
WHEEL/SLIDE SHOES
The F3 units are equipped with twelve electrical pickup points-six per
motor truck. Each of these must be cleaned periodically to ensure proper
electrical contact with the track which will ensure smooth operation of
your locomotive. Clean all four wheels and the bottom surface of the slide
shoes periodically to ensure good electrical contact with the track. A
good indication that you need to clean these contacts is flickering lights,
non-operation of the smoke unit, or a jerking motion of the locomotive.
MAI TAI I G A D SERVICI G YOUR F3
1
2
GEAR BOX
2
1
1
2
2
1
MOTOR LIGHTS SMOKE SOUND REAR
LIGHT
OFF
ON
CAUTIO ! If the locomotive is going to be run for any period of time without
smoke fluid, please position the smoke switch to the OFF position.
SMOKE GE ERATOR
The locomotive contains two fan driven smoke units which produces
”diesel exhaust” through the two stacks on the top side of the cab body.
The smoke generators require the periodic addition of smoke fluid in order
to operate properly. To add smoke, remove the stacks from the top of the
locomotive and add 25-30 drops of USA Trains smoke fluid (USA Trains
part # R50001) into each smoke generator hole. ever overfill the smoke
generator and promptly wipe up any excess smoke fluid that may have
spilled onto any painted surfaces. Place both metal smoke stacks back on
top of the locomotive, and begin operation. Smoke production will begin
when the fluid becomes heated. It may take longer to generate the
smoke if the unit is full. When the smoke chamber is empty the unit will
shutdown automatically until more fluid is added. By following these direc-
tions the smoke generator will provide hours of enjoyment and enhance
the realistic operation of your F3 locomotive.
CAUTIO -USE O LY THE METAL SMOKE STACKS PROVIDED WHE OPERAT-
I G SMOKE U IT.
CAUTIO ! Even though your locomotive is equipped with an automatic
shut-off when the smoke generator runs out of fluid, we suggest you shut off
the smoke switch on the underside of the locomotive to prevent accidental
burning out of the smoke generator.
OTE: It is not uncommon for the front stack to smoke more than the rear
stack due to the draft created by movement of the locomotive.