Got this on CHAT GPT I plan to use it to do my quartering.
Should I
Thanks
ChatGPT said:
Quartering the drive wheels on your American Flyer 326 Hudson (4-6-4) is critical — if they’re off even a little, the rods will bind and the loco won’t run smoothly (or at all). Here’s how to do it:
What “Quartering” Means
On a steam locomotive, the crank pins (where the side rods attach) on the left and right sides of the engine are set 90° apart.
- Example: if the right side crank pin is at the 3 o’clock position, the left side must be at 12 o’clock.
- This offset ensures the rods don’t jam and the loco has even power throughout the wheel rotation.
Steps to Quarter the Wheels on a 326
- Check one side first
- Lay the chassis upside down.
- Look at the right side: all three drivers’ crank pins should line up exactly (straight across in a row).
- Match the other side 90° off
- Now look at the left side.
- Each left-side crank pin should also line up straight with each other — but rotated one-quarter turn (90°) ahead or behind the right side.
- Remove and reset if needed
- If one wheel is off:
- Pull it with a wheel puller (special tool made for AF/S gauge drivers is best).
- Repress it onto the axle at the correct quartered position.
- Check rods before final press
- Temporarily attach the side rods before fully pressing.
- Slowly rotate the drivers by hand.
- If there’s no binding through a full revolution, your quartering is correct.
- Final tightening
- Once aligned, fully seat the wheel back onto the axle.
- Make sure both wheels on the axle are tight and square.
Notes
- American Flyer used splined axles on many 326s, so sometimes the wheels only fit at certain preset positions. If yours are splined, carefully align them with the spline that gives the correct quartering.
- If the wheels are smooth-bore replacements, it’s all about careful pressing and alignment.
- Don’t try to “eyeball” without checking with the rods — it may look right but still bind.
Do you want me to walk you through a step-by-step method using the side rods as a jig (like repair techs do), so you can get exact alignment without special quartering tools?
You said:
Yes
ChatGPT said:
Perfect 
— using the side rods as a jig is actually the most reliable way to quarter your American Flyer 326 without a specialized wheel-quartering tool. Here’s the step-by-step:
Step-by-Step Quartering with the Side Rods
1. Prepare the chassis
- Remove the side rods and valve gear if they’re still attached.
- Make sure the axles and bushings are clean (a tiny bit of light oil helps later when you test rotation).
2. Set the “reference side”
- Choose the right side as your reference (doesn’t matter which, but be consistent).
- Press the right-side drivers on so that all three crank pins are exactly lined up (pointing straight across).
- For example: all at the 3 o’clock position.
3. Use the rods as a jig on the left side
- Take the left side rod and slide it onto the three crank pins of the left wheels.
- With the right side still set at 3 o’clock, rotate each left wheel individually until the rod sits flat with no twist or stress.
- When done correctly, the left-side rod will fit smoothly, and all three left-side crank pins will line up with each other.
4. Check the 90° offset
- Now compare left vs. right.
- With the right side at 3 o’clock, the left side should be at 12 o’clock.
- If it’s not, you’ll need to pull and re-press the wheel(s) until this relationship is correct.
5. Do a slow rotation test
- With rods attached loosely, rotate the drivers by hand.
- They should make a full revolution without binding, stiff spots, or “popping.”
- If you feel a bind:
- Stop.
- Recheck quartering — usually one wheel is off by a “spline notch” or a couple of degrees.
6. Final press & tighten
- Once everything turns smoothly with the rods in place, you can fully seat the wheels on the axles.
- Make sure the wheel faces are square and even (no wobble).
Tips:
- If your 326 has splined axles, you don’t have infinite adjustment — the wheel only presses on in preset “clicks.” In that case, you just need to find the spline that puts the quartering correct.
- If your wheels are smooth-bore replacements, press slowly and check alignment often.
Would you like me to also sketch out a visual guide (clock-face style diagram) showing exactly how the crank pins should sit on left vs. right sides? That way you can double-check without guesswork.
You said:
Yes
ChatGPT said:
Great — here’s a simple clock-face style guide for quartering the AF 326 drive wheels.
Quartering Diagram
Think of each wheel as a clock face, with the axle at the center and the crank pin (side rod pin) as the clock hand.
Correct Alignment
- Right Side (Reference Side):
3 o’clock
|
O---- crank pin
All three right-side pins should point exactly at 3 o’clock (or any chosen reference line).
- Left Side (Offset Side):
12 o’clock
|
O
|
All three left-side pins should point exactly at 12 o’clock.
That means the left side is always 90° ahead of (or behind) the right side.
Quick Check Method
- Rotate the right side until the crank pin is pointing at 3 o’clock.
- Look at the left side: it should be exactly 12 o’clock.
- Rotate further:
- Right at 6 → Left at 3
- Right at 9 → Left at 6
- Right at 12 → Left at 9
If this relationship holds through the whole turn, your quartering is correct.