Are there very many Flyer fans on this forum?
Yes, since 1955 when I received my first set for Christmas. The set contained an 307 Atlantic along with 3 or 4 cars and a cabose. I have been collecting ever since. Tom
I have some postwar, link coupler stuff, with the “tinplate looking” trucks. These are the ones I like best. Will be starting a very small Flyer layout soon so I can run a set. Will be using the S-Helper track with the ballest. My favorite is the K-4 with the green NH passenger cars. Am using a old AF Oil Drum Loader and Water Tank on my “O” layout. Also have the old Talking Station, but don’t want to wear the record out. Joe
Pre-war Flyer collector here -
Postwar steamers and accessories is my thing. Work in progress is a 5x9 with several accesories and three operating lines.
I have a lot of American Flyer S gauge trains and accessories that I have combined with my O gauge trains on my layout. I also have a small amount of prewar Flyer.
I have post-war Flyer that I run on a layout along with S-Helper Service and American Models stuff. And I have a few K-Line cars that I put behind an old loco when kids come over. Also have some pre-war stuff – mainly streamlined sets and streamlined locomotives.
American Flyer guy since '55!! I’ve just gotten back into the hobby after retirement. Nothing beats the fun of getting my hands on an old abused Flyer and making it sing again. (or should I say, “chug” again.
Jim E.
Pre-war Flyer here too.
I have a few flyer pieces also including one very nice post war hudson.
George
I have a number of pieces of AF rolling stock and a box full of track and switches. No AF engines, but I do have an American Models Geep, a SHS SW-1 and SW-7.
I’m in the process of getting an old American Flyer 293 steamer running again for a guy at work. This unit is pretty neat but I have a question. I do not have an A-F power supply so I cannot check for proper operation of the relay/E unit(?) in the tender. On the bottom of the tender there is a lever which moves contacts on what I’ll call a drum switch. In one postion the engine goes forward. In the next position the relay unit just hums away. In the 3rd postition the engine runs backwards. Is there suppose to be somthing happening in that middle position? Like the e-unit selects forward or reverse when getting some signal from a power supply? I love the chuff unit on this thing, it sounds great and does a nice job of pushing smoke. I was impressed that the smoke unit just started up as soon as a little liquid was put in and it was run a bit. Nice train! Thanks for your time.
Jim
The E unit is a four position forward neutral reverse neutral. As power is applied the coil actuates pushing a lever which rotates a pawl on the drum which applies current from the tender wheels to a specific set of fingers. The lever under the tender locks the e unit into a position so when you stop the loco, to go in the original direction, you don’t have to cycle through the forward neutral reverse neutral sequence. It will hum if it’s stuck in nuetral, either buy the lever or just stuck ( a common problem). The 293 is a great engine. Usually cleaning and relube is all they need to run like new.
You don’t need any special transformer. It sounds like the e-unit is working properly. The neutral position that alternates with forward and backward is so that the train can stand still with the lights and smoke on. The hum in neutral is probably normal. About the only functional difference between Lionel and American Flyer e-units is that Lionel e-units are shut off by disconnecting the coil, while the American Flyer ones I have seen have a cam that mechanically forces the armature into the operated position.
I’m not sure it is proper to call it an “e-unit” for American Flyer. I believe that the term arose from the “E” suffix that Lionel used for its locomotives when they were making them both with and without electrical reversing before the war.
The 293 does not smoke in neutral, the drive piston comes off the drive gear.
Thanks for info. on the forward neutral reverse neutral switch on the 293. [^] I cleaned that baby up which took awhile, removed old grease, and then pretty much left it unlubricated as it was working so well… pretty much dry…it looked to me like any grease was just increasing the chance that the operating arm was going to get gummed up someday… now on to a 300 which needs a set of front trucks which I can not locate…everyone has them on back order and the fellow I talked with didn’t seem to have much hope the order would be filled! At least he up front about it though!
Jim
Glad to see another Flyer fan posting .
You might try locating a for-parts-only 300 Atlantic on e-bay for the front pilot truck assembly. Sometimes they are cheaper than buying new repro parts. Just make sure the part you need is on the loco you bid on! [:)]
I’ve done this on a couple 302AC units and found that what the seller listed as “For Parts” ended up just needing a wire re-soldered or a tune-up. No way would I part them out.
To me, the challenge of taking a cast-off and making it run like new is a big part of the fun in this hobby. I’m not into scale modelling, but really enjoy the fix-up and resoration process.
Good Luck! [8D]
Jim E.
The American Flyer handbook says to grease the drive gear under the gear plate and oil the wheel bearing surfaces. A little goes a long way. Work the grease in rather than applying to the gear surface. Lay the loco on it’s side, move each axel up and add a little oil on the axel in the space between the frame and wheel and let the oil run into the frame. Do a side let it sit for awhile and repeat the other side. Also a little oil at the oil wick.
An excellent means of monitoring performance is watch the motor amps. A 293 at 12 volts should draw 1.7 amps. Also, don’t run for long without adding smoke fluid or you run the risk of burning out the smoke wick. The 300 will have the reversing unit in the cab.
Sheer joy to bring an old loco back!!
Jim
I have a lot of AF stuff along with SHS and Americn Models and a little K Line as well. I like my AF and my 302 Atlantic steam engine (I have several) was my first and it’s still my favorite. It’s got the best chuff and smoke unit I’ve seen. I have to admit I have a 293 also and it is good too. I enjoyed reading the comments of those above about the 293. Long live AF!!
Tom [:D]
A good supplier for American Flyer parts is Doug Peck at Portlines Hobbies. Honest, dependable and a great resource. His web site is http://www.portlines.com. Look in the AF online parts catalog for what you need. He sells pilot trucks for 300s and 302s for $8.50, I think, and they’re not repros – I think they’re Gilbert originals.