Is there a technique for modifying an American Flyer loco to run on DC? It is my understanding that AF uses universally wound motors, and that this should be possible. I am new to AF, but I am guessing that it might have something to do with removing or bypassing the reversing unit (not sure what it is really called).
The best I can tell you there was an article about this about 2 years or so ago in OGR(sorry bob) or CTT don’t remember which
It should be easy to convert a universal motor for DC operation. The trick is to do it so that it responds to the polarity of the DC to determine the direction of travel. The reversing unit’s contacts are upstream of either the armature or the field of the motor. You can get the desired result by replacing the reversing unit by a bridge rectifier, with the + and - terminals to whichever part of the motor whose polarity was being reversed. Which way you connect these determines which way the locomotive goes with which track polarity. I don’t know what the American Flyer standard was; but other 2-rail locomotives run forward when the right-hand rail is positive.
What is your locomotive’s model number? I may have a schematic diagram and be able to give you more detailed instructions.
Universal motors will run on AC or DC. No modification is necessary. The reversing unit will change direction on DC just like it does on AC.
The only reason you might like to modify it as Bob Nelson sugests in the previous posting is that you can then reverse direction like any HO engine, by flipping the forward-reverse switch on the transformer (instead of cycling the power on and off like AF engines normally do to change direction.)
I assumed that he wanted it to reverse in the same way as other American Flyer DC locomotives. If not, then, as you say, he can just put it on the track.
The AF will work fine on DC. As a matter of fact some of the action cars like the 977 caboose will not “buzz” on DC.
Jim