I bought an old prewar American Flyer set recently, trying to set it up to run under the xmas tree for my sons to see. I have done a bit of work to get it right so far including recreating the power cable, and have a few questions I am hoping someone can assist with.
The set did not come with any orginial instructions, so going by memory from years ago. I have three connectors on the transformer, a 5, 5-7 and then at the far right a 5. Which combination of connectors should I be using off the transformer.
2nd question, when connecting to the track, I assume I should be connecting to two connectors? there is only one on a single track, should there be two connectors, and if so how do I connect the 2nd wire connection.
I assume the outputs on the transformer should be 5volts, 5-7 volts, and then again 5volts. Is this correct.
You say “prewar”. So you must have 3-rail track, right?
Postwar American Flyer transformers generally have three terminals, labeled “base”, “7-15”, and “15”, in that order. In the hope that your prewar transformer is similar, try connecting “7-15” to the center rail and the “base” to the outside rails. I think it likely that the middle terminal, whatever it is labeled on your transformer, goes to the center rail. You can try each of the others for the outside rails to see which makes the control work correctly. You need to connect to only one of the outside rails; they’re electrically connected together through the crossties.
Can you solder? That would be the most reliable way to connect the wires to the track, probably to the bottoms of the rails.
hmm…interesting…it is a 2-rail track, so must not be a prewar. I am wondering if it is a mix match of rail and transformer. On a section of the tracks there are remains of soldered wire to both of the rails so it must have had wire soldered at some stage…so will try that myself and see what I come up with. Any iidea of gauge wire I should solder?
Well, 14 AWG would be safe, but probably overkill unless you have a 30B transformer. What is your transformer model? Can you read anything printed on it?
Two rails definitely means postwar. American Flyer took WWII as an opportunity to change their track. Meanwhile, Lionel reformed their coupler design.
So I soldered on wire to the tracks, and think I am now getting somewhere, and the motor sounds like it wants to go, but no joy. Any ideas on how to test the train? it is not like any Lionels I have in the fact that there is some sort of coil that will drive the wheels forward.
I don’t understand your comment about “some sort of coil that will drive the wheels forward”.
What kind of locomotive is it, steam or Diesel? Can you read any numbers or road name anywhere on it? How about the transformer? What can you read on it? If you can post some identification and description, we may be able to look up what you have and get some ideas for troubleshooting.
Steam engine witth 312 on the engine…both engine and hopper are connected via a stainless steel bracket with two wires going between them. One of these I have resoldered back on. Under the hopper it has some sort of switch, and on the engine underneath the three sets of wheels; at the rear of the engine has a coil of some sort bolted to a bracket, which is part of the wheel assembly.
The 312 is an Pacific type, which should have 4 leading-truck wheels, 6 drive wheels, and 2 trailing wheels. I think the thing you’re calling a coil is the motor. Its shaft should end in worm gear driving a worm wheel on one of the axles. It should have 4 wires connected to it, 2 to the brushes and 2 to the field winding. There should be a 4-pin socket at the rear of the locomotive and a corresponding plug and 4-wire cable to the tender (your “hopper”). The tender should have a reversing unit inside connected to the cable and to the front and rear truck pivots, to get the track voltage. The “switch” is a lever for mechanically disabling the reversing unit.
The brushes should also have wires running to the front of the locomotive and connected to the smoke generator and the headlight.
The fact that you found only 2 wires between the locomotive and the tender suggests to me that it has been rewired to completely bypass the (possibly failed) reversing unit, to run in one direction only. Take another look at it and see whether you can identify the stuff I have described and tell me how what you see differs from my description.
Your transformer would be safe with wire as small as 20 AWG.
Sorry for the delayed response; yes the 312 has exactly as you discuss 4 leading wheels, 6 drive wheels and 2 trailing wheels. The one thing I am noticing, and even with a pre-war American flyer is that the wheels don’t turn freely…is this correct? neither engines work, although I know I am getting power to the rails. I have a Lionel transformer and when I put my prewar on its tracks, I get the same problem…no movement, atlhough the hopper makes a noice in this case, but the engine doesn’t work. Is this a common problem with motors sticking maybe?
It’s very possible that you need to clean out old grease and dirt from the drive train. Don’t expect the wheels to turn easily or at all with a worm drive. That is meant to be powered from the motor only.
I’m confused now about what you have. Do you have both prewar (3 rail) and postwar (2 rail) American Flyer locomotives? I thought there was only one, the 312.
Can you describe the wiring between the locomotive and the tender a little more. The 312 should have a 4-wire cable, not 2 wires. What did you solder a wire to? What do you find inside the tender? That’s where the reversing unit should be, with the 4 wires connected to it. It’s a little black rectangular box, about 3/4 x 3/4 x 2 inches.
Hi Bob,Yes I have both a pre and post war American Flyers. I thought I would try out the prewar three rail train to see if that would go, but the same problem. Nope it only has two thin wires; one looked to have broken off, so I soldered it back on. Other than that there is a single black hose also, but it has nothing in it; empty.Inside the tender I can only see the two wires coming off the back of those connectors to the motor.Zach
So there’s nothing inside the tender. Earlier you said that there was some sort of switch under the tender. With the tender open, can you tell what that is connected to?