This is my first post so please dont beat me up too badly.
I bought my son a 1940 Flying Yankee, For Christmas, and I’m really worried that I’s not going to work properly in time for Santa’s Delivery.
When I got it, It Lapped our fastrack layout ok, but the whistle was shot, and the E-unit and drum were gone, so I took it to the gentleman in town who works on them and he fixed it up.
the problem is that now it won’t go around corners, especially compound curves I think, without derailing , and Or shorting/ arcing out. As I said the layout is Fastrack 0-36 so I can’t imagine the curves are too steep. The Air dam is not scraping. It appears that the problem is that the size of the e unit and the electical lugs that connect it to the rest of the engine is keeping the front truck from using the full range of motion, at least without the electrical contact touching the inside of the cab and causing the train to short. We have now been through 2 rounds of insulatiing the contact and it still does it.
I think that the e-unit that he put in it is maybee too big and the lugs would logically be located out of the way. Was there A special e unit for the Yankee? Is this a common Problem?
This Yankee’s E-unit was absent, so I don’t have a point of reference. I’ve now been bck to him twice and he’s put insulating tape on the solder joint, and said that it should fix it but so far not. The E unit I’m told is a stock Scout part, I’m curious if any of you know if the Yankee E unit is a part that’s unique to this train…
???And I am correct in my assumption that the 0-36 Fastrack is not a problem???
You are correct. The FasTrack is NOT the problem. Your best bet is to find someone else who knows how to repair old trains like your Flying Yankee. The guy you took it to doesn’t seem to be cutting it. Ask around.
Go to Olsen’s Toy Train Parts online and see if they have a part number for the Yankee e-unit.
Sounds like the Derailments may be caused by the Drive Wheels going bad which in turn is caused by Zinc Pest which is a condition where the zamac used in the Die for The Drive Wheels was not pure & had some contamination thereby causing the Wheels to swell/expand on the axle causing derailments or improper running. This is a common condition on prewar trains(not all of them) A Standard E-Unit for a Lionel F-3 would work in your Flying Yankee as they have a long downward lever the same as the prewar Flying Yankees had. Using Tape to insulate a short just does not cut it & said wire should be replaced if indeed a short exists. The Repairman you took your Train to just does not seem to know what he is doing. What City/Town do you hail from? Maybe one of the Forum Members can recommend another Repair Man for you. Take Care & let us know what happens.
Smokestack Hobbies in Lancaster is another place that could take a look at it and the guys at Hobbyland East on E. Broad St., east of Mt. Carmel Hospital may be able to help you.
I’ll tell you who you should contact that can fix er’ up, is our own Buckeye Riveter !! Not sure he will have time but he knows his onions & has fixed some dandies before !!
Doesn’t the Lionel Flying Yankee run on O-54 or O-72 curve sections? My friend’s father has an original Lionel Flying Yankee & one of the front wheels had to be replaced. It is probably the E-unit or something else.