I have an older AF locomotive than run rather slow forward, but in reverse it goes pretty fast. Is there any way I can speed it up going forward?
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Rich
Alton Junction
teddyg,
I've got a 322AC Hudson on my bench for the same problem. I've replaced brushes and springs to no avail. I am thinking the armature isn't shimmed properly, but I haven't had a chance to try anything else yet.
Ok, I just went back through this particular 322AC. The cause of the faster running in reverse was partly caused by the armature being incorrectly shimmed.
I determined this by turning the locomotive upside and using my thumb to apply torque to the drivers to simulate the load placed on them during operation.
When I rolled them toward the rear of the chasis to simulate running forward, the armature pulled in towards the chasis which caused the armature stack to not be inline with the field stack.
Rolling the drivers toward the front of chasis to simulate reverse pushed the armature back away from the chasis and towards the brush holder. However, the armature stack now lined up perfectly with the field stack. That, along with reduced pressure on the worm end, explains the faster running in reverse.
Solution:
I fixed this alignment problem by inserting another thrust washer between the front of the armature and the shaft bushing in the chasis. This moves the armature away from the chasis so that it is always properly aligned with the field.
The motor now runs better in the forward direction, but this "faster in reverse" issue is also an inherent design flaw for steam locomotives built before October 1949 according to a footnote in the factory service manual.
Prior to October 1949 production, the armature has nothing as produced to limit it's rearward travel towards the brush holder. This results in the armature's commutator contacting the ends of the brush tubes. This creates a larger contact area, which allows more current to flow, so the motor runs slightly faster in reverse.
After October 1949, the armature was revised to include a brass oil slinger mounted above the commutator. The brush holder was redesigned to accomodate the oil slinger. The oil slinger limits the rearward travel of the armature, preventing the commutator from contacting the brush tubes.
green97probe Solution: I fixed this alignment problem by inserting another thrust washer between the front of the armature and the shaft bushing in the chasis. This moves the armature away from the chasis so that it is always properly aligned with the field.
Rich,
I'll have to check if I've got any of those washers not installed to take a picture of one. I placed it on armature shaft so that it was between the armature and brass bushing in the chasis.
Jim,
I started researching this issue a little and came across the Portlines clinic. Doug discusses the "Faster In Reverse" syndrome. I had completely forgotten about this, as it had been raised before on this forum.
Here is a link for the benefit of the OP.
http://www.portlines.com/portlinesclinic20.htm
I must really be getting old. I completely forgot about this discussion from two years ago. I will include a link here for the benefit of the OP.
http://cs.trains.com/ctt/f/95/t/183361.aspx?sort=ASC&pi350=3
Earlier this year, I took down the American Flyer layout that I had set up the year before to make room for expanding my HO scale layout.
But, before I took it down, I noticed that the my American Flyer steamer was running pretty slow once again in forward. I never did service the armature assembly and now I think that this may be the reason for the slow running performance.
Maybe after the holidays, I will set up the American Flyer once again and do some servicing.
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