Gutted American Flyer 425 steamer

[Zepherfan]

Hoping that I can get some information on a  2-6-4 425 AF steamer that I picked up. I took it apart to change the brushes and clean up the commutator. Someone had taken out the headlight and bracket, and from rubmarks on the motor frame, the reverse unit. Must have been a long time ago, from the fiber type electrical tape used at the wiring junctions. Are the electrical reverse units "generic" across all the steamers, or is there a specific one  for this engine?

       Would there have been a lead weight in the front of the boiler, under the headlight bracket? I tried a weight from  a 420 steamer, but that one has "ears" on it that won't let it slide in past the cylinders on each side of the boiler casting. If there should be a weight, I figure I can make a mould of the 420 one and cast my own without the ears.

       Found a junker headlight bracket on the bay, but have doubts about finding a weight( if required).

        Any info would be appreciated!.......Ken

         

 

[Nationwidelines]

The reverse unit should be common to only the 1938 to 1941 engines.  My honest opinion would be to just wire the engine to run forward only and leave the reverse unit out.  They do not work well, the drums can fall out of the reverse unit, and the finger units break easily.  Finding the parts to fix one is a bear, because one never knows what the condition of the donor unit is going to be. 

Do not recall if there was a weight at the front or not.  Cannot look at mine, as I am in York at the TCA show.

NWL

[Zepherfan]

Thanks for the quick post! Familiar with the drum/ finger problems as I rebuilt the reverse unit on a 420 steamer not long ago.

     The 425 was all rewired in the past for foreward only operation, but why the headlight was removed is anyone's guess!

       Maybe Northwoods Flyer will be able to advise about the weight. No real hurry about it as am presently working on repainting the engine shell. Have redone the semi- Vanderbilt tender- what a beautiful casting!

      Am rereading all the posts on the American Flyer- an Invitation thread and am enjoying everything all over again!

      Went to York back in 2005. A 4-5 day drive from where I live in Canada. Super experience for sure! Found lots of the Lionel stuff I was looking for at the time.

     My Flyer interest only came about in the last few years. I came across a Burlington Zephyr 3 unit set on the OGR buy-sell site that appealed to me, so bought it to have something to work on in spare time. Now, 3 Zephyr sets later, am fiddling with steamers that have tenders with curly-Q couplers. Have been watching for a dummy 401 to go with my 420, to make a Red Ball double header, but they seem to be as scarce as hen's teeth!

    Again, thanks for the reply!..........Ken