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Question on an old American Flyer three rail Loco?

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KRM
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Question on an old American Flyer three rail Loco?
Posted by KRM on Wednesday, March 25, 2020 2:15 PM

I have had this set from 1934-36?? for most of my life but know little about it. It spends most of its time on display on a shelf in the living room. Today we cleaned those shelfs and I ran it as I always do. It does not reverse but has a lever on the bottom painted red that I don’t know what it is for. So I have a question, what is this?
Thanks in advance. Smile
 
Where it sits.
 
 
The lever??
 

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Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL. Whistling

 

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Posted by Nationwidelines on Wednesday, March 25, 2020 3:17 PM

The red lever is the lockout lever to prevent it from automatically reversing.  

If the engine runs in forward only, then the automatic reverse is locked in forward only.  

My suggestion is that if the engine is running fine, leave the red lever in the position it is in.  

NWL

KRM
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Posted by KRM on Wednesday, March 25, 2020 6:53 PM

Nationwidelines

The red lever is the lockout lever to prevent it from automatically reversing.  

If the engine runs in forward only, then the automatic reverse is locked in forward only.  

My suggestion is that if the engine is running fine, leave the red lever in the position it is in.  

NWL

 

 

Thanks but I would still like to know how it should work. Mine moves up about 1/8" and back down. makes no change in direction. It does not move right or left? How should it work??

 

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Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL. Whistling

 

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Posted by Nationwidelines on Wednesday, March 25, 2020 7:01 PM

All it does is move up and down.  By moving it, it should prevent the reverse mechanism from moving, when it is in the up position, I believe.

However, that being said, I can't tell what type of reverse mechanism is in your engine, without the boiler being removed.  It may be that the reverse mechanism is no longer working, or has been disabled via another method.

My suggestion to leave it be, is mainly due to these mechanisms not working very well in general.  

KRM
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Posted by KRM on Thursday, March 26, 2020 12:27 PM

Thanks how much should it move up and down? I would like to make it work if I can better understand the operation of it. maybe I will take it apart and look. I don't think this has ever been molested. Just maybe it is frozen up?

 

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Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL. Whistling

 

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Posted by rrswede on Thursday, March 26, 2020 1:33 PM

Kevin, here is a link to Portlines writeup. 

http://www.portlines.com/portlinesclinic23.htm

swede

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Posted by Nationwidelines on Thursday, March 26, 2020 1:42 PM

rrswede

Kevin, here is a link to Portlines writeup. 

http://www.portlines.com/portlinesclinic23.htm

swede

 

 

That link has nothing to do with the type of reverse mechanism that is in your engine.  

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Posted by Nationwidelines on Thursday, March 26, 2020 1:46 PM

KRM

Thanks how much should it move up and down? I would like to make it work if I can better understand the operation of it. maybe I will take it apart and look. I don't think this has ever been molested. Just maybe it is frozen up?

 

 

 

It does not move very much, maybe 1/8 to 1/4 inch at the most.  All it is is a lever that prevents another mechanism from moving.  I would suspect the issue is in the other mechanism.

There are several types of reverse mechanisms in the pre-Gilbert engines and I simply cannot tell you what type it is.  Some work better than others and some are simply lousy.  

Good luck with your repairs.  I like my engines to work properly also, but even so, I lock these mechanisms in place, as they simply don't work well in general.  

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Posted by Spanners on Monday, March 30, 2020 4:33 PM

Hey Kev,

Here are some pics of what is likely the reverse unit in your locomotive, or something very similar to this. As NWL indicated, the units are not reliable and get stuck "in gear" frequently, and when you see the linkage design, you'll understand why. I also snapped some shots of the lock lever in both of its positions.

This locomotive is the 9915 / "Aeolus" cast aluminum streamliner, so please disregard the long plate across the top as that is unique to the same / connects the motor to the body. 

Pic #1 "Locked Lever"

Pic #2 "Unlocked Lever"

Pic #3 Side View of Linkage and Cam on Main Gear

Pic #4 Top Side With Lever Locked (Note the Arm moved up away from the cam on the main gear)

Pic #5 Top Side Lever Unlocked (Note arm down, hitting cam and the "plunger" moved up off the field of the motor)

 

Finally a video - Showing the reverse plate moving up and down (being forward and reverse), respective linkage movement and the cam on the main drive gear.

 

 

https://www.flickr.com/video_download.gne?id=49717717806

 

 Hope that helps / feel free to ask any more questions.

 

Thanks,

Jeff

KRM
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Posted by KRM on Monday, March 30, 2020 7:36 PM

Spanners,,,,, Thank you!!!! Just what I needed!!  Yes

A great help. I will look at mine and see what I can do. Thanks again!

Joined 1-21-2011    TCA 13-68614

Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL. Whistling

 

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Posted by Spanners on Monday, March 30, 2020 7:52 PM
No problem! Good luck..

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