AF 350 Royal Blue Pilot Truck--How Do You Keep It On the Track?

[MickeyDemian]

I am trying to run an AF 350 Royal Blue that I just received and it seems the pilot truck is very light and bounces off the track frequently.  I am new to the AF line and was wondering if the veterans out there had any tricks or modifications they used to address this problem?  Thanks for any help.

[Swiss-Colorado-Lines]

Hi Mickey,

I would not say that I am an American Flyer expert, but I have 6 steamers, and I've done extensive work on some of them.Usually, there is a spring pushing down on the lead truck.On most of mine, the spring has disappeared, and they still track reliably. On my 312, there was a mounting tang cast onto the front of the cylinder casting that was bent, I had to replace the cylinder casting, and now it's fine.

I suspect you will have to dissemble the engine and look closely at how the lead truck mounts, looking for anything bent, or out of the ordinary...

That's about all I have, hope it helps...

Paul

[rrlineman]

Almost all 350's should have a spring for the pilot truck. In repairing trains over the years I have found the spring removed, wire solder wrapped around the truck rivet, and even pieces of tire weights glued inside the sheet metal truck frame. All in a attempt to keep the pilot on the track.. usually I have found that the spring has collapsed somtime in the past due to overheating from a derailment short. You can do 2 things. Change out the spring for a new repro or stiffer spring ( like a lionel 671 pilot spring). there is also a Co called LBR enterprises in Kentucky that makes milled bar stock pilot trucks for Flyer engines, But they are about 15 bucks compared to about a buck for a new spring. And of course the most obvious thing is to check the track and also make sure the truck frame is square and even.

[MickeyDemian]

Thank you for the ideas for repair.  Appreciate it.