American Flyer 355 Baldwin Diesel

[richhotrain]

Now that I have my American Flyer 312 steam engine up and running, I have turned my attention to my American Flyer 355 Baldwin diesel.

The reversing unit seems to cycle just fine, and the engine runs in reverse like a champ.  While running in reverse, the motor is pretty quiet.

However, in the forward setting, the gears struggle to turn and the engine makes a fairly loud whining sound.  I lubricated the gears but still the engine struggles to go forward.  While testing it, I have the engine up on a block to allow the wheels and gears to spin as freely as possible.

Any suggestions or ideas about what the problem might be?

Thanks.

Rich

[lionelsoni]

I'm not up on the specifies of American Flyer drive trains.  But, if it's a worm drive, the kind of behavior you're seeing is often associated with a missing or failed thrust bearing on the worm shaft, which gets pushed one way for one direction of running and the other way for the other direction.

[Sturgeon-Phish]

Bob

As always you are on target. The thrust bearing, actually a flat brass washer is worn.  Easy to replace, just pull the motor, and slip a new bushing in place, oil lightly then re-assemble.

Jim

[richhotrain]

Sturgeon-Phish

Bob

As always you are on target. The thrust bearing, actually a flat brass washer is worn.  Easy to replace, just pull the motor, and slip a new bushing in place, oil lightly then re-assemble.

Jim

Jim,

After I read Bob's response, but before you posted yours, I looked closer at the motor assembly.  I placed a couple drops of oil on the oil wick that sits on top of the "bearing and mount assembly".  I was able to get the motor to spin in forward gear several times but after a few seconds it would stop.

I am looking at an exploded parts diagram on the Hobby Surplus web site, and the diagram refers to the front of the motor assembly as a  "bearing and mount assembly", part number XA15A777.  Right behind the bearing and mount assembly, toward the field assembly, is a washer.  Is that the thrust bearing?  Or would I replace the bearing and mount assembly?

Thanks.

Rich

[Sturgeon-Phish]

Try replacing part # P325D & PA1405-D, the fibre washer and washer.  If we are looking at the same sketch it would be diagram number 13 & 14.

Jim

[Sturgeon-Phish]

Before replacing it, try oiling this end where the fibre washer  and washer is.  Even is it is worn, the oil should help, then replace them.

Jim

[richhotrain]

Sturgeon-Phish

Try replacing part # P325D & PA1405-D, the fibre washer and washer.  If we are looking at the same sketch it would be diagram number 13 & 14.

Jim

Jim,

Yes, number 13 and 14 are the parts (washer and fibre washer) shown in the diagram that I am looking at on the Hobby Surplus web site.

I looked on the parts list for part # P325D & PA1405-D, but I could not locate the parts.  How did you come up with those numbers?  I still have a lot to learn.

Thanks.

Rich

[Sturgeon-Phish]

My most often used train book is called the Complete Service Manual for American Flyer Trains by K-Line.  It is 395 pages of reprints of original service manual pages, wiring diagrams, accesory hook up, troubleshooting for trains accesories transformers and operating cars.  They are becoming pretty pricey, but very valuable information wise.  I would buy another if I lost my copy.

Your 355 is on page 106 with an exploded diagram and 107 has the Gilbert part number with the exploded diagram reference number

If you are getting serious about fixing the AF trains it is money well spent, or just ask questions and I will continue to try and answer!

Jim

[richhotrain]

Sturgeon-Phish

Bob

As always you are on target. The thrust bearing, actually a flat brass washer is worn.  Easy to replace, just pull the motor, and slip a new bushing in place, oil lightly then re-assemble.

Jim

I disassembled the motor today to get at the thrust bearing, but I ran into an obstacle. 

The armature assembly fits through a bearing and mount assembly, and the toothed gear is held on the end of the armature assembly.  To get at the thrust bearing, I need to remove the armature assembly from the bearing and mount assembly.

How do you free up the armature assembly since the toothed gear prevents me from pulling the armature assembly out of the bearing and mount assembly?

Thanks,

Rich

 

[Sturgeon-Phish]

I will look up the R/R and get back to you

Jim

[Sturgeon-Phish]

I have not worked on a 355 but from looking at the exploded drawing I would say you will need to press the gear off of the armature assembly.

Jim

[richhotrain]

Sturgeon-Phish

I have not worked on a 355 but from looking at the exploded drawing I would say you will need to press the gear off of the armature assembly.

Jim

Thanks, Jim.  As soon as I get up the nerve, I will give that I try. 

I just wasn't sure if there was some kind of tool that needed to be used to pull the gear off the armature.

Rich

[richhotrain]

richhotrain

Sturgeon-Phish

I have not worked on a 355 but from looking at the exploded drawing I would say you will need to press the gear off of the armature assembly.

Jim

Thanks, Jim.  As soon as I get up the nerve, I will give that I try. 

I just wasn't sure if there was some kind of tool that needed to be used to pull the gear off the armature.

Rich

I got the toothed gear off the end of the armature assembly by gently tapping a nail punch with a hammer against the end of the armature assembly.  Then, I replaced the washers and the bearings and re-asembled the armature assembly.

However, my basic problem still remains.  The motor runs fine in forward but struggles to run at all in reverse.  Could the brushes be the problem?  One of the brushes looks dark and slightly burned.

Rich