American Flyer Steam Engine - Pulling Loads

[richhotrain]

I have my old American Flyer steam engine, #312, up and running, and the speed is pretty good.

However, as each freight car is added, the speed becomes slower.

The engine does not have traction tires, never did, so I don't know if it is a traction problem or a sluggish motor problem.

What is the best way to determine the problem and how to solve it?

Thanks.

Rich 

[Anonymous]

Rich,

           Have you oiled all of the axles?  How many cars are you trying to pull?

[richhotrain]

green97probe

Rich,

           Have you oiled all of the axles?  How many cars are you trying to pull?

Jim,

After I add about four freight cars, the engine starts to run slower.  But, I think that I found part of the problem - - - dirty wheels.  After I cleaned up the wheels on the tender, there was a considerable improvement in performance.  The freight cars seem to deposit a lot of gunk on the rails from the plastic wheels, and the metal wheels on the tender pick it up.  Same problem with my diesel.   I know this is a problem in HO where I have replaced all of the plastic wheels with metal ones.  Are we stuck with plastic wheels on American Flyer?

Also, when you ask about oiling the axles, do you mean on all the wheels, engine, tender and freight cars?  

Thanks,

Rich

[Sturgeon-Phish]

A drop of oil on the axles makes a big difference but not too much.  A dremel with a stiff nylon brush will clean the wheels.  There needs be a non-conductive connection between the rails.  If you have a means of measuring the motor amps, the 312 should not draw more than 2.1 amps pulling four box cars.

Clean track and wheels are part of regular PMs

Jim

[AF53]

Hi Jim. New to this site. Love the American Flyer info. I have a 316 steamer and it does the same as decribed above. It was my fathers who bought the set in the fifties and we used it every year at Christmas. I have reserected it recentley. Took it apart, geased and oiled it (tender also). I can get it to chug off the track but once placed on the track it's really in slow-mo. Putting cars on it would probably deaden it. You mentioned using an amp meter. Could you give me some details as to it's use and bennefits?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Ray

[Sturgeon-Phish]

This is my test rig

This is the test track

The ammeter is great to determine when things begin to get warm and the amps start to increase.  Anytime there is an unexpected increase in amps you know something is amiss.  I had ammeters on my big layout too.

Jim

 

[Timboy]

 

[Anonymous]

Ray,

          Welcome to the forum.  I've been thinking about the problem you described, and I'd suggest cleaning the commutator and replacing the brushes and springs.

[servoguy]

Jim, How do you load Windows into your control panel? Bruce Baker

[AF53]

Thanks for the advice, it's always welcome. Prior to testing this engine, which was in storage for some 30+ years, I did oil and grease all the engine parts. As to the commutator I used a q-tip with rubbing alcohol to clean it. The brushes and springs looked fine. I've since ordered other cleaning kits and will try again. If that doesn't work I'll replace them. It's easy and inexpensive.

Nice videos. How did you come by your sets and what's it's story. We all have one! 

Thanks again.

Ray

[lionelsoni]

It could be that your locomotives' slowdown indicates some problem if it is excessive.  But some slowing down as the load is increased is normal for this type of motor and should be expected.  Pre-modern toy locomotives have universal motors, similar to those in prototype electric locomotives, whereas modern ones often have permanent-magnet motors, which do tend to run at a speed proportional to the voltage and are fairly insensitive to the load.

[AF53]

Thanks, but this slowdown is without a load and is running at a snails pace. In some cases a foot traveled in3 seconds. I remember as a child in the sixties it running quite nice.

Any more advice would be appreciated.

Ray

[lionelsoni]

Rich said, "I have my old American Flyer steam engine, #312, up and running, and the speed is pretty good.  However, as each freight car is added, the speed becomes slower."

Then Ray said, "I have a 316 steamer and it does the same as decribed above."  So I thought the same advice might apply to both.  Or not.

[richhotrain]

lionelsoni

Rich said, "I have my old American Flyer steam engine, #312, up and running, and the speed is pretty good.  However, as each freight car is added, the speed becomes slower."

Then Ray said, "I have a 316 steamer and it does the same as decribed above."  So I thought the same advice might apply to both.  Or not.

After I first started this thread, I followed the advice to put a drop of oil on each axle, and I cleaned the wheels and the track.   Once I did all of that, my engine performed as it used to, easily pulling six cars behind it without a noticeable drop in speed.

Rich