AF Reversing Unit Problems

[SeabeeBrad]

Hello All,

 I have an AF No. 497 Alco PA Diesel Unit that I am having problems with the reversing unit. Instead of the unit running in the standard Forward, Neutral, Reverse, Neutral. The unit operates only in Reverse, Neutral, Reverse, Neutral even when I cycle through the way the manuals say. I did not have issues with this train untill my one daughter unlocked the reversing unit and took it off the tracks. Now it only runs in reverse. Any suggestions on what I need to do here, I am stumped.

 Thank You

[Sturgeon-Phish]

Sounds like you've got it locked in the reverse direction.  Move the lever in the other direction and see if that does not take care of it.  And Welcome to the forum, always great to see another AF fan

Jim

[lionelsoni]

What kind of reversing unit does this locomotive have?  Electromechanical or electronic?

How were you running it before you had "issues"?  You say your daughter unlocked the reversing unit.  Had it been locked up until that time?

You say both that it alternates between reverse and neutral and that it runs only in reverse.  Which?

[SeabeeBrad]

What kind of reversing unit does this locomotive have?  Electromechanical or electronic?

Electromechanical

How were you running it before you had "issues"?  You say your daughter unlocked the reversing unit.  Had it been locked up until that time?

I was running it locked in the forward position. I kept the reversing unit locked out, running forward so it would always run forward whether there was a circuit interuption or not. At leat that what the old owners manual said it was supposed to do.

You say both that it alternates between reverse and neutral and that it runs only in reverse.  Which?

This is how it currently sequences: turn the transformer on, neutral. Turn off. Turn on again, reverse. Turn off. Turn on, neutral. Turn off. Turn on, reverse. According to the old owners manual the off on sequence is forward, neutral, reverse, neutral.

 I hope that adds a little more insight.

 

[SeabeeBrad]

Thanks for the welcome.

Moving the lever doesn't change anything. It only does neutral and reverse. I am wondering if the reversing unit is bad?

 

Brad

[lionelsoni]

That's all very strange.  You say that "moving the lever doesn't change anything."  Do you mean that you can't put the lever in a position so that the locomotive doesn't alternate between reverse and neutral?

Have you tried looking at the reversing unit while cycling the voltage, to see whether the drum is turning 1/8 turn each time?

[Anonymous]

Brad,

        Welcome to the forum.  What transformer are you using?

[Sturgeon-Phish]

Ensure the lock out lever is positioned to allow the coil lever to move.  Positioning the tender in an upright position, i.e. not on it’s side or upside down, manually move the coil lever, while watching the drum and pawl.  The drum should move with each cycle of the lever being moved and the pawl should drop back into position to catch the drum with each cycle.  Jim