American Flyer Maintenance manual

[AF1963]

After many years away from model railroading I am getting out my AF trains and accessories.  I would like to have a small working railroad by Thanksgiving.  Before I do anything can anyone reccomend a book that would give me step by step instructions on how to get my engines back in to proper operating condition and how to make sure the trucks and couplers on the engines and cars are in good working order? 

I do not want to ruin anything by running them without proper preparation. 

Thanks for your help.

[cwburfle]

The American Flyer factory service manual has been reprinted. While not as easy to locate as the various Lionel factory service manual reprints, they are around.

If you cannot find a copy, here is a web site with the pages online:

http://myflyertrains.org/gallery/GilbertFactoryManual

[SFFlyer]

 You really don't need a manual and steel wool is the only real nasty thing to stay away from

Getting all the contacts clean is the main thing with contact cleaner or a eraser-like contact cleaner.

Mine started up pretty well after being stored in my mom's basement for 40 years

Good Luck and just ask if you run into problems

Grant 

[Timboy]

 

[Sturgeon-Phish]

I have three I would reccomend.  In order of use, #1 Complete Service Manual for American Flyer Trains by K Line, #2 Greenberg's American Flyer S Gauge Repair and Operating Manual by Thomas Barker, #3 Greenberg's American Flyer TRack Plans and Operating Instructions by Jeff Faust.

Jim

[cwburfle]

The last time I put an idle American Flyer train set back into service for a friend. I found that quite a bit of attention had to be paid to cleaning the track and pickup wheels on the locomotive in order for the train to run correctly. The wheels and track didn't look dirty or rusty, but the train wouldn't make it around the loop of track until the track and wheels were nice and clean. I think I used a scotchbright pad. As has already been posted, never use steel wool. The little bits that come off will get into the mechanisms.

[AF1963]

Thank you one and all for your responses!