I received a box of train sets. One is an American Flyer Reading line 307. Can anyone tell me if this train requires AC or DC? I tried the AC terminals off one of the transformers in the box and the engine energizes, but it seems that it is waiting for a change in polarity to start turning the wheels. I'm new to model trains ,any help would be greatly apretiated to get me started here.
Dgray, might I suggest that you try asking this over on the Model Railroader forum? Folks here are usually more interested in the twelve-inch-to-the-foot stuff.
Nonetheless, welcome to the Forums, and good luck!
(From what I remember about AF engines older than a certain age, if you get the buzz, turn the rheostat to zero and open it again. That may be enough to get you going in one direction or the other. Off and on twice will get you going in the opposite direction. If you can't get rid of that buzz, you may have a short somewhere.)
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
Take Carl's advice and move this thread to the Classic Toy Trains forum where you will get more information on your issue.
Incidentally, the #307 is AC powered.
It may be that the reversing unit in the tender is malfunctioning.
Rich
Alton Junction
I had American Flyer trains when I was growing up. They run on AC power. The buzzing is the reverse relay (I don't remember the technical name for it). Turn power off and back on and it may run. The relay requires two off / on cycles to reverse the direction of travel; i.e., off - on - off -on.
If it still doesn't move when you do this, it probably needs a good cleaning and lubricating.
The reversing unit has four copper fingers, or wipers, with spoon shaped ends.
It is not uncommon for the spoon to develop a hole in it from constant electrical contact with the metal drum.
Once there is a hole in the copper spoon, the lack of electrical contact causes the loco to just sit there.
Also, the drum and the four copper fingers produce four cycles - - forward, pause, reverse, pause.
Be sure to turn the power on and off or press the reset button on the transformer to cycle through the forward-reverse function.
I'm betting the problem is the copper fingers on the reversing unit.
Moving this thread to the appropriate forum. Happy railroading!
--Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editorsotte@kalmbach.com
Steven Otte Moving this thread to the appropriate forum. Happy railroading!
There is also a vever on the reversing unit that protrudes below the floor of the tender between the trucks This lever locks the reversing unit in position and it may be locked in neutral. Moving it to the left side of the tender should unlock the reverse unit. Also check for broken wires, Dirty wheels and track and wore motor brushes. Normally just a little TLC and some cleaning and lubrication will remedy the problem.
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