American Flyer 325 Tender Question

[Postwar Paul]

Very nice !

[rrswede]

Thank you for responding Paul.

Yes, I learned from another source that the springs I was given were wrong. I found several compression springs in my junk draw that were springy enough, long enough and had the right spiral diameter. They were installed in the shoes and the rework is complete. 

I have attached a photo to show the installed shoe. You can see a spot of solder at the shoe box tab used to secure the box to the truck frame.

Thank you, swede 

 

[Postwar Paul]

Hello Swede!

 I have the 326, with the same tender shoes. On mine, the shoe just presses down on the rail, but it looks like a straight coil spring compressed inside. Wondering if the springs you have are not for these shoes ?

Tried to put up a picture, but having trouble with Shutterfly today...

Paul

[rrswede]

I received a American Flyer 325 4-6-4 Locomotive with Tender needing repair. Both were partially disassembled and some replacement parts were included. The locomotive and tender are now operational (unable to test the Air Chime Whistle)  and I'm attempting to put the finishing touches to the reassembly and need some assistance.

In addition to the left and right pairs of metal wheels on the tender trucks, there is a left and right side sliding shoe. I've been told the additional shoe was installed by AF to assist in Air Chime operation. The sliding shoe assembly consists of a "shoe box" that is secured to the truck frame with metal tabs, the actual shoe that fits in the shoe box, and a spring that causes the shoe to stay in contact with the track. 

The enclosed photo shows one of the tender trucks and the parts for the sliding shoe assembly.    

I know how the shoe box and shoe fit together and how the assembly is secured to the truck frame but, for the life of me, cannot figure out how or where to exactly position the spring. I would have assumed the proper spring to be a common compression spring that would simply be placed inside the shoe, not one with "ears" like a torsion spring.

I posed this issue at a couple other sites and obtained some good background information but, as of earlier today, have not learned where or how the spring is fitted to the shoe assembly.

Can you please offer your advice?

Thank you very much, swede