You should certainly clean the grunge off of the engine, it won't affect value and certainly could improve the operation of the motor. The things I would do for operability is change the brushes and replace any wiring / insulation that may need repair.
As for the engine, they are relatively common. Flyer called the motor a Hudson even though the wheel configuration was not correct for a Hudson. It sounds like you have a 1936 Hudson, as the later models were a 2-6-4 configuration.
The 1936 hudsons came with a steel bodied streamline tender with a whistle and the tender drawbar connected to a pin sticking up on the trailing truck, where the 1937 hudsons came with an aluminum bodied, coal pile tender with a shorter drawbar that connected to a pin on the engine body.
NWL
I recently had an early American Flyer Hudson given to me. I would like to get it running. the running gear is free and the motors turns freeley. Should I try to clean it up or should I clean the bearings/communtator/axels and leave the rest of the grunge on the motor assembly. Is this a really rare AF engine? The trailing trucks have only one axel and how it was called a Hudson I don't know as a NYC Hudson is a 4-6-4 and this is really a 2-6-2. I am an amature at AF trains and I am not sure what I should do.
Paul D&MR HO railroader
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.
Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month