Toy train operating and collecting

I am a novice on postwar AF trains. I am having a problem attaching my 690 track clip to the track. The spread between the shoulder (which I place on the outside rail) and the spring appear to be too narrow for my s guage track. The spring clip seems to end at the middle of the inside rail. Any suggestions?

Sometimes people will re-arch the spring to increase the tension making it more difficult to attach, especially if on a curved piece of track.

I attach the 690 to the rail on the wire on side first ensuring the entire edge of the clip is on the rail bottom.  If it gets cocked to one side it does not seat properly against the rail.  With the one edge firmly in place, with you index fingers holding the top of the rail and pressing on the bottom of the clip with your thumbs, the clip side should snap into place.

Jim

Hello cartbridge,  to the forum.  You will find plenty of folks here to help answer any questions that you might have.  There are a number of loyal Flyer enthusiasts here.

Jim,

I hope you won't mind if I piggy back on your reply just a bit.  I thought some photos might help.

Sturgeon-Phish:

Sometimes people will re-arch the spring to increase the tension making it more difficult to attach, especially if on a curved piece of track.

 

I attach the 690 to the rail on the wire on side first ensuring the entire edge of the clip is on the rail bottom.

 

  If it gets cocked to one side it does not seat properly against the rail.

   With the one edge firmly in place, with your index fingers holding the top of the rail and pressing on the bottom of the clip with your thumbs,

 

 the clip side should snap into place.

Jim

Good Luck, and enjoy those American Flyer trains.

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

Northwoods Flyer

Exactly! One of the things I do at work is write operating procedures and pictures are better than words!  Thanks Greg.

Jim

Thanks for your great help. I figured out I did not have an AF 690 but a Lional track clip. Thats why the clip didn't reach to the AF inner rail. It was too short. I have found some AF 690s andd they work great!

This may be a little off subject but Lionel made a universal track clip for a few years and it fit both S & O gauge track. Another way to hook up power is to buy Gargraves track clips that fit under the rails and slip into place, Gargraves don't work with solid rail track.

Lee F.

You can solder on the leads.  I use to do that with all my tublar track.  Good luck.