Trains.com

The 312 project

6833 views
102 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
The 312 project
Posted by Postwar Paul on Saturday, April 13, 2019 1:40 PM

New additions to the tribe :

 

a 282 and a 312, both in " fixer upper" condition 

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Saturday, April 13, 2019 1:43 PM

 But fixing these old trains is half the fun, isn't it ?

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Saturday, April 13, 2019 1:46 PM

 If anyone knows a good source for Flyer parts, please Shout Out !

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Saturday, April 13, 2019 1:50 PM

 Here's a side by side with HO brass K-5's from Westside, circa 1972

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Saturday, April 13, 2019 1:54 PM

 Gonna have fun rebuilding them. They will roll out of the shop with knuckle couplers. This brings the Flyer roster to 6.

  • Member since
    January 2012
  • 301 posts
Posted by rrswede on Saturday, April 13, 2019 3:47 PM

You are correct. Getting the "oldies" running is a lot of fun.

As for parts, give Doug at Port Lines a call. www.portlines.com

Jeff Kane at http://ttender.com/ also carries some parts.

swede

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Saturday, April 13, 2019 4:42 PM

Thank you for the great advice !

I'll need to go through these and determine what is needed. The 312 has a bent pilot, but it appears to be a separate casting from the frame, so if it can't be straightened, I'll need a replacement part. I haven't gotten into the mechanisms yet, don't know what I'll find.

It'll be great to see them run again !

  • Member since
    September 2010
  • From: Parma Heights Ohio
  • 3,442 posts
Posted by Penny Trains on Saturday, April 13, 2019 6:30 PM

Trains, trains, wonderful trains.  The more you get, the more you toot!  Big Smile

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Saturday, April 13, 2019 7:22 PM

Thank you, that helps ! 

I can see some of the parts I'll need in those pictures already.

Just have to do the work,

Thanks so much !

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 5:28 PM

Cleaned and lubed the 282:

 

 

 motor runs well, light comes on, no smoke however. Have not tested the reverser yet. I didn't realize this has a plastic boiler shell, looks great, though.

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 5:38 PM

Cleaned and lubed the 312's motor, and put it back in the shell.

 

 

 some prior owner put Lionel whistle brushes in her, but they are working great, so I left them in. The motor runs great !!! Very loud chuffing sound, gonna have a lot of fun with this one.

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 5:46 PM

The problem with the front end :

 

 

the pilot has has a slight bend, but the mounting tongue for the pilot, which is on the front of the cylinder cast ing, is cracked and has a severe bend. Both will need to be replaced.

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 5:51 PM

So, I'm making a list. Most things seem to be cosmetic.

 

....to be continued....

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Friday, April 19, 2019 7:41 PM

 It turns out the 282 motor does smoke after all...

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Friday, April 19, 2019 7:46 PM

And very nicely

 

 

 thank you very much !

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Friday, April 19, 2019 7:49 PM

 But not getting any smoke from the 312 yet

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Friday, April 19, 2019 7:52 PM

So, add that to my list. Neither reverser works presently, although I can hear them cycling. Both have at least 1 broken wire in the tether between engine and tender. Still much more work ahead.

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Sunday, April 21, 2019 12:17 PM

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Sunday, April 21, 2019 12:19 PM

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Sunday, April 28, 2019 12:04 PM

We have proven that the 282, and 312 both have good running motors.

 

but, both engin es will need repair on the reverses: the 282 s has a broken fingerboard. The 312 has a deeply grooved drum. Gonna take some time to work through these issues.

  • Member since
    September 2010
  • From: Parma Heights Ohio
  • 3,442 posts
Posted by Penny Trains on Sunday, April 28, 2019 6:34 PM

Flyer K's are real works of art.

Trains, trains, wonderful trains.  The more you get, the more you toot!  Big Smile

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Sunday, April 28, 2019 7:53 PM

with these old trains, you find what you find. But if there is an engine you really want, the one you find might need a little work. 

I've really wanted one of these for some time now. I don't mind having to fix it. The shells, boiler and tender are in good shape.

It's totally worth it !!

  • Member since
    September 2010
  • From: Parma Heights Ohio
  • 3,442 posts
Posted by Penny Trains on Monday, April 29, 2019 6:25 PM

I'm hip.  My 310 has a pikemaster truck, the wrong boiler front and a jerry-rigged drawbar.  But she sure is pretty!  Big Smile

Trains, trains, wonderful trains.  The more you get, the more you toot!  Big Smile

  • Member since
    January 2006
  • From: Southeast Pennsylvania
  • 161 posts
Posted by kblester on Friday, May 3, 2019 12:41 AM

Best of luck with your project. I still have my Dad's 312 from the 50's. Funny, I remember that engine being about 3 feet long in my childhood. His Great Grandchildren love it.

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Friday, May 3, 2019 8:10 PM

Thank you so much !

I have gone as far as I can go with the original parts, and am making up my list of things to order. 

Of course, I work on it when I'm in the mood...

  • Member since
    May 2019
  • 6 posts
Posted by dextian on Tuesday, May 7, 2019 9:45 PM
That's a cool project. Rebuilding old trains is really fun. Good luck!

sample

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Tuesday, May 7, 2019 10:00 PM

Parts are on order from 2 different suppliers. Thank you to those who have responded with suggestions.

Paul

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Thursday, May 9, 2019 10:44 PM

These guys are really on the job !!

 

I ordered from both these suppliers on Sunday, both packages came in today ( Thursday )

great service !

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Thursday, May 9, 2019 10:49 PM

I must say all the parts people I have worked with has been a very positive experience.

 

 

 Now, to buckle down and do the work !

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Saturday, May 11, 2019 1:06 AM

I started to use the reproduction pilot I bought

 

 

 

 but made a discovery....

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month