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american flyer 290 fifth wire

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  • Member since
    September 2022
  • 20 posts
american flyer 290 fifth wire
Posted by rlassoc12 on Thursday, July 6, 2023 8:19 AM

Anyone have a picture of the connection of the fifth wire from tender to engine

on a 290?

  • Member since
    April 2023
  • 158 posts
Posted by Road Foreman of Engines on Thursday, July 6, 2023 9:46 AM

Hello,

 I've been there before too! If you Google " American Flyer Steam Locomotive Wiring Diagram", you should get an image with the schematics. I printed it out. Very handy to have.

Hope this helps.

Paul

incidentally, my 290 is a 4 wire connection. I had to replace the harness on it.

  • Member since
    September 2022
  • 20 posts
Posted by rlassoc12 on Thursday, July 6, 2023 1:27 PM

Thanks 

I found the wiring diagram. What was used to connect the wire from the tender to the wire from the engine? American Flyer didn't have any 5 pin plugs did they?

  • Member since
    April 2023
  • 158 posts
Posted by Road Foreman of Engines on Thursday, July 6, 2023 6:12 PM

All mine are earlier engines with 4 wire connections, but I believe some engines had the jack plate on the back of the cab with a fifth port, and the fifth wire would just plug in there. It was to provide power to the headlight and smoke unit, regardless of the reverse unit position. I believe this was something that came along later in production.

 Good luck! I am adding a Flyer loop in the train room as we speak!

Paul

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • 141 posts
Posted by Laurastom on Thursday, July 6, 2023 6:44 PM

Gilbert did not make any 5 pin jacks and plugs. The 5th wire was a solder connection, making it impossible to separate the engine and tender w/o unsoldering the wire. The 5 wire design was first used in 1952. In 1955 Gilbert began placing the reverse units on the rear of the motor. This design required only a two wire connection between engine and tender.

  • Member since
    September 2022
  • 20 posts
Posted by rlassoc12 on Saturday, July 8, 2023 8:41 AM

Thanks for all the replies. I will figure out something so that the tender can be remove without unsoldering

  • Member since
    September 2022
  • 20 posts
Posted by rlassoc12 on Saturday, July 8, 2023 10:43 AM

Solution. I took a 4d finish nail sanded it in the drill press to fit 5 th hole. Cut it to .5 inches long soldered the tender wire to it.

  • Member since
    April 2023
  • 158 posts
Posted by Road Foreman of Engines on Saturday, July 8, 2023 6:29 PM

Great! That'll work. Homemade solution, fantastic!

Paul

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