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Lionel Trains
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#Post#: 773--------------------------------------------------
newbie
By: arron Date: November 19, 2014, 11:46 pm
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good evening. I am hoping to get your thoughts. A friend gave my
son and me 2 engines and some track.the train engines are
American Flyer number 2 83 and 290. they are Model S or s gauge
I'm not sure the proper term. He also gave us a transformer
which is a Lionel type 1073. we don't know very much about
trains but we have been reading a fair amount on the Internet.we
do not know if the trains even work. We would like to keep them
as original as possible. We also do not have a whole lot of
money to spend so would like to knowhow much we will need to
invest to get the train running before we start spending money
on the train set. question one is what to do with the
transformer. I tried plugging it in and the circuit breaker
tripped and we heard a popping sound. because I value my house
not to mention my life needless to say we will not be plugging
in the transformer again until we know what the problem is.I
also noted that there is continuity between the two prongs on
the plug.I am thinking there should not be continuity and so
perhaps that means there is a short circuit somewhere.can the
transformer be repaired or am I looking at buying a new
Transformer.question 2 I have no idea if the engines work. Is
there a way to test the motors on the engines to know if they
work. Because if they do not work I'm wondering how much it
would cost to repair them if that's possible or whether I am
also looking at trying to buy a new engine.the answer to these
questions will help us to evaluate how far to go with this new
hobby.so any of your thoughts are much appreciated thank you
very much.
#Post#: 774--------------------------------------------------
Re: newbie
By: TrainLarry Date: November 20, 2014, 1:40 am
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Welcome to the forum, arron!
Your American Flyer locomotives are known as 'S' gauge trains.
The 283 dates from about 1954-1957, and the 290 dates from about
1949-1951. The Lionel 1073 transformer was manufactured from
1961-1966.
Getting continuity between the 2 prongs of the AC plug is
normal. You are reading the resistance of the primary winding of
the transformer. If you did not get a reading, there would be a
problem, either a bad wire, or a bad transformer.
Was there anything connected to the transformer when you plugged
it in and the circuit breaker tripped? If there was nothing
connected, then there is something inside the transformer
shorting out the secondary winding, or the circuit breaker could
possibly be bad. Do not worry about life or property, as the
circuit breaker is protecting both. Unplug the transformer, and
remove the 4 screws holding the cover in place. Look inside to
familiarize yourself with the inside of the transformer. Look to
see that all solder connections are good, and that there is
nothing loose inside. Here is a page from the service manual, to
show you what it looks like inside.
(HTM) http://pictures.olsenstoy.com/cd/ho%5Cd1043a.pdf
(HTM) http://pictures.olsenstoy.com/cd/ho%5Cd1043a.pdf
Reassemble the
transformer and plug it in again with nothing connected to it.
If the circuit breaker trips again, the transformer needs
service. If it needs service, your best bet would be to replace
it. There are many good, used transformers for sale at your
local train dealer and on the internet. You will need an
operating transformer to test your locomotives.
With an operating transformer, inspect the track and make sure
it is clean and free of rust. Clean any light rust from the
track, including the end pins, and trains with a ScotchBrite
pad. Wipe off any dirt, grime and oil from the track and trains
with naphtha, available at your hardware store. Assemble the
track into a basic circle or oval, and attach the lockon to the
track. Connect the wires from the transformer to the track, put
a locomotive on the track, plug in the transformer, and turn on
the power. The locomotive should move. If not, turn the power
off and on again. Listen for a buzz from the tender. If the
locomotive does not move, look under the tender and you will
find a small lever protruding down. Move the lever to the
opposite direction and try the locomotive again. If this does
not work, and the headlight illuminates, then the loco needs
service, probably the reverse unit in the tender. Try this on
both locomotives. If both locomotives run, then they will need
basic service to get them to run their best. That is for another
day. First you need a working transformer.
Here are links for the exploded views of your locomotives. Look
at them and familiarize yourself with the insides of your
locomotives and tenders. The 283 is here,
(HTM) http://www.hobbysurplus.com/xviews/280spacHSS.asp
(HTM) http://www.hobbysurplus.com/xviews/280spacHSS.asp
and the 290 is
here.
(HTM) http://www.hobbysurplus.com/xviews/290slcHSS.asp
Keep us
updated here with your findings and progress.
Larry
#Post#: 776--------------------------------------------------
Re: newbie
By: arron Date: November 20, 2014, 11:00 pm
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thank you Larry for the detailed response.I may
have other questions as I progress.happy holidays.
#Post#: 777--------------------------------------------------
Re: newbie
By: TrainLarry Date: November 20, 2014, 11:30 pm
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You're welcome.
Enjoy your trains!
Larry
#Post#: 780--------------------------------------------------
Re: newbie
By: djacobsen Date: November 21, 2014, 8:51 am
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arron,
Hello & Welcome to the Forum!
TrainLarry has given you some very good information that should
help you get your trains running.
I have AF S & O gauge trains that I play with.
Here are some links to sites I've found very helpful:
(HTM) http://myflyertrains.org/gallery/GilbertFactoryManual
(HTM) http://www.portlines.com/afrepairclinics.htm
(HTM) http://www.trainweb.org/s-trains/FAQ/FAQ.htm
(HTM) http://aftrainmaster.com/repair.htm
(HTM) http://www.trainweb.org/americanflyerlines/maint.html
(HTM) http://trainweb.org/americanflyerlines/
(HTM) http://www.slsprr.net/technical/PopSci%20RefLibr%20No.15.pdf
Happy Rails!
Dave
#Post#: 785--------------------------------------------------
Re: newbie
By: arron Date: November 21, 2014, 11:49 pm
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great website. I have book marked them all.I tried the
transformer again this time with the speed lever all the way off
and miraculously it did not tripped the breaker. so I am going
with the assumption that the transformer is not defective.
so my next step is to see if the engines work. I don't have a
section of track that has working terminal posts. Is it ok just
to attach the bare wires from the transformer directly to each
of the rails.I guess I will need to buy some terminal posts but
for now I just want to see if I can get the engines going.
thank you.
#Post#: 787--------------------------------------------------
Re: newbie
By: TrainLarry Date: November 22, 2014, 10:05 am
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arron, glad to see you are making some progress with your
trains. You can hook the wires directly to your track, but you
should get a lockon
(HTM) http://www.lionel.com/Products/Finder/ProductDetail.cfm?ProductNumber=6-24213&expandBranch=0&Keywords=&CategoryID=532&RailLineID=&CatalogId=
(HTM) http://www.lionel.com/Products/Finder/ProductDetail.cfm?ProductNumber=6-24213&expandBranch=0&Keywords=&CategoryID=532&RailLineID=&CatalogId=<br
/>for the track.
Larry
#Post#: 791--------------------------------------------------
Re: newbie
By: arron Date: November 24, 2014, 3:52 pm
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she's running! well sort of. we are excited to have gotten
this far but the engine isn't running right. here's what's
happening. when i give it juice, sometimes it goes forward,
sometimes it goes backwards, sometimes it doesn't go at all.
switching the lever under the tender does not seem to effect it
much although it tends not to run at all when i switch the
lever. i can hear a clicking sound, which seems to be the
engine going into reverse. the lights work consistenly. the
smoke works sporatically. i cleaned the track and cleaned the
wheels.
what's my next move? take the top off and clean the motor,
reverser, etc. or is there something else i should do to fix
the erratic working of the engine. i'm working on the 283 by
the way. thank you.
#Post#: 792--------------------------------------------------
Re: newbie
By: TrainLarry Date: November 24, 2014, 5:07 pm
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With a properly operating reverse unit, when you turn the
transformer power on and off, the locomotive will sequence
Forward, Neutral, Reverse, Neutral, etc. The clicking sound you
hear is the reverse unit sequencing-this is normal. One position
of the reverse unit lever will lock the reverse unit in its'
current mode so the locomotive will not sequence. The opposite
position will allow the locomotive to sequence every time power
is interrupted.
The first step now is to clean all the wheels and the track with
naphtha, and polish with a fine ScotchBrite pad any minor
corrosion or rust. The locomotive should now be disassembled,
the motor disassembled, cleaned and lubed. The gearbox should
have any old grease cleaned out and replaced with new grease.
The axle bearings need a few drops of oil on each one. Naphtha
again is the perfect cleaner/degreaser for the entire loco and
motor. Once the locomotive is completely overhauled, it can be
put back on the track and hooked up to the tender. It should run
properly. If it does not run, or runs poorly, the reverse unit
may need to be inspected. That is another job in itself.
Get the loco serviced, and see what happens. A word of advice:
take photos of the process as you disassemble anything. They
will be invaluable in the reassembly procedure when you get
sidetracked and 'don't remember where this part goes'.
Larry
#Post#: 798--------------------------------------------------
Re: newbie
By: arron Date: November 27, 2014, 10:55 pm
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I just wanted to let you know that both train engines are now
working.I want to thank you guys very much for your advice in
getting them running. I hope everybody had a nice Thanksgiving
Day.
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