newbie

newbie
Posted by arron on 19 Nov, 2014 23:46
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.

#1 Reply
Posted by TrainLarry on 20 Nov, 2014 01:40
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. 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, http://www.hobbysurplus.com/xviews/280spacHSS.asp and the 290 is here. http://www.hobbysurplus.com/xviews/290slcHSS.asp Keep us updated here with your findings and progress.

Larry

#2 Reply
Posted by arron on 20 Nov, 2014 23:00
thank you Larry for the detailed response.I may
have other questions as I progress.happy holidays.

#3 Reply
Posted by TrainLarry on 20 Nov, 2014 23:30
You're welcome.
Enjoy your trains!

Larry

#4 Reply
Posted by djacobsen on 21 Nov, 2014 08:51
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:

http://myflyertrains.org/gallery/GilbertFactoryManual

http://www.portlines.com/afrepairclinics.htm

http://www.trainweb.org/s-trains/FAQ/FAQ.htm

http://aftrainmaster.com/repair.htm

http://www.trainweb.org/americanflyerlines/maint.html

http://trainweb.org/americanflyerlines/

http://www.slsprr.net/technical/PopSci%20RefLibr%20No.15.pdf

Happy Rails!
Dave

#5 Reply
Posted by arron on 21 Nov, 2014 23:49
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.

#6 Reply
Posted by TrainLarry on 22 Nov, 2014 10:05
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 http://www.lionel.com/Products/Finder/ProductDetail.cfm?ProductNumber=6-24213&expandBranch=0&Keywords=&CategoryID=532&RailLineID=&CatalogId= for the track.

Larry

#7 Reply
Posted by arron on 24 Nov, 2014 15:52
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.

#8 Reply
Posted by TrainLarry on 24 Nov, 2014 17:07
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

#9 Reply
Posted by arron on 27 Nov, 2014 22:55
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.

#10 Reply
Posted by TrainLarry on 28 Nov, 2014 01:20
Glad to see you got your trains running, and you and your son begin a lifelong involvement together in our wonderful hobby!

Larry