Seven years back, I had to do my senior project here in California. As a requirement for the project you had to do some volunteer hours based on the topic you chose. I chose to do mine on the importance of small businesses in communities. So I volunteered at my local hobby shop. I got to know the owner there really well, and one day I told him that I was going to buy one of these 50's american flyer engines on eBay later when I got home. Later that day a regular used trains seller came in with a small suit case full of rolling stock and an engine. I was stocking some model cars when I heard him call me, he pointed at the American Flyer engine and asked me, "thats the one you looking for?", I said " uh hu". He bought the whole suit case for 10 dollars and gave me the engine at the end of the day. He said "bring it soon when you get it running!". That was the first engine I ever rebuilt. I remember going around the house showing my whole family how cool all the internal mechanical parts were. I can almost smell the scent from the engine as it was running. that was 7 years ago, the shop is closed, now I buy and fix O scale stuff.
SMT's repair videos are always fun and entertaining. And they seem to always end in success. All of my cousins with the exception of one had Lionel O Scale, as did I. My one cousin had a nice American Flyer S Scale layout. Once again, and as always, great job. One more seemingly dead locomotive reenters the land of the living.
That motor takes me straight back to my childhood! My Try-ang BR 0-6-0 "Jinty" tank engine used that exact motor! I regularly stripped it down as a 10y/o to service it. That was quite some time ago! Hello from Scotland. ☺
I absolutely love those motors! It's a Pittman open frame motor. I have a very old Tyco Pacific from the 1950s that has a Pittman, an enclosed gearbox and a diecast tender and cab and oh man is it a peach to run! Note: my Pacific predates the Mantuas most people think of with the smaller, noisy mantua motor with a worm gear on the end. It's a proper Pittman nearly identical to my dcc fitted bowser usra mountain and brass Nickel Plate Road L1-b Hudson.
I actually love how these American flyer locomotives look and amazed how they run after many years . A.c. Gilbert I know was a New Haven Connecticut based company. Having the Erector sets then they did trains and science sets. Talking stations and such. I'm surprised this dont have a realistic Chug Chug sound and smoke but just the smoke. good job getting that running. Serenity! 🎉🎊🎈🎈 My uncle has his original S gauge American flyer including my late uncle's they do still run . one had freight cars the other had NY central or Baltimore ane Ohio lighted passenger cars.
No doubts - - always a runner on SMT Mainline. Now, you need to get some smoke fluid next time you hit the hobby shop, Harrison. Thanks for sharing. 👍 👍 👍
I just purchased a 1954 American Flyer 4-8-4 Numbered 336 and it has the same problem as this one did in the beginning. Got some buzzing but no movement. I can spin the motor by hand but wheels are locked up. I saved this video so when I get around to repairing it the task should be much easier following your work. Thank you!!
Great video, have fixed a few of these over the years and have yet to get started restoring my Grandfathers old S gauge AF's. Good to see that old Girl running again though she needs a complete break down and thorough cleaning, lubricating and probably rewiring to make sure all the old connections are solid and clean. Great video! Oh yeah make sure you test the pole resistance on that motor to make sure all are good, if not make sure all poles have the wires connected and try again. It may need to be rewound or replaced if that's too much of a pain for you. Just remember to check each pole usually 3, if 1 has infinity the motor will be intermittent in running and you'll have to do as you did to get it spinning.
OMG! I have a Gilbert American Flyer 4-6-4 .31045. WABASH... This was the last locomotive I purchased for my set, many years ago. Obviously I will never regret adquiring it, it works excellently.
Great job with the video, but I wish you would have taken more time to realize you installed the front truck backwards, the unit had a Choo-Choo feature and Smoke feature with light (broken wire). Should take it apart again, add the proper grease and make it 100%, with new rubber on the rear wheels. You will be amazed even more with this train.
Hello Harrison, The American Flyer engine you have with 31005 was made by Gilbert between 1958-1963 when Gilbert stoped making HO This engine has smoke & Choo-choo I have several of these these engines, and I run them all They will pull about 20 vintage cars. Go to Google and look up Gilbert HO index It's nice to see yours running I have many parts for these Flyer Hudsons and exploded views showing all the parts Let me know I can be of any help Thanks
Very nice work! I really love AC Gilbert products! I have S Scale and Pre War O Scale American Flyer trains. I guess it is time for a little HO Gilbert now. Thanks for sharing. There is also a great amount of information in some of the reply posts also.
@@michaelgmoore5708 err... "choo choo" is the whistle sound not the exhaust sound in retrospect I should have used puffing as that would have indicated exhaust. I digress lol
I have the Wabash one and the same problem, the axles are locked up, but much worse than yours was. I probably should soak it in penetrating oil or something, but it looked like it might have to have the drivers pulled and maybe the axles driven out of the frame.
It looks to be a large armature Hudson which is rare flyer ho , and a few of them had smoke in them too , but here’s the best part if you wanted to add smoke you get a smoke unit from the s gauge Franklin loco from flyer they share the same smoke unit
I've got a quick question for anyone who sees this. So, I have 2 Locomotives that work, but the worm gear doesn't make contact with the gear connected to the drive wheels. Both Mantua Locos if that helps, please reply if you have any advice for it. I'd really like to get one running because it's the last of my great grandfather's collection. Also Love your videos and have a great day or night whatever time it is
Do you have any suggestions on a very cheap transformer for an ho/ N scale there are hardly any hobby shops in Michigan anymore and everything is so outrageous and I have no idea what I would even order offline thanks in advance
SMT Mainline did you put the smoke unit and Choo Choo back into the locomotive when you put it back together? I saw them when you took it apart but didn't see them on the body when you were putting the shell back on the engine.
I decided to remove it since the cylinder was jammed and I figured even if I got it moving again the motor might not be able to handle the added strain.
I have acquired this same Locomotive . It’s in pretty tough shape. I don’t know if it runs or not though. Would I be able to just buy HO track and a cheap transformer to see if it works or does it need a special transformer and or track? Thanks for any responses.
There was a time prior to and shortly after WW 2that the Flyer Hudson was on most H.O.layouts.At 25.dollars it was a bargain.Brass locos began their appearance in the 50s and quickly took over the market,the rest is history.
Seven years back, I had to do my senior project here in California. As a requirement for the project you had to do some volunteer hours based on the topic you chose. I chose to do mine on the importance of small businesses in communities. So I volunteered at my local hobby shop. I got to know the owner there really well, and one day I told him that I was going to buy one of these 50's american flyer engines on eBay later when I got home. Later that day a regular used trains seller came in with a small suit case full of rolling stock and an engine. I was stocking some model cars when I heard him call me, he pointed at the American Flyer engine and asked me, "thats the one you looking for?", I said " uh hu". He bought the whole suit case for 10 dollars and gave me the engine at the end of the day. He said "bring it soon when you get it running!". That was the first engine I ever rebuilt. I remember going around the house showing my whole family how cool all the internal mechanical parts were. I can almost smell the scent from the engine as it was running. that was 7 years ago, the shop is closed, now I buy and fix O scale stuff.
That’s awesome! Such a cool story.
Can you get a GE U50C or SD70ACE from UP
NVM
So awesome story!!!
Do you still have the engine
Man first I get my favorite food and play games with my friends and now this
This is the most wholesome comment I've ever read.
SMT's repair videos are always fun and entertaining. And they seem to always end in success. All of my cousins with the exception of one had Lionel O Scale, as did I. My one cousin had a nice American Flyer S Scale layout. Once again, and as always, great job. One more seemingly dead locomotive reenters the land of the living.
That motor takes me straight back to my childhood! My Try-ang BR 0-6-0 "Jinty" tank engine used that exact motor! I regularly stripped it down as a 10y/o to service it. That was quite some time ago! Hello from Scotland. ☺
SMT (channeling Bob the Builder):
Can we fix it?? YES WE CAN!!!!
Another great job, dude!!!!
One of the best and more collectable of the AF HO trains. Usually available in sets. A very good puller, smoker and chugger.
I didn't know about American Flyer making HO scale models! And you're a genius, SMT! You never fail to get an engine working again!
Interesting, never knew that American Flyer made HO stuff, you learn something new everyday. Great video!
I absolutely love those motors! It's a Pittman open frame motor. I have a very old Tyco Pacific from the 1950s that has a Pittman, an enclosed gearbox and a diecast tender and cab and oh man is it a peach to run!
Note: my Pacific predates the Mantuas most people think of with the smaller, noisy mantua motor with a worm gear on the end. It's a proper Pittman nearly identical to my dcc fitted bowser usra mountain and brass Nickel Plate Road L1-b Hudson.
First start to take apart the camper project and now this. Epic.
I actually love how these American flyer locomotives look and amazed how they run after many years . A.c. Gilbert I know was a New Haven Connecticut based company. Having the Erector sets then they did trains and science sets. Talking stations and such. I'm surprised this dont have a realistic Chug Chug sound and smoke but just the smoke. good job getting that running. Serenity! 🎉🎊🎈🎈 My uncle has his original S gauge American flyer including my late uncle's they do still run . one had freight cars the other had NY central or Baltimore ane Ohio lighted passenger cars.
No doubts - - always a runner on SMT Mainline. Now, you need to get some smoke fluid next time you hit the hobby shop, Harrison.
Thanks for sharing. 👍 👍 👍
I just purchased a 1954 American Flyer 4-8-4 Numbered 336 and it has the same problem as this one did in the beginning. Got some buzzing but no movement. I can spin the motor by hand but wheels are locked up.
I saved this video so when I get around to repairing it the task should be much easier following your work. Thank you!!
Chippewa Northern checking in. Welll done, Harrison.
Harrison your a good man and a credit to the Hobby I Say!!! Happy Railroading too U!!
That is a very handsome locomotive! Happy to see you got it running. Keep the 'youtube' clips coming!
I just bought my first steam locomotive: a Bachmann Pennsylvania 2-6-0. I am very proud to own it
Great video, have fixed a few of these over the years and have yet to get started restoring my Grandfathers old S gauge AF's. Good to see that old Girl running again though she needs a complete break down and thorough cleaning, lubricating and probably rewiring to make sure all the old connections are solid and clean. Great video!
Oh yeah make sure you test the pole resistance on that motor to make sure all are good, if not make sure all poles have the wires connected and try again. It may need to be rewound or replaced if that's too much of a pain for you. Just remember to check each pole usually 3, if 1 has infinity the motor will be intermittent in running and you'll have to do as you did to get it spinning.
Interesting, never knew that American Flyer made HO
Great work as always.
OMG! I have a Gilbert American Flyer 4-6-4 .31045. WABASH... This was the last locomotive I purchased for my set, many years ago. Obviously I will never regret adquiring it, it works excellently.
i thought the title said "can we make this american flyer locomotive fly again?"
Cursed acela intensifies
Tbh I think that would be a better title
That’s awesome Harrison that you fixed the American flyer locomotive
The time you made that Frankenstein diesel was funny. Either you are manically demented or a dadgum genius
good show Harrison! Enjoyed watching, thank you
i knew SMT was a railroad museum
Like 1099. Easy to get traction tires. And you should try that Quebec Maple coke.
Hello Harrison I love your content and I can’t wait to see more life streams and train and boxing and fixings
Nice Hudson I bet that’s the hardest engine you worked on
Serenity Indeed!!!! See you Sunday night.
I love how the title says “we” and I’m sitting here on my bed eating cookies.
Great job with the video, but I wish you would have taken more time to realize you installed the front truck backwards, the unit had a Choo-Choo feature and Smoke feature with light (broken wire). Should take it apart again, add the proper grease and make it 100%, with new rubber on the rear wheels. You will be amazed even more with this train.
Nice video SMT
Nice job! My absolute favorite engines!
Hello Harrison, The American Flyer engine you have with 31005 was made by Gilbert between 1958-1963 when Gilbert stoped making HO This engine has smoke & Choo-choo I have several of these these engines, and I run them all They will pull about 20 vintage cars. Go to Google and look up Gilbert HO index It's nice to see yours running I have many parts for these Flyer Hudsons and exploded views showing all the parts Let me know I can be of any help Thanks
No one:
SMT giving the track current: TAP TAP TAP
Beautiful loco! I have an o gauge representation of this model!
Looking forward to see your live videos soon. Hope you'll invite Sparky107107 as your guest speaker soon.
Nice locomotive. That should last another 70 years.
Very nice work! I really love AC Gilbert products! I have S Scale and Pre War O Scale American Flyer trains. I guess it is time for a little HO Gilbert now. Thanks for sharing. There is also a great amount of information in some of the reply posts also.
I wish there was a channel like this in
N scale
I still wish I could fix HO scale like you can
I like those locomotives
Put some smoke fluid in that thing and you will have a locomotive with "realistic chuffing"
Choo Choo not Chuff or Chugg.
@@michaelgmoore5708 err... "choo choo" is the whistle sound not the exhaust sound in retrospect I should have used puffing as that would have indicated exhaust. I digress lol
Can't wait to see it run live
that connects to the smoke piston by a piin you have to remove it and insert the rod into the piston and the pin goes throught the piston !!.
The Train Doctor!
Yay! More new York central. Also, when are u gonna fix the Niagra?
I have the Wabash one and the same problem, the axles are locked up, but much worse than yours was. I probably should soak it in penetrating oil or something, but it looked like it might have to have the drivers pulled and maybe the axles driven out of the frame.
I've been looking for an american flyer HO 0-6-0 B6 lately. The Hudson is awesome!
smt I’m a super big fan of you
American flyer is a flyer that's American that can fly
Earliest video ive watched yet!
Man was hoping you got it to work
It has a smoke unit I wish I could see it working. But ANYWAYS AN AMAZING VIDEO ❤️
New York Central, Ghost of the Rails!
Great job! I have a locomotive similar to that one except mine has the smoke unit in the tender.
I have the s scale verint it's really really cool
It looks to be a large armature Hudson which is rare flyer ho , and a few of them had smoke in them too , but here’s the best part if you wanted to add smoke you get a smoke unit from the s gauge Franklin loco from flyer they share the same smoke unit
If I'm not mistaken check the rear drivers for traction tires. If so I rings may work
It has a smoke in boiler unit that you put back together without putting the smoke piston back together right.
Cool beans
This is the NYC Hudson 4-64
what is the name of this video locomotive? I liked the video 👏😃
Am I the only one who wants to know what shirt he is wearing it looks so comfortable
It's a wool sweater, very comfy.
@@SMTMainline nice
you forgot to connect the smoke unit piston to the metal drive shaft, it pumps smoke out the chimney
I've got a quick question for anyone who sees this.
So, I have 2 Locomotives that work, but the worm gear doesn't make contact with the gear connected to the drive wheels. Both Mantua Locos if that helps, please reply if you have any advice for it. I'd really like to get one running because it's the last of my great grandfather's collection.
Also Love your videos and have a great day or night whatever time it is
I have a 1938 American Flyer it sound not too good when I run it but it may be normal for it.
Do you have any suggestions on a very cheap transformer for an ho/ N scale there are hardly any hobby shops in Michigan anymore and everything is so outrageous and I have no idea what I would even order offline thanks in advance
I live the American flyers
You guys should sub to my channel I make some great model train content
Where is the choo choo unit? I saw when you took the body off.
Love in smt
SMT Mainline did you put the smoke unit and Choo Choo back into the locomotive when you put it back together? I saw them when you took it apart but didn't see them on the body when you were putting the shell back on the engine.
I decided to remove it since the cylinder was jammed and I figured even if I got it moving again the motor might not be able to handle the added strain.
I have acquired this same Locomotive . It’s in pretty tough shape. I don’t know if it runs or not though. Would I be able to just buy HO track and a cheap transformer to see if it works or does it need a special transformer and or track? Thanks for any responses.
She’s a runner she’s a trackstar
Missing traction tires on rear drivers too.
Tell us more about the carbon fiber pencil. Where can they be purchased?
You can find them on Amazon or eBay. I believe some hardware and electronic stores sell them as well.
Smt mainline is a doctor for trains he said I should diagnose the problem
I couldn’t keep my original comment. It made me laugh but it was kinda mean. Great job Harrison!
Let's hear it, I don't care if it's mean - The world needs the comedy
Would you be able to repair an S Scale engine?
There was a time prior to and shortly after WW 2that the Flyer Hudson was on most H.O.layouts.At 25.dollars it was a bargain.Brass locos began their appearance in the 50s and quickly took over the market,the rest is history.
Forgot to clean the tender wheels and pickups
when is thy next live stream?
That Hudson smokes
I have a probmatic engine, if I sent it in would you be willing to fix it?
10:05 the locomotive is a nyc Hudson
That American flyer Hudson smokes
Can we send the President to SMT mainline for some repairs? Quickly the election is soon
Any chance I could get that pilot truck from you?
i have a version of that one too! its in poor shape but maybe ill have the time to fix it
Noice.
Are these all hornby compatible
i have one similar to this one but its a super rare s gauge it needs work tho
Night train
Look at wire behind the cab
Pretty sure American flyer is S scale witch is a inch longer
put some 3in1 oil in the smoke stack she smokes
Smt break up the running all of my locomotives stream by splitting it into parts
Smt mainline can you fix a Lionel train motor it needs a new one
Wow Gilbert HO,!