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Trying to stay busy inside I pulled out my dad’s American Flyer train set. It hasn’t been run in 45+ years. 

When I got everything set up the engine light comes on brightly but the train doesn’t move. Just a loud humming sound. I tested the transformer and it’s putting out 19 volts (rated for 17). I directly connected wires from the transformer to the contacts that ride on the tracks and got same humming sound. The wheels do not move when I try to rotate them manually (I’ve read that this is normal but want to confirm).

I’m puzzled because it looks like each set of wheels has its own motor.  So if it was a motor problem I’d expect one of the sets of wheels to work.

Any suggestions would be appreciated  

 

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American Flyer engines have worm gears on their powered trucks and you can't turn them at all.  There is an reversing unit that sends power to the motors.  That is probably the buzz. 

There is a switch level on the bottom of the engine that keeps the revering unit from cycling.  Move it one was and try the engine. If it doesn't work move it the other way and give it power. The engine must be right side up for the reversing unit to function so on the tracks.

With as many years as this engine has not run.  There are many possibilities but what you wrote sounds like the reversing unit.

To add to Bill's post, if you do get the motors to run do yourself a favor and give it a complete lube job before you damage it. 45 years is a long time and whatever oil or grease it had back then has to be dried up and useless by now. This would include the axles, armature bearings and worm gears. You may need to remove any dried up grease on the worms to do it right. Use contact cleaner on the reverse unit to get it to rotate freely.

A popular culprit is going to be the reverse unit. The copper fingers will have lost some tension to keep contact with the drum, you will have oxidisation on the fingers and drum which will stop voltage/current flow. It will really need to be cleaned up carefully to make it function again.

As has already been mentioned the motors will need a good overhaul as well

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OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

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