Help on AF 322 Hudson

lionelflyerOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Hi all,

Yesterday I was lucky enough to purchase an AF 322 Hudson for the princely sum of $35 from a person on Craig's List (that was his asking price).

Overall, it appears to be in what I would call very good condition. A little dirty and aged but nothing physically broken and it should clean up fine.

My problem is that I don't know exactly what I have nor how it should operate. There is a lever coming out of the top of the engine and another one under the tender. It has a link coupler and what I assume is a hole for a smoke unit in the tender.

I was able to get the engine to run so the motor itself is okay. The e-unit is balky and it will need an overhaul and lubrication.

My searches for information, operating instructions, and diagrams on a 322 don't seem to line up with what I actually have. The instructions and diagrams that I have some up with seem to show smoke in the engine and the e-unit and perhaps sound in the tender. If someone has a copy of this type of information that would line up with this engine, I would appreciate seeing it.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Keep safe,

LionelFlyer (before Lionel actually made Flyer)

9/10/202:26 PM

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MilanOGR Forum Member

The lever in the top of the engine operates the reverse unit (flyer does not use a e-unit) the lever under the tender operates the on off for the smoke motor.

9/10/203:15 PM

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AmFlyerOGR Forum Member

It sounds like you have a 1946 or 1947 SIT (smoke in tender) 322. If it has lettered on the side of the tender American Flyer Lines it is a 1947, if New York Central is lettered on the side of the tender it is 1946. The lever in the engine is to lock the engine mounted reverse unit in a single position. The tube with a cap in the tender is for adding smoke fluid. There should be two wires and a smoke tube between the engine and tender. The Gilbert Factory Service Manual is online at myflyertrains.org and covers this engine. The Repair Clinics at Port Lines Hobbies website also have repair tips for SIT units.

9/10/203:18 PM

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lionelflyerOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Thank you for the quick replies. This does say American Flyer Lines on the center of the tender with New York Central System in the upper front corner so it must be the 1947. I did look at the Factory Service Manual at myflyertrains but that is what confused me. That manual only shows the reverse unit in the tender and the smoke unit in the engine, which appears to be the opposite of what I have.

The engine is waiting on the bench to be cleaned, tuned, and lubricated. Right after I do the same to a new Marx 666 set that my son picked up Monday at a garage sale and I finish the repairs to the AF switch controllers.

On top of that my son and I are in the midst of building a combined O & S gauge layout. We have accomplished the first task of getting down some track and getting the trains to run. That goes a long way in keeping interest up.

I appreciate the help.

LionelFlyer

9/10/205:04 PM

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AmFlyerOGR Forum Member

You are correct. All the instruction sheets in the service manual are 1950 or later, so they do not cover the SIT engines. I never noticed since I do not own any SIT engines.

Fortunately all the information is on the PortLines site. Repair Clinic #10 has the wiring diagram and all connections to the Reverse Unit. 35 and 51 cover the SIT mechanisms. Clinic #43 describes how to replace the slotted brushes that use the lever type spring.

9/10/205:48 PM

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