lever on top of engine

I believe that is the lock out lever for the reversing unit. you can set the direction  of the engine, did you get the whole set?

Yes we have the whole set.

Then engine, coal car & 3 other cars, a bunch of track & the transformer.

Do you know the lever operates.

The lever keeps it locked into the current direction, keeping the FNR from FNR'ing

ok the coal car(tender) is part of the engine , there  should be a  fiber plug with 2 pins on it that plug into the back of the engine. powering the engine.  When the transformer  is wired to the track, ,turning the power on or off , the switch in the engine makes it go forward or reverse, when that lever is pushed over it locks the direction of the engine. can i ask when it was run last

When you first apply power the locomotive will come on in "Neutral", i.e. not moving but ready to.  If at this point you cycle the power, off and then back on, either using the throttle (down to zero then up again) or the direction button, it will shift into "Forward" and, if all is well, begin moving down the track in the forward direction.  (If it doesn't you probably need a good cleaning and new grease and oil.)

If you now cycle power again it will shift back into "Neutral" and the train will stop, awaiting your next action.  Cycle it again and it goes into "Reverse".

The sequence is  Neutral -> Forward -> Neutral -> Reverse -> Neutral -> Forward etc.   This is where @SteamWolf's 'FNR' comes from.

The above is the sequence for a 3-Postion Reversing System.  There are also 2-Position Systems, which do not have the "Neutral" state in them.  They go Forward ->  Reverse ->  Forward etc.   instead.

The switch is used to lock it in one of these states.  In one position one of the above sequences operates.  In the other position the locomotive is locked into which ever state it was in when you moved the lever to the lock position.

Be aware that when you first power this vintage unit up it may have been, accidentally or intentionally and using the lever, locked into "Neutral" the last time someone used it and may not move when you cycle the power for that reason.

Mike

Thanks for all the information, have a great HOLIDAY

@bethjohn posted:

My wife and I inherited he grand fathers American Flyer model I think 565.

Can anybody tell me what the lever on top of the engine is for.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank You & Have a great holiday.

Now that’s something to cherish. Enjoy it and the memories.

I wanted to add, service the loco before you run it, at the least new grease on the gears , oil on the wheel bearings