Frank -- congrats on your foray into Flyer.  The 21085 Pacific is a good runner and smoker.  For smoke fluid there are several choices available and I don't know how they compare.  I use something called Anormal AF Smoke fluid - I probably got it from 'da Bay' (there is a website I think).  That particular loco has a two-position reverser, so simply interrupting track power should cause it to reverse.  It could be 'locked out' into only running in one direction - there is a small 'T-shaped' lever at the bottom of the unit - which is located at the back of the engine cab - that pushes up or pulls down to lock or unlock the unit (I've forgotten which way locks vs unlocks the unit).

The 21165 loco is much more 'toy-like' - I'm sure it does not have a smoke unit and I suspect it doesn't even have a headlight.  It may have the same two-position reversing unit, I'm not sure.  In terms of maintenance, etc., take a look at the manuals posted at myflyertrains.org.  Tom Barker's new-ish book "Gilbert American Flyer S Gauge Repair and Operating Guide" has a lot of info on maintenance and repair.

Back in the late '80s I was collecting post-war Lionel. Some friends knew of my interest and one day a guy mentioned he had been at a local yard sale and saw some "Lionel" trains with an engine marked "21085". I didn't recognize that number, so I went to the house that had had the sale; the train set was still available, so I bought it. My first Flyer set (long since re-sold). Nice engine, although I do prefer the earlier die-cast steam...

And I will second "richs09's" opinion about the "Anormal" brand of fluid; works well, and just smells "right". Not sure it is still being made, however...

Mark in Oregon

Franktrain,

You are very much where I was last year with Flyer.

The gang here was very helpful to me, check out these two threads by typing them into the "search" function:

"Got the American Flyer Bug"

"Thoughts on traditional track options.AF display progress"

Here is the first thread that I made at the beginning of my American Flyer journey, Frank"

"American Flyer S gauge fans?"

Anormal1 was great smoke fluid,but he has stopped selling it. I find Barts' "All aboard RR" smoke to be a very good replacement.

Gunny

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. My 1st. lesson learned was the polarity of the motor leads. When I swapped the tender truck from the 21165 to the 21085 to get the broken  coupler replaced I resoldered the motors leads but to different trucks, direct short, oops! I purchased the Thomas Barker book and the chapter on motors first warning was about polarity of trucks. Lesson learned. Resoldered  the leads and luckily the little train runs great!

In addition to Tom's book, these three videos from Neil Ferris are excellent...

https://youtu.be/dZzYKkzOBYw

https://youtu.be/Byn5UnWpg_g

https://youtu.be/DiyOvnfQUYA

@franktrain posted:

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. My 1st. lesson learned was the polarity of the motor leads. When I swapped the tender truck from the 21165 to the 21085 to get the broken  coupler replaced I resoldered the motors leads but to different trucks, direct short, oops! I purchased the Thomas Barker book and the chapter on motors first warning was about polarity of trucks. Lesson learned. Resoldered  the leads and luckily the little train runs great!

Love this! Thanks for sharing this resurrected AF gem of a video. I want to break out some S.

I am more impressed by the two loops of Super O track than the loop of Gilbert PikeMaster track the Pacific freight is running on. I have always liked the appearance of Super O. I guess the PikeMaster track was used because it was the only Gilbert track that would fit inside the diameter of the Super O track.

franktrain, your  pacific also has "choo-choo" sound, something that Lionel never had in a postwar loco. Enjoy your new (to you) trains.

@AmFlyer posted: I guess the PikeMaster track was used because it was the only Gilbert track that would fit inside the diameter of the Super O track.

The Pikemaster track is all I have. Just got lucky it fit it was temporary test. I like the super O its quiet and solid track.

Very nice. 👍

FWIW:

After leaving HO then N and "graduating" to the bigger stuff, I opted for Gargraves in both S and O...and have been pleased with that choice.

Mark in Oregon