American Flyer Reconditioning Tips

These are a few ideas of things that have worked for me to help worn out items come back to life. These tips probably won’t work for items that are in critically bad shape but can be surprising to see how some items can be rejuvenated for virtually no cost.

[@TwistedMacGyversTrains]

Fantastic job on restoring your latest acquisitions. They look amazing! 😊

[@AFTrainsND]

Thank you. I think the Silver Flash also will come out well but, unfortunately, a previous owner tried to convert the original link couplers on the passenger cars to knuckle couplers. Of course, that wouldn’t be a problem if he had done it right but he ended butchering the trucks where the couplers should attach with some crazy idea that is totally incompatible with commercial couplers. It’ll be a challenge but I’ll figure out something.

[@flyerjunction]

You have taken what many people would throw away and restored the trains into something beautiful and useful again. They look very nice and run very well. Thank you for your reconditioning tips, especially about getting the pins removed to separate the car body from the chassis. I personally don’t like using the WD40 on everything as I do not care for the smell of it. Instead, I use CRC 2-26 in the same manner. Thank you for sharing.

[@AFTrainsND]

I agree about the odor so I do it in the garage which kind of limits what time of year I can do this. I’ve heard of others using CRC so maybe I’ll try it some time. Thanks for the nice comments and for watching.

[@MedicYoda]

Thanks for sharing. I almost have a place to start working on my trains. It’s so much fun to bring them back.

[@AFTrainsND]

Space is certainly a problem for many of us but we can only try to be creative with the space we have and do the best we can with it. Good luck with your projects and thanks for the comment and for watching.

[@MarkWick]

Thank you for this video. For me, it is a good refresher, reminding me of some things I had forgotten. It is also a reminder of some of the many uses for WD-40.

[@AFTrainsND]

We all need refreshers once while. It looks like your project is going well so best wishes with that. Thanks for watching.

[@MygrandpasTrain]

WD40 works wonders. For me, I mechanically remove rust with a dremmel wire wheel and then coat the bare meal in WD 40. Works pretty good. I also used WD 40 to treat corroding cast metal frames, nothing would take off the corrosion. (This was different than the white chemical found on plastics, heat didn't take this off) I soaked the entire frame in WD 40 and let it evaporate for a week or 2. It came out looking almost new.

[@AFTrainsND]

Thanks for the comments about your practices. The more ideas we can put out the better. Thanks for watching.

[@ronalddevine9587]

They look like they just rolled off the assembly line at Erector Square. Old A.C. is smiling down at you!

[@AFTrainsND]

I never thought of it like that but I’m sure he would be happy! I probably wouldn’t be in the model train hobby if he hadn’t made these trains so that’s a nice thought. Thanks for the comment and for watching.

[@ronalddevine9587]

@@AFTrainsND I live about 7 miles from the factory and many family members including my mom worked there. Sadly, the Post Office removed the Erector Square designation. It has reverted to Peck St. But, the factory is still there, subdivided.

[@AFTrainsND]

@@ronalddevine9587 I recently saw a video about that. At least it’s being put to good use instead of just rotting away or being bulldozed. Are any of those relatives that worked there still alive? An interview with them would make a fascinating video!

[@ronalddevine9587]

@@AFTrainsND I have a cousin who lives in Florida was an apprentice tool and die maker there. I am 76, and he's 81. Every one else has passed. I did an interview with Austin Birkey on the subject about 2 years ago.