How I restored a 1950

[@TrainznProgress]

Just bought one off ebay, you inspired me to refurbish one!!

[@AustinsAmericanFlyertrains]

Very cool! 0lease keep me posted on how it goes!

[@MarkWick]

I will be receiving a 290 next week. Again, you have produced a video that may be very useful to me. Thank you.

[@AustinsAmericanFlyertrains]

Thanks for letting me know the effort is helpful. Hopefully your 290 will be ready to roll with little attention.

[@MarkWick]

@@AustinsAmericanFlyertrains my 290 will never roam the rails again, but the tender and reverse unit can. The locomotive shell is actually in good shape, minus the cowcatcher which broke off cleanly in one piece and can be reattached and one small section on the lower right front. The problem is that the metal block housing the wheels and all parts of that was in something like 100 pieces. I have a lot of 290 parts, but nothing to hold them all together.

[@AustinsAmericanFlyertrains]

Oh no! What happened? Also what will you do with the 290 remains? I also recently picked up 2-290s that I'm going to service to sell. Please email as I'd like to talk about more about this. [e-mail]

[@MarkWick]

@@AustinsAmericanFlyertrains I have emailed you with photos of my 290.

[@AustinsAmericanFlyertrains]

Thanks Mark. I sent you a response.

[@angeloavanti2538]

very nice. always loved flyer.

[@AustinsAmericanFlyertrains]

Do you have a favorite engine?

[@green97probe]

Great work Austin. I've got a 290 in my project box to go through, and this is good motivation. Oh, CRC 2-26 makes quick work of that white residue. Just spray it on and wipe it off. It also works great to free up sticking link couplers. It's plastic safe too.

[@AustinsAmericanFlyertrains]

Really? I have some and will try that! Thanks for the info!

[@green97probe]

@@AustinsAmericanFlyertrains I uploaded a video to my channel about it

[@michaelgmoore5708]

@@AustinsAmericanFlyertrains what is crc 2 26? Where do you buy it?

[@AustinsAmericanFlyertrains]

Amazon has it...walmart also I believe. It's like a master card for flyer guys & gals...never leave home without it.

[@rcnut5112]

Austin this is my layout photos.app.goo.gl/dSx3xx6EDr75onpWA

[@kentpool7414]

Excellent. I learned a lot from this video. Thank you.

[@AustinsAmericanFlyertrains]

Really? Thank you. Was there anything in particular that was helpful? And was there anything that could have been more clear? As you know...I have another engine to do soon. 😁

[@kentpool7414]

@@AustinsAmericanFlyertrains You informed the viewer of each problem you faced, how you solved that problem, and which tools/chemicals you used. I was left with the thought that, "Hey, I can do that". Second, you were not overly pedantic. You showed us how you repaired an engine to reliably run on your layout. You weren't restoring a Rembrandt to be displayed next to the Mona Lisa.

[@davehunt5766]

Great restoration, good detail work

[@AustinsAmericanFlyertrains]

Thankyou very much!

[@michaelgmoore5708]

That is some overhaul to some extent. That 290 runs good after all your work. I don't take anything apart anymore since I dont have a work space for any big job with engines etc. I can clean cars up pretty well but I only take the cars apart if they have screws or side tabs that install chassis on boxcars. I don't touch rivits of any kind since that takes tools that I dont have. My two 290s smoke like yours does. I really like 290s because they are simple without 30+ screws like a Hudson has.

[@AustinsAmericanFlyertrains]

I would agree that the smoke is amazing. I wonder why the 290 smokes so profusely? I love it! If you ever want some help with engine repairs I know a guy....😁

[@emtbasics]

Austin, great job! I'm getting ready to service my 290, so I thought I would look to see if you'd worked on one, and sure enough, you had. Could you tell me what you use to clean the whitewalls?

[@AustinsAmericanFlyertrains]

I've tried different things...googone is my current go to but it doesn't always work. FYI...I have 2 more 290s and this one that I have done some additional work too...I'll get a video on those projects in the near future.

[@emtbasics]

@@AustinsAmericanFlyertrains thanks! I look forward to it!

[@w4joy]

Can you show correct wiring from tender to engine? I am trying to repair my 290 that I received when I was 7 yrs old. I have had it for 71 yrs. Video was really helpful.

[@AustinsAmericanFlyertrains]

Hello Bill. Thanks for the comments. And very happy to hear you still have your childhood engine. Please send me an email and I'll get you a diagram... [e-mail]

[@brucemayfield8158]

Great job, just acquired a 302 AC that needs a lot of work, did you repaint, if so what color did you use , gloss black?

[@AustinsAmericanFlyertrains]

Hello Bruce. I did not repaint this engine. As you might imagine there are tons of opinions on paint out there. Do please know this is one opinion here. When I do a color I use a satin or less shiny color. I then use a shiny clear coat to protect it. The clear coat I apply sparingly and in layers till I get a look I like. An example of this is the circus engine I redid. I ended up with a more glossy finish then flyer would have originally used but I like it. It is a RED engine after all!

[@jandrewmcmahon5334]

Auston hi it is Andy again. I posted on you tube Andy's toy trains goes S gauge that shows the beginning of my layout. I like the Lionel Flyer but i think they shou make it with just flyer chief adn not legacy which way to expensive. Their Pacific is 630 dollars and i am sure flyer chief pacific would be a lot less and could probably get a Gilbert over hulled for a lot less then either I want to go with knuckle couples on my flyers

[@seanhogan5673]

It called a commutator not a communicator.

[@AustinsAmericanFlyertrains]

Lol...I didnt realize I did that. Hopefully the intent is still obvious.

[@seanhogan5673]

@@AustinsAmericanFlyertrains It is. I wasn't trying to be crass. I hope I didn't come across that way. I really enjoyed your video. Would love for you to watch mine. It is only about 3 minutes long. I just show the highlights. Thanks!

[@seanhogan5673]

Nice work Austin. If you gt a chance please check out my 290 overhaul video on you tube. I rebuilt and refurbished a 290 that had been abused and neglected. Type in American Flyer 290 overhaul. It is a short 3 minute video.

[@AustinsAmericanFlyertrains]

I watched your video. Very nicely done. I noticed at the end you have several 290. Do you have a layout as well?

[@seanhogan5673]

@@AustinsAmericanFlyertrains Not a permanent layout yet. I set them up then take them down. I have a very small collection. About ten engines, all steam and about 25 freight cars and three cabooses. I also have both red and green New haven passenger coaches.

[@AustinsAmericanFlyertrains]

@@seanhogan5673 cool! I hope to see more of your videos and collection...and hopefully a layout in the future