trucks with thick axles

[big ed]

Like I said, I think it is for insulation, I found this on e bay.

$(KGrHqYOKj!E4jv-TYYkBOL3b!MHNw~~_12.JPG

Does yours have one plastic wheel or are they both metal?

[big ed]

What it was listed as,

American Flyer S gauge insulated wheel set.

WHEELS SET I BELIEVE FOR A DIESEL ENGINE, HAS ONE PLASTIC WHEEL, AND ONE METAL WHEEL, WITH A METAL CYLINDER OVER SHAFT IN BETWEEN.

Like I said, I don't have any Flyers but try to help when I can.

There was something about the smoke unit your asking about too, here on the site somewhere.
I can't find it.

[big ed]

DSC01796.jpg


Are.....they.....plastic.......wheels?

[carinofranco]

The sleeved axle thing is still puzzling. Both trucks have sleeves and all wheels are plastic. the frame is die cast, and neither truck is insulated from the chassis ( and hence not insulated from each other). I wonder if this was just some bizarre way to add weight, or to activate some mechanical accessory. I have seen some older 2 rail O gauge special track sections for windup locos with a trip lever between the rails that rang a bell when a suitably equipped car rolled over the trip. Did Gilbert have any simliar thing? Tom barker did not recognize it.

[big ed]

Who is Tom Barker?

The thing in front, is that an American Flyer hookup to attach to other cars? Or are pieces missing from it?
On that what is the pin type piece that is showing?

The tab on the truck (under the sleeve piece) is for a operating car right? It activates on the special third rail section that you use to make the car operate.....I think?
I wonder if someone was trying to do something and added them to the axles.

The one I found has a steel wheel on one side and a plastic on the other side.

Someone in the S crowd must have an operating car?

[Nuttin But Flyer]

Tom Barker is a very knowledgeable American Flyer enthusiast who has written several editions of an American Flyer Repair Manual available through Amazon.com and many decent Hobby Stores.

The hookup you are referring to is the link coupler and attaches to the next car in the consist. Flyer had a couple of versions of couplers, the link was the first that was produced on their S-Scale items. The link fastens to the adjacent silver round pin on the mating car and vice-versa. They later moved to a knuckle coupler in the 50's.

I'm not sure which item you are referring to as a tab. By my inspection, this appears to be a typical link coupler truck -- nothing special about it except the sleeve on the axle.

The Flyer operating cars were produced in two versions that I have seen. One has the pickup within the center of the truck and uses a special rail section with internal rails as well as the normal running rails. The other has a metal tab that extends out the side of the truck to touch a clamp-on rail piece. Notice the photos I have included, compliments of Bob Graves' American Flyer Gallery...

Some of these operating cars do have a set of metal wheels grabbing power from a rail in order to complete the circuit. However, only on one side as the outside metal tab, makes the other connection. That is why its important to be sure you use the clamp-on rail pick-up on the correct side of the track.

My guess in the case of this flatcar, the truck pictured was an assembly someone had laying around and they simply used it. It does not appear there was any need for it to be insulated. It can be changed out with the correct one if so desired.

[flyernut]

If I can add my 2 cents, I don't know what the heck it is, or does.

[big ed]

OK Thanks, Tom sounds like a good fellow to answer questions through e mails.

What I thought was a tab is now I see part of the coupler/truck assembly. So that coupler is complete, all there then? I thought it was missing pieces.
Are you sure this was a flatbed? What are the holes for in the corners?

carinofranco, is the other truck the same thing?
Could you post a few pictures of the whole thing?
Bottom and top?

I like American Flyers chugger sound thing, I wish Lionel had done something like that.
You guys better watch out that I don't start buying Flyers, there will be less on the market for you.

[carinofranco]

the two trucks are identical and the rivets attaching them to the frame are factory installed. I think this may have been part of a mechanical wind up setup that activated some sort of mechanical accessory.

[Nuttin But Flyer]

It's OK Ed, there's plenty of Flyers out there looking for good homes. I'm sure they would love to live with you.