KW Whistle Handle Question

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

There are two brass sheet metal bushing halves around the 20-70 whistle switch shaft on my KW transformer. The bushing halves are badly worn and the 1011-24 red whistle control handle falls off easily. The bushing halves are not shown in Greenberg’s Repair Manual. Some questions:

  1. Are these bushing halves a standard part on the KW or did a previous owner fabricate the parts?

  2. Is there a better way to keep the whistle control handle from falling off?

Thank you…

Earl Staley

2

Needed a screwdriver to get mine off.

3

I was just about to tell you give Jeff Kane at train tender a call and ask him. He may have the parts seperate or part of a whole new handle

4

I purchased a new handle from Mizzell Trains in Colorado, but the little brass sleeve halves, as shown in your photo, were not in the handle. I reused the old ones.

Earl

5

Lionel used inserts (bushings) on many of their transformer handles, including the 1033 style that your KW has

6

Becky’s pictures are worth a thousand words, that’s just what mine looks like, and what your’s should look like.

PS: Love that old-style knife switch in the background, I’ve got one just like it waiting for some kind of application.

7

I bought the KW at a train meet. The handle that came with the transformer did have the bushing halves but did not have the round metal piece shown in the photo above and the plastic part that rotates the whistle post was cracked. I bought another handle. The new handle did have the round metal piece but did not have the bushing halves, so I reused the old bushing halves.

I have a couple more questions:

  1. Is the bushing a single piece or in two halves like mine? Maybe my bushing is just broken.

  2. What holds the bushing in place? My bushing halves just fall out when I turn over the handle.

Thanks…

Earl

8

Hold on while I run out to the “Chugger Barn” to check my KW handle.

Thumpity-thumpity-thumpity-thump.

OK, I’m back. The brass insert bushing is one-piece, and it’s held in by the steel ring that surrounds the hollow post, or it should be. That steel ring also prevents deformation of the hollow post while turning. You should have the two pieces or the lever’s not going to last for long. Hope this helps.

9

It’s connected to the O gauge line and allows me to switch back and forth between AC and DC (the big Aristo Craft unit it’s sitting on). When my primary was a Lionel Type R, there was room at the end of the shelf for the knife to hide along side the DC pack. But with a KW under there…well, not so much room anymore on my old TV stand! [:D] There’s also a Flyer unit to the left of the KW that’s only there to operate the Milk Car.

10

I bought the current KW handle sight unseen. I will wait until I can find a complete handle before making another purchase.

Earl