McMaster-Carr sells the bit.
TA27 0.126 1/4" shank Part Number 5941A14 current catalog price $3.06
How about a link ? Thanks!
Why would anyone want one? If your CW-80 actually breaks down, Lionel Customer Service will likely replace it free (or almost no cost to you) with one of the nice new revised ones.
If it’s just intellectual curiosity, use a hammer and save three bucks.
Sometimes the fuse blows.
I take them apart to repair them. A common failure is an issue with poor tolerance with the three buttons causing one or more to be “stuck” down. I file the mating surface of the button(s) enough to enable the surface-mounted snap switch to spring back and restore the transformer to an operating condition.
Beyond the switches & the fuse, the usual failure seems to be the IC. I will have to try to swap one out some time to confirm this.
Otherwise, it’s handy to be able to get into the case to extract the transformer core, which can be used for a variety of projects.
Rob
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Power max
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Indeed it does, Rob, especially on the early, unrevised ones. But why does it blow? In all the posts I’ve ever read about the CW-80 I’ve never seen an answer to that. If it’s caused by a simple overload, why didn’t the foldback circuit prevent it? If it’s due to some internal component doing something naughty, simply replacing the fuse won’t fix it.
So the question remains: what are you going to do when you get inside the case, against manufacturer’s advice, I might add?
I think people with the early versions of the CW-80 would be thrilled if it died on them; as long as Lionel would supply a brand new (REVISED) version at little or no cost. (For a long time all you had to do was call and ask. Lately I’ve been seeing posts where Lionel Customer Service was requesting that you send back the power cord and the orange throttle handle in exchange for a brand new one.) Lionel’s product support policies do change from time to time, and I’d jump on this one.
To do that would be inexpensive (if not entirely free) and you’d get a brand new device for little effort, and probably a brand new warranty.
It probably has something to do with why when I put all the Christmas lights, which have been on for 2 months, away, they are burned out when they come out 10 months later…
Sample defect, thermal shock, physical g-force shock, blip in IC logic that controls transformer output, poor line voltage condition, spikes in the 110/120 line, spurious harmonics, cold solder joints, could be several things. You would need a scope with a recorder on the unit when it happens to see for sure.
Rob
Everybody understand Rob’s last sentence? As long as you do, carry on.
The “manufacturer’s advice,” BTW, no doubt has a lot more to do with lawyers than it does with electronics designers or engineers.
No doubt; and the experience of getting inside one would likely be far less exciting than trying to disarm a nuclear weapon. However, I doubt that there is much inside a CW that I could fix even if I did get in there.
I’ve worked inside several postwar ZW, KW, 1033 models, etc., and restored them to great working order. Still, I’m going to leave my CW-80’s alone. Not that I think that there would be any more personal risk – my CW’s use the same 120-volt house current as my old ZW’s do. Nevertheless, I’m going to hold out for replacements. The problem is that mine just won’t quit!
There is always the possiblity that Lionel will revert to its previous practice of requiring the entire transformer to be returned for replacement. If that day ever comes, mine will be “untampered with.” Will yours?
I love a debate [:o)]
Still looking for a link to the part …
Rob …
Thanks !!!