I am a long time Lionel Train enthusiast and have done many repairs for both myself and others who have asked my help. I do not do this for compensation and usually only request the parts be covered. I have generally had good luck with this and feel there isn’t much I can’t repairs.
Yesterday I took posession of four items that someone asked my son if I could look at. Two locomotives and a 1033 transformer, I have already repaired. The fourth item is a good looking ZW-275R.
Somehow the right handle on this transformer got over extended and broke the tab off inside the handle. At the same time the short ZW-56 arm got badly bent, and there was no roller as it too got broken. The right handle, ZW-56 short arm and rollers I can obtain and replace. I also need to order a power cord, and until I get it back together can’t test the unit or the breaker. That leaves only one other issue that I see.
When whatever happened to over extend the arm and bend up the short, some of the paper on the primary winding near the top got torn. I can see the winding on the primary. I don’t think I can tape this because of heat, and if I had to guess this paper is probably special and was expoxy sealed when it was wrapped around the winding.
If this ZW were my own, I would probably proceed and take my chances. Since it isn’t and before I order parts I ask the question. Has anyone encountered this where there is a slight viewing of the primary winding. Is this type of paper readily available that I could cover the opening.
My thoughts are that I don’t want any safety exposure and maybe should just return the transformer and tell the person to get it refurbished.
Any thoughts?
Thanks,…Alank