Something wrong with my CW80 transformer

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

I think there is something wrong with my CW80 transformer. it made strange noises ever since I got it. It came with my Polar Express set, but I bought it in an after Christmas sale and did not try it out until the following year. I immediately sent Lionel an email expressing my concern and they said not to worry that it was OK. Well it still makes some extraordinary noises and not it changes directions from forward to reverse without notice. At first I thought it was a bad reverse card in the loco, but now I realize that it does it with 4 separate Locos from different years. I swapped transformers just in case it might the track wiring and the problem is unique to this one transformer.

I can’t do anything about it right now, because there is too much going on. I want to take it apart tomorrow and I was wondering if there is anything I should be looking for.

2

The CW80 isn’t designed to be opened. It can be, but you need a special screwdriver bit. I don’t know what it is, There may be someone else that does. If you have other transformers, I’d use them to run your trains. Use the CW for accessories.

3

I’ve been reading the other treads about getting bigger transformers and I may eventually get a new transformer that handles 4 trains.

I got to get this one fixed just in case I ever want to sell it. I’ve kept all the original packaging and the track is unused. I don’t think I’ll get much for it if the transformer is not working properly.

4

If it is repairable at a service station the repair expense may be as much as buying a new one on the bay.

5

I think you will find that the direction button has a “hair-trigger” and does not have the tactile feel of the bell & whistle buttons. If this is the case, I can help. The security bit needed is the Triangle recess BT-3R2.

Rob

6

As I understand it, CW-80’s are not designed to be repaired by anybody: not Lionel, not an Authorized Service Station, not the owner. They come with a one-year warranty from the date of purchase and if they fail within that period, Lionel will promptly replace* them. After that, you’re own your own.

Some electronic whizards have indeed discovered how to get inside the case and a few have made repairs, but that is the exception, not the norm.

What is the “Made in China” date on the bottom of the device.

There are literally reams of prose in the forum archives, but I doubt anything will be of use. Are you talking about fan noises? If so, try “running it in” for a few hours of hours to see whether it will loosen up. Maybe give it a couple of whacks. It’s just a little muffin fan like in a small computer, and sometimes it gets a little cockeyed.

Unintentional and unexpected direction changes are usually caused by a loose connection in the electrical power feeds, either inside the case or in the power connections to the track, including dirty track itself. Any event that breaks the circuit between transformer and locomotive will cause the e-unit to cycle, but generally they go from forward to neutral and not from forward to reverse, as long as there is not an old-fashioned two-position e-unit in play.

You might try contacting Lionel Customer Service with the plea that your old purchase-date bears no relationship to the the placed-in-service date, and it never worked correctly from the get-go. Good luck.

*I know, I know. The Owner’s Manual speaks of repairs. I believe that is just “boiler-plate” and that no such Lionel service intent or capability exists for CW-80’s. In other words, they either replace it cheerfully, or tell you that you are SOL – at least in my experience.

Check eBay. I think you’ll f

7

I’ve been under the impression my whole life that the Lionel meant dependability. I got to say that from what I’ve been reading about Lionel here in this forum the last couple of months has just about shattered everything I believed in.

I’ve been looking at transformers on eBay for a month and even bid on 2 or 3, but I don’t know if I’d do any better than if I just bought a new one. At this point I’ve got nothing to lose. The transformer is at least 4 years old, so I’m going to take it apart.

Today is not going very good for me. Besides the CW80 thing, my $300 printer died and my daughter wreaked her car. It is not my lucky day so I know I’d be pressing my luck to do anything more today. Tomorrow is a new year and I hope a new start.

8

Sorry for your troubles. I’m not getting out of 2009 much better off.

That said, “this is not your father’s Oldsmobile.” In fact, there is no Oldsmobile any more.

There is at least something with the Lionel name on it, and I think they are getting better from a low point they hit a couple of years ago.

Get that Made in China date. Avoid any CW-80 with a Made in China date without a “G” preface to it. Read the archives (Search Community) if you doubt me.

If your avatar is actually a recent picture of you, you could substitute mine and no one would notice the difference. That’s why I don’t post mine. [8D] 2010 will be different. Not necessarily better, but different.

Happy New One!

9

First, I just want to thank everyone for replying. Disappointing, but helpful. [:)]

I was comparing a good transformer with the one in question and I can hear the fan in both but one sounds like its rubbing against a wire or something. I can’t tell much by the feel of the reverse button, but I did notice that it does not seem to work at all. I forgot to check the whistle, but the trains run great except for the reversing problem.

Here is a photo of the label. I don’t see any “G” only “Made in China”.

Oh, BF I’ve had a beard ever since I got back from Vietnam. A close friend once told me that he wears his beard because he was just downright ugly. [:D]

10

That actually says a lot.

If you do get it open, the only thing you have to do is file the underside of the direction button just until the “pop” comes back when you are pushing it on the circuit board. It’s just a bit too thick, and is holding down the push-switch on the circuit board activating the direction feature randomly.

The usual symptom is just no power to the track - all else OK. Most people just throw away the transformer.

Rob

11

Thanks Rob, I had a bit set with the right size, but the holder will not fit into the hole, so I’m going to have to buy something long enough to reach.

12

If you have a QUALITY Allen key set, or similar Stanley, Craftsman, or Snap-On hex keys, one of those will work too. An inferior tool will cam-out.

Rob

13

I think you can still use the fixed voltage portion of them if the variable voltage part quits.

Or you can just cut the cord off and use it as a doorstop.

14

Now that’s funny. I saw a few on eBay without cords. Maybe that’s what happened to them

15

Yours is definitely an early or pre-revision version, The way I interpret the Made in China date is “September, 2005.” I’ve never seen a revised one with a date earlier than 2006; and they also have a “G” prefix to the date. There may be some non-revised ones with a 2006 date, but they won’t have the “G”. I a

16

Well I have to say, despite all the bad press about the little CW-80, mine has been doing well. I have two of them, one thats about 10 years old now and it still works great for me. The only issue with it at times is that the throttle handle has been broken in so much that it doesn’t want to stay at the throttle setting where I set it at. I have another one thats about maybe 2 or 3 years old with a cooling fan, which has gone out some time ago. The power light has burned out in it too though, but its still doing well, but not as well as the older one as nothings really wrong with it at all. They have been great transformers for me, but will soon retire them and let the big KW transformer do the heavy work.

17

Aw, that explains why all the transformers on eBay without cords. I thought it was odd and I could not think of a reason for it, I just assumed that the plugs & cord had worn or frayed.

18

Well, I’m glad to hear that. I can understand normal wear and tear, but to have so many defective items come right out of the box is beyond me. What happened to quality control? I sometimes wonder if China even understands the concept.

This particular CW-80 has less than 30 hours on it and actually probably less than 20. I’ve been trying to preserve this Polar Express set for resale some day when I can no longer “kick it”. If I would have known about these problems before hand, I would never have taken it out of the box just like as I did with the track.

I’ve been looking for a reason to buy a better transformer. Maybe I’ll swap it with a good one, put the good one back in its packaging to never be used again and then buy a better one that can handle at least 4 trains. But now the question is, am going to buy another Lionel? I don’t know.

19

The original set of CW-80’s had design and production problems. The newer CW-80’s have corrected all of the early problems, including polarity issues, fan failures, and the rest.

The new CW-80’s are very nice little transformers.

Jon [8D]

20

I had one of the “problem transformers” from early CW80 production in the Hobo set. Called Lionel and didn’t have to do anything, in a day and a half, they had a new one at my door. Have not had a problem since. I still have the old CW80 that I have the bit for, but have not opened her up yet. Someday, I will, but only for my own use. I would suggest not fixing it and trying to sell it…just in case there is a problem, liability would concern me.

Regarding Lionel quality, My opinion is that all the modern manufacturers have similar issues. The quality and detail of modern pieces is superb for all the added features. We have excellent graphics, realistic sound and operation, and some are powerful pullers. That said, along with all the bells and whistles, come a lot more that can go wrong. In the past, most problems could easily be fixed by most hobby enthusiasts. Now, the circuit boards of today are beyond the ability of most hobbyists to repair. We have also entered a time when quality control is non existent. It is more a reaction to customer complaints rather than having a staff prevent defects from ever leaving the plant.

With regard to your wanting to perhaps sell the P.E. in the future, I have seen them go for $180. for a new set from a store. Not sure that it would be worth the effort to resell. For me, I’d just enjoy it and run it as is.

Dennis