I have an originally bought ZW transformer (1955). It has operated flawlessly until recently. About a month ago, I turned on the transformer and the right handle operation runs with the whistle blowing continuously without the operation of the railsound buttons or whistle lever. The left handle operates normally. I disconnected the railsound buttons, and had the same results. I then disconnected the whistle wires and still the whistle blew. Could it be something in the contacts in the handle? Please advise.
Are you sure it’s not a stuck contact in the locomotive?
Neil Besougloff
editor, Classic Toy Trains
When you say that you disconnected the whistle wires, surely you don’t mean the wires to the actual whistle motor in the tender? That would seem to be sure to stop it.
Bob Nelson
In regards to replies about tender malfunction
I have tried other tenders with whistles in the malfunctioning right handle and the same thing occurs. I then took the the tenders off the right handle track and tested them on Left handle track. On the left handle track the tenders work as they should.
In regards to replies about the discounted wire.
The wire discounted was from the whistle rectifier in the transformer
So you disconnected the wire from the speed nut that holds the rectifier disk to the plate? If that didn’t stop the whistle, I am baffled.
Bob Nelson
Hello Bob,
Yes, I disconnected the wire to the speed nut to the rectifier? I will observe it again and insure it was the correct wire. I did notice that the contact assembly on the left handle rod was not in the same position as the right handle contact assembly. My Lionel parts and assembly diagram from K-Line does not show the the positions of the contacts for different operations (whistle/horn, stop, and speed). Do you know the existance of any wiring diagram with different positions? Could build up between contacts cause the problem? I need to replace the carbon rollers so I will check the contacts.
Thanks,
Frederick H. Duncan
I have an originally bought ZW transformer (1955). It has operated flawlessly until recently. About a month ago, I turned on the transformer and the right handle operation runs with the whistle blowing continuously without the operation of the railsound buttons or whistle lever. The left handle operates normally. I disconnected the railsound buttons, and had the same results. I then disconnected the whistle wires and still the whistle blew. Could it be something in the contacts in the handle? Please advise.
Are you sure it’s not a stuck contact in the locomotive?
Neil Besougloff
editor, Classic Toy Trains
When you say that you disconnected the whistle wires, surely you don’t mean the wires to the actual whistle motor in the tender? That would seem to be sure to stop it.
Bob Nelson
In regards to replies about tender malfunction
I have tried other tenders with whistles in the malfunctioning right handle and the same thing occurs. I then took the the tenders off the right handle track and tested them on Left handle track. On the left handle track the tenders work as they should.
In regards to replies about the discounted wire.
The wire discounted was from the whistle rectifier in the transformer
So you disconnected the wire from the speed nut that holds the rectifier disk to the plate? If that didn’t stop the whistle, I am baffled.
Bob Nelson
Hello Bob,
Yes, I disconnected the wire to the speed nut to the rectifier? I will observe it again and insure it was the correct wire. I did notice that the contact assembly on the left handle rod was not in the same position as the right handle contact assembly. My Lionel parts and assembly diagram from K-Line does not show the the positions of the contacts for different operations (whistle/horn, stop, and speed). Do you know the existance of any wiring diagram with different positions? Could build up between contacts cause the problem? I need to replace the carbon rollers so I will check the contacts.
Thanks,
Frederick H. Duncan