ZW Whistle Modification - Need Wire Help! - A Solution!

I am trying to modify my ZW based on advice offered by Jim Barrett in one of his videos. I am replacing the whistle disks with anode-to-case volt rectifiers. My wiring seems a bit different from what I see in the video. The clip that holds the copper whistle disk on has a wire soldered to it that runs to the whistle’s contact plate assembly. The clip shown in Jim’s video is not wired to anything. Any thoughts on this and the correct wiring for the new piece? Jim’s video seems to suggest that the wire that was attached at the base of the bulb stanchion should be soldered to the anode, but I am thinking that maybe this wire attached to the clip should be transferred to the anode and then the wire that was attached to the base of the bulb stanchion should be re-attached there. Has anyone else tackled this? Please help!

Here is a picture

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3076/2819420287_0c5a8a80d4_b.jpg

Edit: I have a model “R” ZW. I suppose the one in Jim’s video is an older one. Can anyone help me here?

I’m sorry that I can not help with the technical side of things. I’m sure one of the more knowledgeable members will respond. But…

Here is a link to the transformer section of Olsen’s Toy Trains online technical library. You will find hyperlinks to schematics of both the ZW and R version of the ZW. Maybe this will help you see the differences in the wiring.

[link]http://pictures.olsenstoy.com/searchcd2g.htm[/link]

Good luck.

Thanks for the link. It looks like there is a small difference in the wiring. On the R version (but not on the earlier), there is a wire leading from the clip of the rectifier disc to the whistle contol. On another site, someone suggested that this wire should be removed from the clip and simply soldered to the lug on the new electronic volt rectifier. Have others done it this way on their ZW-Rs?

For anyone who might be trying to follow Jim Barrett’s video, I can tell you that if you have a ZW-R (not the plain old regular ZW in the video), the process is easier. The only wire you need to unsolder is the one that attaches to the clip that holds on the copper recifier. After you mount the new diode, simply solder that wire to the new diode. Worked great for me.