Couple questions on recently acquired K-Line switcher.

Jeff.....the max voltage on the #51 bulb is 6V....try a #53 @ 12volts...

Jeff, these are my engines of choice.

What Joe says is right. These engines are more suited for a transformer like the Lionel 1033 using the B-U settings of 0-11 volts. Or a modern transformer that starts with lower than 6 volts to the track.

The 6-volt starting minimum to the track of the ZW will cause jack-rabbit starts and stops, without rewiring the motors to a series arrangement versus the parallel wiring as they come with. When people complain about the jack-rabbit starts and stops of these locos, I realize they're using a typical postwar transformer with that 6 volt start to the track.

Some of the later K-Line locos of this type came with a switch beneath the engine for either series or parallel running to accommodate postwar transformers.

I generally use 6 volt bulbs in my locos, as I use a 1033 with the B-U setting, which allows the locos to run just fine without burning out the light bulbs. For others, I go with a 12 volt bulb.

You must have gotten this engine for a good deal right? Because generally you run higher end engines, at least as I've seen you post.

Thanks Brian!! I recently joined a local club and grabbed a couple inexpensive engines for our Open Houses where little fingers get in the way sometimes!

This one was a whopping $20! 

For $20 I would have grabbed that too! Well worth for the parts alone!!!

Cause I'm an 027 guy, I've found these engines work well for some of my kitbashing projects. For example, below a MP-15 chassis with a chopped down Lionel RS-3 shell on it. Yes, as was the Lionel RS-3 will run on 027 curves just fine. I just wanted something that looked more at home with the smaller proportioned train cars.

Brian - Good job!!!

I went into the old bulb stash and found a 53.

53 on the left, 51 on the right... You know which one I prefer and unfortunately its not the 53.