engines don't always want to change direction 80 watt power supply

#1 list or properly identify your loco. Example is it a postwar engine with mechanical e- unit, for all we know, the plunger is just sticking, thus not cycling, nothing at all to do with the transformer.

#2 0.03 volts is unlikely enough leakage voltage to prevent cycling. So again what exact train engine model and number is at play?

Looking at your recent posts, one topic of yours was a lionel 681 and yes it has an e unit that could be sticking
https://ogrforum.com/...c/177398551999834709

if that in fact is the engine, then that is where you should focus troubleshooting. Specifically e-unit sticking. Example https://ogrforum.com/...c/148535170045867292

@Vernon Barry posted:

#1 list or properly identify your loco. Example is it a postwar engine with mechanical e- unit, for all we know, the plunger is just sticking, thus not cycling, nothing at all to do with the transformer.

#2 0.03 volts is unlikely enough leakage voltage to prevent cycling. So again what exact train engine model and number is at play?

OK so I have two locos of different makes that do this.  A Lionel Doodlebug that is a recent build, not a postwar job so the the reversing unit is on a pc board.  Second loco is a Right-of-Way PRR T1 again with digital reverse unit on a pc board.  This does NOT happen with a postwar 6-8-6 that does appear to have a coil plunger (?) and a Pioneer Zephyr with an ERR TMCC board on it.

@Vernon Barry posted:

Looking at your recent posts, one topic of yours was a lionel 681 and yes it has an e unit that could be sticking
https://ogrforum.com/...c/177398551999834709

if that in fact is the engine, then that is where you should focus troubleshooting. Specifically e-unit sticking. Example https://ogrforum.com/...c/148535170045867292

HI Vernon. The 6-8-6 works ok thankfully.

Some transformers don't truly return the voltage to zero volts with the reverse switch or even the throttle.  This is usually a much bigger issue with electronic reverse boards than mechanical E-Units.  To see if this is the case, try disconnecting the center track wire from the track or the transformer to insure no voltage and see if that reverses thing more reliably.

When I used to use Lionel CW-80 Transformers I had the same issue with modern trains not wanting to reverse directions with moving the levers to what we thought was Zero or hitting the Direction Button. I wired up a 4 gang electrical box with 2 single pole light switches each to 2 duplex receptacles and plugged one Transformer into the first Receptacle, and the second Transformer into the second Receptacle, then just turned off the switch and back on to reverse the train direction. Once I went to MTH Z-1000 Transformers I didn't need to use that switch and Receptacle box anymore for the trains. Now I use it for lighting.