Is there a wall of dead Lionel CW80s somewhere?

Honestly, you cannot go wrong with some 180 bricks if you run command. Just buy a circuit breaker box and your good to go. I would send your transformer to the recycle bin...

J Daddy posted:

Honestly, you cannot go wrong with some 180 bricks if you run command. Just buy a circuit breaker box and your good to go. I would send your transformer to the recycle bin...

----------------------------

Thanks Jdaddy. I'm a conventional operator and no fan of complicated electronics in my hobbies. The CW80 schematics I've found online make no sense to me, so I think I'll take your advice.  While I was steaming at the transformer, I had a memory flash of a couple of articles on 3-rail layouts that had been converted to DC.........hmmmmm...

We've got a Polar Express set and a Hogwart's Express set.  The CW80's remain boxed.  I bought Z750's and Z1000's to run them when I bought the add-ons.  Much more reliable.

Why does a tiny transformer need a fan anyway?

Fred

I bought the Lionel Wabash Bluebird set a few years ago and got about a half-hour out of the CW80 piece of snit that came with it. I then followed a number of repair attempts, but couldn't easily find a triangular screwdriver and moved on. I've heard that using the triangular (long-shank) driver will open the casing, then it's not too difficult to substitute a quality breaker - the circuit breaker appears to be the Achilles heel for any unfortunate soul who has this turkey...

Virginian65 posted:

................ but couldn't easily find a triangular screwdriver and moved on. I've heard that using the triangular (long-shank) driver will open the casing, .....................

Unfortunately it's listed as not in stock at the moment, but here is an amazon listing for the screwdriver I bought to access these screws.  I did note in my search that there seemed to be a fair amount of differences in the way these type of screwdrivers are specified(or maybe it was the way people were stating the right size in posts vs the specifications, I forget now).

I never actually took a CW-80 apart with it, but I did fit it to the screw heads when I received it and it's the right size.

Driver for CW-80 screws.

-Dave

It's a T3 screwdriver that is available at Lowes and Home Depot. They usually come in the small screwdriver sets that each store sells. 

I'm sure that you can find them Menards, Ace and others.

Sean

Virginian65 posted:

...I've heard that using the triangular (long-shank) driver will open the casing, then it's not too difficult to substitute a quality breaker - the circuit breaker appears to be the Achilles heel for any unfortunate soul who has this turkey...

There's no breaker in a CW-80.

Gentlemen,

 As many here know I have very strong opinions on CW-80 Transformers, some think I am a might hard on them, had one burn up right on my power station many years ago. However they were built as a small entry level throw away transformer, once you have a problem with them, they really are not worth spending any money on to repair, and should be thrown away, especially the older models.  If you want to run your bumper street cars with them, fine, if they are in good shape.  The minimum power supply I recommend to people just getting into our hobby is the Z-1000.  The old KW & ZW's are even better, with the 10 Amp breakers in front of them.  If you have a problem with a CW-80 Transformer, do yourself a favor, pitch it and upgrade.

PCRR/Dave 

Pine Creek Railroad posted:

<snip>

Hi, Dave.  I've been expecting you.  What took you so long?

Pete

Your opinion is noted.

Most all Post War Transformers, save the ones that came with the Scout sets have withstood the test of time and are easy to repair if needed. I use my 1033 and LW with everything including Legacy and DCS. I just added a fast breaker for command applications. Easy to find 1033s at train shows in the 25-35 buck range. KISS

Pete

I know I've cut the cord off two of them, removed the handles and sent them back for replacement.  (Lionel's instructions)  I think one Harry Potter and one 0-8-0 set both were DOA. 

Love my LW's.  Have several.  Powerful and undoubtedly the most innovative transformer ever produced with the lighted dial (of Course if you have succumbed to the fixed voltage command baloney, then this is irrelevant).  This was the pinnacle of Lionel design work and had an aesthetic appeal rivaled only by Apple. 

I have not owned a CW-80 but have used one at a friends house. The CW-80 did not do right at all with my MTH PS-2 engine, so I never gave buying one another thought. Why have a transformer that can only work with one brand of engine?

I have 2 MTH Z-1000's and like the performance from them, work great with all my trains.

Lee Fritz

What are you guys doing to them? I use one for my window display running post-war and newer conventional locos. Over two years now and only had to lube the fan, they always start whining after a few hours.

I have a CW80 I use for some of my lighted buildings (about ten or so). The fan is quite loud but is usually drowned out by the trains. It was given to me so I can't complain. The rest of my transformers are Z-1000s and one Z-750.

phillyreading posted:

 Why have a transformer that can only work with one kind of engine?

The CW works with Ives, American Flyer, Lionel, Marx, RMT, K-Line, Williams, AC AMT/KMT, O-Line Reproductions, Bowser, & so on...

I think I see the problem...

ADCX Rob posted:

phillyreading posted:

 Why have a transformer that can only work with one kind of engine?

The CW works with Ives, American Flyer, Lionel, Marx, RMT, K-Line, Williams, AC AMT/KMT, O-Line Reproductions, Bowser, & so on...

I think I see the problem...

LOL!

Pete

If you'd like to know what's in the CW-80, here's the schematic.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

If you'd like to know what's in the CW-80, here's the schematic

Thanks John,

I was surprised at the extent of the electronics, so for curiosity's sake I looked up the major items like the IC, regulator and amplifier (?) . Just guessing, but the data sheets suggest pretty common, high reliability components, at least from the major manufacturers.  Maybe the CW80 is plagued by cheap knock-offs. Don't mind me; still miffed. 

And thats the crying shame, what looks like a nice postwar styled transformer is plagued with such **** poor quality control or durablity.  Just makes me shake my head at the trash coming out of Lionel anymore.  If your gonna be the industry leader, this isn't the way to do it.  My 1948 vintage 1041 from my father's 1423w set, a bottom end set of that era, just keeps working to this day, with only a new power cord as its only repair needed, even blows the whistle on command as it did on day 1.   Mike

Pete,

    You are still endangering your home with the CW-80's, and I am still advising you to get rid of them, nothing new about that!  Hope all is well in your neck of the woods.

PCRR/Dave

Pine Creek Railroad posted:

...You are still endangering your home with the CW-80's...

?

What is the backstory on this?

Virginian65 posted:

I bought the Lionel Wabash Bluebird set a few years ago and got about a half-hour out of the CW80 piece of snit that came with it. 

--------------------------------------------------

You know, when I think about it, that's probably the extent of the run-time this as-new piece of junk actually saw.

RickO posted:

Now THAT's funny! It's interesting how they've all weathered to that brownish-grey colour.......