Lionel LW on the fritz

The obvious answer is to call Lionel Tech seupport...

The LW was last made in Post War years (I'll admit I don't know the date off the top of my head), so Lionel service will not likely have any suggestions.

 

I've not personally disassembled an LW, so can't offer any specific suggestions on a fix, sorry.

 

-Dave

That transformer was made for PW trains.  Your usually have to have to set the voltage higher just to get those locos to move out of the gate.  But starting voltage over 8 does seem to be slighly high.

Maybe there is nothing wrong at all. It was not designed for late model trains. The high start voltage is normal. You use A-U, or B-U posts? There could be some wire issues inside though.  There are several small gauge wires that become rotted over the years and maybe one is touching where it should not be. Could be one broke off. Does the lamp in the center of the handle light up?

Rob

Most likely you need to break down and buy a new transformer! Sorry, but that's just the way the cookie crumbles in model trains.

The Lionel LW is probably working correctly, it was made for post war trains as others have mentioned.

 

Lee F.

There is a great old man in Chicago who rebuilds Lionel postwar transformers.  His name is Ken Kohler.  I have used him several times and he is very good.  You can reach him here:  http://www.lioneltransformers.com/ 

 

Your LW will work perfectly fine with modern equipment.  It simply needs a rebuild..

According to the service manual, if you are using terminals A-U, what you are getting is normal for that transformer. Using terminals B-U should start at 0 volts. If this is not sufficient for your trains, then a newer transformer is needed. Most older transformers did not start at 0 volts because older trains had no electronics that needed them to do so.

 

Larry

The Lionel factory service station manual gives the LW's voltage range as 7.5 to 15  18.5 volts on the A-U terminal pair.
(Edited to correct the upper voltage spec)

 

CW

Please post the LW Service manual or operation sheet that states 7.5-15 volts AU.

Mine just talks about the bulb being 12-16 volt. Nothing about outputs on terminals.

The operations manual for LW is tough to find online

Well, shaaaaaazam !!!   Wiring the ol' LW in "B-U" mode produces a most interesting result!  The whole thing runs backwards; not the train...but the transformer ! Yup, the lights get dimmer, and the scale works backwards.  Total weirdness...but the voltage does operate  at a close to zero start.  The whistle also causes a power interuption, thus functioning as a direction change!  Whadda yunz think about this?????

That's why I was looking for the operating instructions. Mine is at home but I think I got the same weirdness.

The greenberg manual says 6-20 on the A-U posts. 0-14 on the B-U posts. 

But I just tested mine and I get full voltage across B-U too. It is backwards across the reostat. I never tried to run mine on the B-u output. My LW starts at 7.7 volts on the A-U posts. Keep in mind, The A post is ground on these. Different from all other Lionel transformers.

Rob

 

quote:

CW

Please post the LW Service manual or operation sheet that states 7.5-15 volts AU.

Mine just talks about the bulb being 12-16 volt. Nothing about outputs on terminals.

The operations manual for LW is tough to find online

 

MY MISTAKE! It's 7.5 to 18.5 volts. I guess I should have waited till I was more awake to post. My apologies to anybody who may have used my bad information.

 

Look in the transformer table in the  test bench instruction manual

(page provided by Olsens)

Notice that chart does not have posts B-U in use? I guess the LW is different.

Rob

The 6-20v and the variable lighted dial is what makes the LW an upgrade from a 1033.

My trusty, crusty 1033 never had any off these issues.  I've tried reversing the wires on the B-U posts with no effect...it's still bas-ackwards !   It can be run like this, but hey, I can't imagine Lionel ever endorsing such craziness!  My TMCC stuff is all packed up for the big move, so I'll be sticking with conventional operation.  Are U sure Gomez Addams never worked at Hillside???

Jaygee,

Apparently the LW was not designed to use B-U posts together.  I would not keep doing that.

Rob

The schematic for the LW shows the "U" post ("A" is common/base) picking up at 7.6 volts relative to "A" and sweeping 11.4 volts to a total of 19 volts.  "C" is tapped at 14.1 volts relative to "A", and "B" is 19 volts relative to "A".

What would need to be modified to enable the LW to successfully use the U-B connection....giving me the low voltage start?  I don't need high voltage at this time. Could this be done without ruining the transformer?  I'll be getting out my other equipment after the big move, but 'til then, it's LW or zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZZzZ !!!! 

The electrical wizards will be able to answer this, but could a series of resistors be placed between the transformer and track to lower the current to the track?

Diode Dropper

 

from this page with more details on slowing down locos.

The LW is my favorite single train transformer because I like the styling and the push button whistle/reverse controls. I've been using one as my bench transformer for years.

Could the polarity be swapped inside the transformer by re-attaching some wires??

I just need to run a loop of track for a fairly short while.  

As has been mentioned, the LW was never meant to have a U-B connection.  Lionel transformers that have dual variable voltage ranges usually have the ranges displayed on the cover.

 

When I saw others saying to use B-U for a lower voltage range I thought maybe I was going to learn something (it's never too late), but no, it wasn't meant to be.

 

In my collection I have examples of all of Lionel's Postwar transformers and I like the LW and it's look, 125 watts and light.  I belive it was meant to be a modern replacment for the 110 watt RW for dual motored diesel sets with passenger cars.  The 1033, at 90 watts just couldn't safely handle it.

I find this particular wiring diagram a bit hard to follow, so I could be mistaken, but I believe the circuit breaker is in line with the "A" post. So using a combination that does not include the "A" post, such as "B" and "U" will bypass the internal circuit breaker, leaving the transformer unprotected.

Or am I misinterpreting the diagram?

If I remember correctly the 1033 puts out 16 volts. Didn't the LW come with 2 motor "O" gauge sets and the 1033 with single motor sets? I remember trying to run an F3 2 motor with a 1033....

 

Another common LW issue is if the flat of the "U" terminal sits below the top of the Bakelite cover you can loose continuity when you attach a wire to that terminal. It will pull the U terminal up away from it's  internal contact.

 I thought my LW was the only one that had the post problem. Mine did that too. Other than that, The LW is my favorite transformer. Can be very tough to put back together though.

Rob

LW did come with some of the twin motor Diesel sets later on.  This might be why Lionel made no real effort to "tame" this unit for operation with single motor equipment.  It's not just the new stuff that has a rough time with this.  My 2023 Alco FA2 set leaps with this guy, but runs fine on the old 1033.

The LW is a good transformer except I found the left-hand rotation to increase speed somewhat awkward, especially when used next to another transformer with right-hand rotation. I discussed this some time ago here:

 

Is it feasible to modify an LW ...

Here is the operating manual

I notice that nothing, at least in the operator's sheet, would ever be wired to the mysterious "B" post.   Indeed, using it appears to send you and your chooch to a one way ride into the twilight zone !  

A-B is 18 Volts fixed. Ace can use B-U to get the hidden backwards rotation

I tried it in reverse, and my sound system said, "I buried Paul!"  Seriously though, these comments have been quite interesting to me.  I also have an LW and like it very much, except for the "jump starts" it gives contemporary engines.

B-U does not work effectively to provide variable track power. That puts the whistle boost winding in opposition to the variable winding. And as already mentioned, B-U bypasses the internal circuit breaker.

  

A-U   8-18vac variable
A-B  18vac fixed
A-C  14vac fixed

 

Well, gents, I'm gonna keep "B-Uin'"...   til the FRA tells me I can't !    

Ok, keep your fire extinguisher near by-

 

I   B-U with my RW, not my LW.  

! yadyreve U-B annog m'I   :yas elpoep tahw erac t'nod I   

 !   ttttuuuuhhhhpppp

Post war transformers start at about 7.5 volts for a reason. The e-unit operates stating at about 6.5 volts.  If the engine starts moving below this voltage, it will stop when the e-unit finally operates at 6.5 volts.  If the engine is operated with the e-unit cut out, the starting voltage can start at zero volts.  I believe that post war trains should be operated with post war transformers and modern trains should be operated with modern transformers.