Lionel LW Transformer

I rebuild classic transformers. However, it usually is the larger more powerful ones like Zs, ZWs, and KWs ones as shipping kills the economics. LWs can be borderline. I'm in western New York State. Contact information in my profile.

Very simple to rebuild or replace the cord on any of them if you are mechanical at all. Get a Greenberg’s repair and operating manual for about 20 dollars and do it yourself. It is not rocket science and you will have the satisfaction of completing the job. You are a model railroader after all so jump in and have fun.

I stumbled on the Lionel LW transformer and consider it the best transformer made to run one loop or up to two trains per loop.  Many others have also come to this conclusion and written about its advantages and unique features.

LW transformers output 125 watts for one train or 62.5 watts per train when running two trains per one LW.  By comparison a ZW at total 275 watts or divided by 4 gives 69 watts per each train loop.  LW transformers put more watts per train than any other Lionel post war transformer.  Also the LW transformers are less expensive than other transformers, most of mine cost $30 or so each.

LW transformers are small and compact and I use one on each end of my track plan switch control panel.  The use of two separate transformers allows two operators to stay out of each other way verses a ZW that caused congestion with two or more operators for multiple trains running.

LW transformers have a lighted dials which shows when the transformer is putting out any voltage and the light varies as the voltage is changed.  The lighted dial makes night operation better showing the voltage at night .

I have run three on my layout for over 40 years.  Yours probably only needs the new cord.  Most do not need extensive, expensive repairs.

Charlie

The LW is one of my favorite transformers. I actually had a box of trains given to me too recently and funny enough, it also had a LW in the box! I just got running the other day. It needed a new cord and just some electrical cleaner on the whistle button and it works great. In my opinion, it's always worth fixing up trains and accessories.

Like my friend Charlie, i'm a fan of the LW, also. 

I had one as a secondary transformer on my last layout and that same LW now powers my workbench/oval layout. 

I would vote to give it another life.

Tom 

Thanks all - I will need to weigh them both and see what the shipping options are to have the LW or the KW fixed.

If shipping costs are that high then plan B may be to attempt fixing them myself.

i have a boxed LW i keep around as a backup, if i ever get the space to expand my layout i’ll probably use it for lighting and accessories. i really like the throttle and big whistle button on these, and i find the case design particularly aesthetically pleasing. idk about shipping costs, but they are heavy, i think i paid 60$ for mine a few years ago

I want to add my vote in favor of fixing the LW. I have one that I use for my temporary Christmas layout. It does a good job.

There is a fellow at York that sells refurbished bushed transformers. One option is trade your LW for a refurbished one and pay the difference.

In an either/or the KW wins via 2 throttle option and some wattage.

However the LW is "cooler".  The throttle glows making it the "ultimate" nightime unit. It does have more power from one throttle than any other small unit too.   It has a small footprint too.

Inside, it has a wiper vs a roller that moves across the windings. The rollers cause less wear when working.  Look at the wear the arm slider has, look for any wear on the windings (some is simply where the wire's paint was removed) But notches/sawing/etc. is bad, heavy wear bad, light wear ok. (wear=less wire gauge= makes less watts&more heat)

Even if you do farm out the work, you need to learn to pop the tops and look as rollers can crack from vibrations/shock in transit.  Also; the minute a handle feels different, find out why with your eyes and remember "sawing is bad"

Have overhauled a few dozen of these units and recommend unsoldering all of the wires on the outside of the frame, marking them so you know where they go, unbending the tabs holding the top and bottom together, separating the frames with the whistle and direction board still connected to the top frame, cleaning everything up with alcohol including the windings with a wire brush, lube the throttle bushing, use a little dialectic grease on all the electrical contacts, clean up the contact points on the wiper arm and direction contact arm, install a modern wire type diode in place of the wafer diode and reassembling. A little lubrication on the electrical board tabs make assembly a little easier. Be careful that the direction arm doesn't get bent from its contact point on the board when assembling. Reliable little unit that will push any twin motored engine at speed around the track.

I have one in my yard, and for the most part am happy with it. However, after years of going counterclockwise on Z, RW, and 1033 transformers to turn OFF power, remembering that counterclockwise on the LW INCREASES power has caused me some trouble. But both engines survived!

S & W , LIONEL SERVICE STATION #91,  REPAIRS MOST POSTWAR TRANSFORMERS AND DO APPROXIMATELY 30 PER YEAR. WE'D BE HAPPY TO QUOTE REPAIRS.'

BILL HARRISON TCA/LCCA/TTOS/LOTS

Please tell me, where is the roller in an LW?  There is none.

rjm

@prr6200s2, you are correct in that there are no rollers in the LW, but the KW snuck into discussions with does have rollers which can be a unnerving or challenge to replace for those not necessarily mechanically and/or electronically inclined. There are metal tabs, rivets, soldering, springs and such. Not everyone grew up obtaining even minimal mechanical skills to tackle those, where as for others, those tings are second nature.

@prr6200s2 posted:

Please tell me, where is the roller in an LW?  There is none.

rjm

No lw roller. "Wiper vs Roller" a roller causes less wear. Not just in raw friction, but they are a pressed graphite wheel too.

I was pointing out the various pro-vs-cons of each type, LW/KW, because the OP only wants to fix one of the two at this point. I almost restructured that bit, but "spellwreck" doesn't usually like change, and had been inactive.... I didn't want to push my luck and wake it up.

I have a ZW, two KW’s, and two LW’s. They are all “cool” and I plan to use all of them on my railroad. If a nice looking Z were to appear on the horizon I might use that too. Is this a fun hobby or what?

Fix the LW. This hobby isn’t about dollars and cents. I don’t know anybody getting rich off toy trains. It’s the coolest looking toy train transformer ever made. I have a Z and a ZW-R and some day I’ll have my own LW. How much fun would it be to rebuild your own transformer. Learn it inside and out. Make it outlive yourself. Pass it down to someone else that can appreciate it. 

All, Thanks for the inputs: maybe someday I will learn how to rebuild these units but in the meantime I have other projects to work on.

Thank to John from PA I was able to swap my LW, KW and ZW transformers for his rebuilt units. No shipping involved: just a two hour drive from Jersey.

Coming back home through Philadelphia I even get to see the Acela leaving the 30th Street Station. Nice trip!

@Sean007 posted:

Thanks all - I will need to weigh them both and see what the shipping options are to have the LW or the KW fixed.

If shipping costs are that high then plan B may be to attempt fixing them myself.

Looks like it might fit in a medium USPS flat rate box?

I bought a refurbished LW, its a great staple unit, fix it and use it.

After I got my 5th ZW I started to stockpile a few LWs for my eventual new layout. They're  great for powering accessories and lights on the layout and I think like the ZW they have a classic iconic look about them. I always had a soft spot for them ever since our ZW went up on us on Christmas Eve as a 6 year old, my dad called my uncle up and borrowed his LW to at least power the train that Christmas (my uncle was more into American Flyer  and didn't need the LW that year, I think he had an AF 1B transformer)

Jerry