Loose post on an old ZW, can you tighten it??

I have had no success tightening these. They will just come loose or break off again. Replace the binding post with one of the easy-to-install (non-riveted) versions sold by the Train Tender, as pictured below.

There is no way to tighten it, the replacement post that Greg posted is the fix.  The crimped connections go bad, but Lionel persists in using them in a host of products.  They also go bad in switches, and various accessories!

Thanks Guys, ordered!!

BTW - Any tips on how to get the old loose one out??

drill the old bolts out you really only have to drill the compressed washer out and then just pull the old bolt out with plyers if it already don't come out easy! if you cant get a drill in there !  use a file and file crimped washer till it fall off and then clean whole and install new bolt and lock nuts !

Alan

not hard to do!

@Jeff T posted:

Thanks Guys, ordered!!

BTW - Any tips on how to get the old loose one out??

There’s not much to the metal or what’s left of the riveted head that’s flowered out that makes the compression,....usually, a small pick tool or small flat head screwdriver can finish breaking off the little flowered out pieces of rivet, once you’ve gotten off the back half ( inside the transformer) and the wires, or the bus bar are off the post, you can carefully wiggle the old dead post out of the hole like a loose tooth, then reverse procedure and install the stud,...I like to pitch the nut that comes with the stud in favor of a nylon lock nut....doesn’t affect conductivity....and makes for a more permanent repair,...never worry about them coming loose ....be mindful this problem can affect more than one stud, usually affecting the common bus bar in multiples....check the rest,....you’ll be happy with the finished repair,.....piece of cake!..

edit: when you go to pull the old stud out, it can be tight, don’t yank it out, slowly methodically wiggle and twist towards you so you don’t bust out the case....it’s pretty resilient, but just take your time & wiggle....she’ll come out...

Pat

In a pinch, an 8-32 screw and nut can be brought into play: 

I've wound up doing this on several ZWs, both on upper and lower posts.

Mitch

@M. Mitchell Marmel posted:

In a pinch, an 8-32 screw and nut can be brought into play:

I've wound up doing this on several ZWs, both on upper and lower posts.

Mitch

That works too Mitch, nice clean repair,.....more than one way to skin a cat....

Pat

@Jeff T posted:

The "A" post has come loose. I pulled the top of the case off and I really don't see way to tighten it.

Can it be snugged up??

Jeff, if you purchase a digital subscriiption, you will have access to the OGR Video Library, including Jim Barrett's Backshop videos. In this video, Jim shows you exactly how to fix a loose binding post on a ZW, along with replacing the old whistle diode.

@harmonyards posted:

That works too Mitch, nice clean repair,.....more than one way to skin a cat....

Pat

I used the exact same method on a KW. Never had a problem since.