Troubles With My Set Up

Problem 1 sounds normal. The variable voltage does not start at 0 for most of the available transformers. No load 10V-20V is about right. The LW is a step-down transformer (not auto-former) where the secondary winding has multiple discrete taps as well as a wiper that allows for variable voltage output within a narrow range.

Problem 2 is also normal behavior. The headlight is controlled by track voltage- more voltage, brighter light. The fully depressed horn button activates a 5V compensating winding inside the transformer, so it will brighten the all train lights, and increase speed of engine (absent the additional load of the Lionel whistle motor) since more voltage is provided. There is a copper oxide rectifier inside the transformer that adds the DC horn "activating" voltage to the track, if this is bad (or on its last legs), the horn may not blow consistently. If you do not push down the whistle all the way, you can place the rectifier into the circuit without this speed increase, however, this will "rob" some voltage.

The LW has no bell button, so the GG1 bell should have never worked without an external bell button (or only worked, depending on your track wiring scheme).

I am not sure, but it may need a battery for the railsounds in conventional operation. If it's obvious where to remove the screws for the shell, take it off and take some photos of what you have. (the internals)

Did you get a box with the engine number? Tuscan 1-stripe or black 5-stripe?

If you want fully bright lights, get a TMCC set off the bay, and have at it.  Then it won't matter if your whistle rectifier works or not!

Jon  

Überstationmeister posted:

Problem 1 sounds normal. The variable voltage does not start at 0 for most of the available transformers. No load 10V-20V is about right. The LW is a step-down transformer (not auto-former) where the secondary winding has multiple discrete taps as well as a wiper that allows for variable voltage output within a narrow range.

Problem 2 is also normal behavior. The headlight is controlled by track voltage- more voltage, brighter light. The fully depressed horn button activates a 5V compensating winding inside the transformer, so it will brighten the all train lights, and increase speed of engine (absent the additional load of the Lionel whistle motor) since more voltage is provided. There is a copper oxide rectifier inside the transformer that adds the DC horn "activating" voltage to the track, if this is bad (or on its last legs), the horn may not blow consistently. If you do not push down the whistle all the way, you can place the rectifier into the circuit without this speed increase, however, this will "rob" some voltage.

The LW has no bell button, so the GG1 bell should have never worked without an external bell button (or only worked, depending on your track wiring scheme).

Excellent reply.  Thanks.  I'll be learning more as I go.

Moonman posted:

I am not sure, but it may need a battery for the railsounds in conventional operation. If it's obvious where to remove the screws for the shell, take it off and take some photos of what you have. (the internals)

Did you get a box with the engine number? Tuscan 1-stripe or black 5-stripe?

Oh yes, got the box and everything.  Engine is in very good looking shape.  Seller said the TMCC is already installed but I haven't opened it yet to verify.  See the pics.

KOOLjock1 posted:

If you want fully bright lights, get a TMCC set off the bay, and have at it.  Then it won't matter if your whistle rectifier works or not!

Jon  

Already installed.  I think.

Per the description on the box, that engine did not come with TMCC; its conventional only.  Unless TMCC was installed by the owner after purchase, he may have misled you.  You would need to take the shell off, take a picture of the electronics and post here for us to see what you have.

The TMCC set Kooljock1 is talking about is a separate sale item to run your engine in TMCC mode.  You would need to set it up like below; just replace your LW with the ZW in the diagram.

Here another diagram

On the LW if use terminals A & U, you should get a starting voltage of 7 to 7.5v up to about 20v, maxed out....

Marty 

The comments on the Legacy K-line site indicate that frame was predrilled for a speaker and TMCC board, calling it command upgradeable.

yes, if any, K-Line or Lionel TMCC parts were added needs to be determined.

A forum search brought up this:

https://ogrforum.com/t...e-for-k-line-kcc-gg1

Aren't the posts on the LW-125 "reversed" from what we're used to?

I.e.,  "U" goes to center rail, and "A" goes to outside rail.

EscapeRocks posted:

Aren't the posts on the LW-125 "reversed" from what we're used to?

Not by convention. The "A" posts on the LW are common, "U" to center rail, as on all single-train postwar transformers... "U" is common only on multi-train transformers.