‍

Try Trainland in Lynbrook, NY (Nassau County). There tel # is  516 599 7080> I had a Lionel TW transformer serviced several years ago and I thought they were reasonable.

JohnF

Hi David, I recondition ZW transformers and have been doing it for about eight years and I have yet to have a recall on any upgrade due to any problem.

Without looking at the transformer it would be difficult to give your friend a price.   I have most of the parts required in stock and what I do is mark up my cost on any parts required by 15%.

First, I check the output voltages to be sure all of them are to specification. I always replace the rectifier discs in the horn circuit with stud type diodes. If it needs  new rollers and pins they are replaced. If the circuit breaker isn’t working properly I replace the circuit breaker.   If the cord has any minute cracks in it I replace the cord with a Lionel repro cord and it is soldered directly to the primary core leads, it is not spliced on to the old cord.    I check all of the wire and solder joints. If I see any wire that appears to have deteriorated insulation or any suspicious solder joints they are replaced.  I clean the case inside and out.

I charge labor at $25 per hour.   A total recondition normally takes between two and three hours. 

No doubt one of your friends most expensive items is going to be shipping the unit to me and the return shipping. I am in southern New Hampshire, zip 03086. I don’t know what your friend’s zip is but the ZW transformer all packaged up  will weigh approximately 15 pounds so he can go online and figure out the approximate shipping.

Right now my turnaround time would be about one week from the day I received the transformer.

Have a great weekend,

Jim Lawson a.k.a. O Gauge Jim 

David,

   I highly recommend Jim reconditioning work, have several of his reconditioned Transformers now, 2 different ZW's and a KW also.  He simply does great professional work.

PCRR/Dave

Jim, can you recondition a post war 275 watt ZW to be safe to use with Lionel Legacy engines? I almost bought one but canceled the buy because I thought it would not be good for the electronics in those engines.

You would need to add external TVS's and breakers or fuses to help protect electronics.  A new fast-acting circuit breaker in the Transformer would protect the Transformer itself.

OK, I am currently running my legacy locomotives with a Lionel ZWL; so, do I still need hardware out in front of the transformer to protect the locomotives?

The TVS,s are always an added step of protection and would only be of benefit. But the external circuit breakers wouldn't be necessary on ZWL

Thanks Train Nut, I've had a few derailments thru switch tracks with the ZWL where the ZWL circuit breakers were thrown as evidenced by the red light on the transformer and with no apparent damage to the locos.