Z-4000 Handle Adjustment

MTH makes a kit with a spring and nylon follower.  The well is present in the old transformer to hold it.  I have done many.  Open your Z4K lift the handle up, put in the unit and re assemble.  Before the handle lifts out, you need to pull the gear tower and a panel.  Easy job.  I will try to find you the part number.

IE-0000048

Thanks Marty and Gerald. Handy to have that info.

Rod

Thanks Gerald.  The up side is the MSRP cost is $1.00 each and MTH has them in stock.   I just added a dozen to my current parts order.

Marty or Gerald, do I just remove the six hex screws from the base and then lift off the top of the case in order to access the handles? Are any special tools required?

Marty Fitzhenry posted:

Thanks Gerald.  The up side is the MSRP cost is $1.00 each and MTH has them in stock.   I just added a dozen to my current parts order.

Marty; no wonder they were out of stock when I tried to order some! Haha, just kidding; I was able to order some Friday. Good thing to have around.

Rich; just remove the screws from the underside, then invert and carefully lift the top. There are two wide ribbon cables and two 3-wire harnesses connecting the top to the guts, so work carefully. No special tools required, other than the Allen driver for the base screws.

Rod

PS: While you have the upper case off check the alignment of the handle gears. With the handle nearly straight up the red pointer mark on the small upper pot gear should align with the black mark on the larger lower gear. If they don’t align, gently move the handle outwards just enough to disengage the gears and realign them. Check the other side the same way.

The upper case is much easier to get back on if you remove the inner filler pieces from both handles. Two small screws hold each.

Thanks for the tips, Rod! I'll be sure to check the gear alignment while I'm in there.

Thanks so much to all who have replied and offered good advice.  Your help is sincerely appreciated.

jsyljr.

Before you pull the handle, mark your gears with a Sharpie.

Previous posted Z4000 photos.

Thanks Don, very helpful.

Great pics Don! So only the right-side handle is removed to install the kit?

You should do both handles while you are at it.

Rod

While on the subject of Z4000 handles, my Z4000 (circa 2001) squeaks and seems tight.  Marty, any suggestions to loosen it a bit?

Marty; when you add tensioners to an older unit that does not have the adjustment screws in the bottom (as shown in DMASSO's pics above), how do you provide for adjustment? Or is it even an issue? I have 3 older units to mod when the parts arrive.

Rod

Rod Stewart posted:

You should do both handles while you are at it.

Rod

I thought that would be the case. So does the kit include parts for one or both handles?

You need two kits for two handles I believe.

Rod

Rod, they just work fine as is.  

Good to know; thanks Marty!

As luck would have it, I just received an order from MTH and here is two pictures of what the part looks like.  Again, they are very inexpensive and drop right in.

Marty Fitzhenry posted:

As luck would have it, I just received an order from MTH and here is two pictures of what the part looks like.  Again, they are very inexpensive and drop right in.

Marty - Thanks again for the pix and your time to follow-up; much appreciated and very helpful!!

My friend received the parts from Midge and we installed the tensioning springs in his Z4000 yesterday. The install went smoothly thanks to all of the tips and info provided by forum members. Thanks all!

I wanted to add that, at least on this particular early model Z, the six base screws are T15 Torx.