ZW Issue Diagnosis?

Hey, I rebuilt my own ZW without a second thought, I'm constantly amazed at what people are afraid to do; I was merely suggesting a Lionel tech is more qualified than a random certified electrician.

And you would certainly be correct.   I just don't think simple repairs like this require a PhD.

I agree, but while I was cutting up engines with hacksaws, it occurred to me my idea of "simple" might be skewed. 

An excellent point, I haven't done that yet, nor am I likely to start!

Speaking of ZWs, the whistle toggle on the left side of my ZW suddenly stopped activating the whistle, and instead now functions as a direction button.  I wonder what I'll find when I open it up.

If your whistle control is acting like a direction button, I'd suspect the contacts in the whistle control. Often the problem can be addressed by cleaning the contacts without breaking down the control. Moisten (not wet) a business card or index card with some contact cleaner and carefully work it between the contacts. It helps to operate the switch while doing this. Once it is in there, operate the switch to rub the moving contacts against the moistened card. Also move the card around to rub against the stationary contacts.

While I have not had it happen, watch for tearing.

 

There has been occasions where this technique did not work for me, and I had to break down the switch. If you decide to go this route, I suggest getting a couple of replacement rivets first. Fortunately, the shouldered rivet has been reproduced, and is readily available (last I looked)

Wowak, I would suspect that the rectifier has failed.  Do be aware that there is available a diode that can be used as a replacement.

By the way, if you google/bing around on the internet, you can find the wiring diagrams for the ZW (& others)

Or just go to Olsen's Library (Transformers) and click on the link for the ZW or ZW-R.

Thanks, GRJ.  Hadn't see the Olsen site.

I'm shocked you didn't know about this site, it's a great resource for PW stuff.  The root page is: Olsen's Library.  Note that it's sometimes down on the weekends, but usually it comes back sometime Monday.

Olsen's is back? Hurray!(It was offline for months within the last year.)

 

VADarthDAD- Careful not to over crimp rivets, they will bend easy. Rollers turn poorly on "bent axles". I always get extra rivets and rollers "incase". 

I already replied once with this and more a few days ago but it seems to have not posted, was removed, or Ive gotten sites or threads mixed.  

 

Sandy apparently knocked them out for a few months, but they're back.