ZW on the porch!

Henning's Trains has a lot of ZW parts, check with them.

Dave, given the shape it's in, check carefully the rollers and the coils where the roller touch.  On these ZWs, if the roller is not replaced when it wears down, the brackets can cut into the coils, which is not repairable I am told.  Rollers and rivets are readily available. 

The ZW is fine for DCS, but for any use external breakers in the output circuits are essential to protect the transformer.

RJR,  The two rollers that are still there are in good shape and the coils don't look damaged.  Of course I would replace all 4 rollers with new but if I can't find the inner short roller arm and it's associated parts, it probably is not worth repairing. 

I'll call Hennings in the morning. 

My plan is to use it for a 4x6 or 4x8 postwar layout, not DCS.

Another good source for parts is The Train Tender, Jeff is very good with parts.

Don't spend too much to fix it. I saw them working as low as $95. at York.

Dave, bear in mind that even if you can't get the parts to render all four outputs operable, the others can be used and you have a 10-amp, sine wave power supply.

Eddie, if I were buying a used ZW, I'd want the seller to remove the top so I could see the guts, especially rollers & coil.

Believe it or not, Jeff Kane at The Train Tender has all the parts I need.  They will be on their way by Wed.  Hopefully I will get this ZW back into operation.  The top of the case has already cleaned up very nicely. 

I believe.  He usually does.

Jeff is one of the good guys, and he really does come through on stuff like this.

PD,

   A while back we had a thread on ZW's and where to get them repaired & rebuilt, should come up in a ZW search here on the forum, still lots of businesses around doing it if you do not want to do it your self.

RGD/Dave

The hardest part about a rebuild is pressing the handle shaft pparts against thespring while trying to place the holder.  Barry B gave me a hint about replacing the rivet, but in a senior moment, I forget what he said.  It avoids having to take handle shaft apart.

Pine Creek, I'm doing this one myself.  Costs too much to ship something as heavy as a ZW and I enjoy 'fixing' stuff!  

RJR, Yes, it will be interesting to see how hard it will be to put that inner arm on against the spring tension and then put the pin in.  Life is an adventure!

Happy Veteran's Day to all of you who served!!  Yesterday was the Marine Corps birthday too!  Semper Fi to all you former Marines!

Platoon 290, 2nd Bn Parris Island, 1966, our latest reunion! We used to be lean and mean, now we are just mean!

PD,

   Thanks much for your service to our Country, no such thing as a former Marine, once a Marine always a Marine, same goes for the US Army CID Agents, once a CID Agent always a CID Agent. 

Thanks again for your service Marine.

PCRR/Dave

Dave, it helps to have a second person.

OGR Forum member tranz4mr has excellent tips for ZW and other transformer restoration on his website ZW page.

Thought I'd mention since we're on the topic---

I bought a ZW from a forum member, Paul Foster (OGR forum name is og fan) last year.  He rebuilds ZWs and does a fantastic job. I saw him mention his work in a ZW thread here last year and contacted him. Great to deal with, good communication, and sells a quality product at a fair price. Very satisfied!  

Paul's email: 1pfoster@optonline.net

I find the easy way to get the pin back in is to::  set the zw on a table near the edge, get the handle,spring and arm lined up, press your chest against the handle while compressing it all togeather and slip the pin in.  can be rough on fingertips ?  or get a helper ?

Barry reminded me.  Inxtead of strugglimg to peen the rivet end, he just puts a drpp of solder on the head.  Haven't tried it, but it sounds good.