bullfroggs - I'm a little uncomfortable trying to troubleshoot a transformer from a distance - especially without having the insides laid out in front of me. Its important to remember that unlike troubleshooting/repairing most other toy train/model railroad electrical or electronic devices - where the maximum voltages don't get beyond 10 or 20 volts, the primary side of a transformer operates at 120 VAC and house current. So its possible to get in trouble. Its one thing to burn out a motor or fry a solenoid that is working at 15 VAC, but quite another to have something wired incorrectly or simply inadvertently have something break loose inside and lead to a fire or worse, a serious electrical shock.
If the internal wiring has been messed with, that could be a sign that the transformer might not be working correctly and the previous owner got 'stuck' trying to diagnose/fix it. So I think my first advice would be to see if there is a local hobby shop or electrical shop that can look at it - or recommend someone who could.
If you have it taken apart and could post pictures, some of us might be able to help further, but with all due respect, if the wiring diagram on the website I posted earlier doesn't make sense to you (its a bit hard to read, without blowing it up a bit), then maybe you don't want to tackle it. And I say that only because the transformer does, eventually, get plugged into the 120 VAC. No offense intended.
- Rich
