CW-80 noisey fan..

IMO, leave the fan alone. Start worrying when it stops making noise.

If you do want to replace it, take the CW80 apart, remove the fan, take the fan to a nearby computer store. Find a fan of similar size and similar bolt pattern.
I doubt you will find a replacement from Lionel.

If you do open your CW80 to remove the fan, there should be a label on the fan that will possibly have a model number/manufacturer/voltage & curent ratings. It may not, but normally there is one.

You do not need a triangular screwdriver. I use a narrow-bladed regular screwdriver that spans one side of the triangle.

I ground one corner off a square screwdriver.
Also, I had a noisy fan and rearranged some stuff inside that was vibrating against the fan housing and now it's quiet.

Thanks guys. I like the grinding idea. i just didn't have the patience tonight. Iground the heck out of a bit and only succeded in a smoldering cinder in the grinder The only screwdriver I had, that was small enough, I couldn't budge any of the screws. Sadly, there were no tool vendors at greenberg. I bet they have the right bit.

get a cheap small torx set [ home depot] ? squirt some wd-40 on screws. jam a torx into the screw [not sure of correct size] but it works for me. throw away the screws. replace with phillips head screws. maybe some silicone around the fan ?

Or you could go the legit route with a BT-3R2 triangle recess driver.

Is this a bit? Or a bit with a long shaft? The triangle driver has to have a long shaft to get down to the screw...like a four inch long screwdriver.

I didn't get to this today. Footbal and putting away Christmas layout. I will post a solution, if it is different than suggested.I will post a vendor, if I find the screwdriver.

I had a old Phillips screwdriver that had seen it's better days. Took my time and grind a little off at time and test fitted. Works great and best of all I found the screwdriver in the trash!

This is the fan I have used on more than 1 CW-80. Ball bearing fans are quieter than the original sleeve bearing fans.

http://www.microcenter.com/sin...l?product_id=0253151

Marty R,
I had a CW-80 that was given to me, I used it for my small street car run, it gave me so many problems I finally just junked it. The smallest transforer I now use is an old KW and everything works much better now. I seriously recommend nothing smaller than an old KW for powering even small
layouts, the small transformers have never preformed well for me. Junk the CW-80 and pick up an old KW if you want to eliminate your problems.
PCRR

Make sure they are narrow enough at length to reach the screws in the CW80.

quote:

Originally posted by Lighthouse:
This one might work:

http://www.amazon.com/Silverhi...id=1326327681&sr=8-1

I ordered it. With free shipping, why not! Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by Lighthouse:
Great. Let us know if it works. Thanks!

Will do

I took a Torx T20 screwdriver and ground off every other point, it works just fine.

Steve

quote:

Originally posted by L and N:
This is the fan I have used on more than 1 CW-80. Ball bearing fans are quieter than the original sleeve bearing fans.

http://www.microcenter.com/sin...l?product_id=0253151

Hey guys. The screwdriver from Silverhill worked great. The fan above was out of stock. I found http://www.xsfans.com/index.ph...info&products_id=394

I have it on order.

The specs I think anyone needs are 40mmx40mmx10mm 2wire. I'm not sure what the 3rd wire on a lot of fans was. The quieter the better. Each fan listed a sound rating.

quote:

The specs I think anyone needs are 40mmx40mmx10mm 2wire.

And ball bearing for long life.

Sorry, Been offline a few days.
To remove the attenuator, gently pry off the orange throttle handle. it is a pressfit handle. You can then remove the nut that holds the attenuator.

Once you get to the fan carefully peel it's label back and put a drop of sewing machine oil on the bearing ans press the label back in place.

Carl

The best fix I've found for a CW-80 is an Atlas-O 80 watt transformer.

quote:

Originally posted by Lighthouse:
Thanks Marty. One down two to go....

And I am seriously considering a MTH Z4000. It seems to get great reviews everywhere including this forum.

If I had the money laying around, I'd do that too, but for 5 bucks, I'm gonna try and get another Christmas or 3 outta the CW 80.