They are repairable if you can find the parts.

 

Take a look at the studs where the wires are attached.  The studs often work loose and loose connections can result in a lot of heat.  I have repaired a modern ZW that had a melted case due to a loose connection.

 

Earl

So, Lionel has smoking transformers, but most of their locos from ten yers ago

did not - even the ones with with smoke units. 

Amazing!

Lionel smoke units, in their locos., either don't smoke, or don't smoke well, but Lionel's newer ZW transformers smoke.

What, the?!!!!

Bring back good ole American craftspeople!!!!!!!

RJL

I disagree 100%.  My Legacy engine smoke quite well and with a little work my TMCC engines do quite fine.

 

And there in NO guarantee that an American worker would do any better.  The biggest advantage would be better over sight.

 

Amazing!

Lionel smoke units, in their locos., either don't smoke, or don't smoke well, but Lionel's newer ZW transformers smoke.

What, the?!!!!

Bring back good ole American craftspeople!!!!!!!

RJL

Hi Al, remember "POOP HAPPENS".

 

I think Earl suggestion  makes sense. If that dose n ot work bring it back to the dealer.

 

 

Good luck, I'm sure your problem will be taken care of by Lionel.

ZW back working at least A and D output.It seems the loco I put on the track had a seized gear box ( piece of metal stuck in gears) and whEN I tried to go forward it would stick.Anyway loco works OK now on test track after cleaned.

 

Re installed ZW and it seems to be operating , no smoke! i am opnly getting current from post A and D though.No matter what I do I cannot get current from B and C.

 

 It must be that faulty engine was on the circuit board that handles posts B and C and cooked that part of the board.  Unless the breakers kicked on the 2 bricks but I doubt that.

 

Doug

Al B, Are you sure its a ZW and not a Backshop? (just kidding) seriously, I would recommend resetting the throttles, sometimes the dumbest of things can cause the pot references to go squirrelly. If you are unfamiliar with the process check out the product video on Lionel.com (under customer services). If that doesn't get it, we do repair ZW-C's in Lionel service. Thanks, Mike

Maybe I missed it, but are we talking postwar or modern remake?

This is latest  ZW, item number 6-32930.Will try resetting as suggesting.

Try a recal of the throttles.  Maybe the B and C throttles accidentally got caled in the max position, which would force the voltages to zero.  I doubt if that is the problem, but it is easy to perform the re-cal.

 

Earl

This is good reminder to keep all power supplies off when not in the room? 

Dick, did you replace it with another ZW or go MTH Z 4000?Al B

Two ZW transformers (late 1950's/early 60's Vintage) run my layout. I've had one since I was about 10 years old, have melted wires with it, have run engines and trains off the tracks, and have beat the heck out of it.  Both still work like new.  Generally products that were manufactured in the USA's powerful and productive industrial past were made to last and last and they did. We've come a long way down.

Well the cheapest way to go is the ZW's of the past. However,  are they the safest?
I recommend some fast acting circuit breakers. And an updated cord. And did somebody say rollers?  I went through many until I added my circuit breakers.

John,

 

Where did you get your circuit breakers, and how expensive were they.  I am currently using fast blow fuses (Fussies) and I've gone through more than I care to count in the last 3 years.  It gets old fast crawling under the layout to change 'em!!!

MartyE,

You have a point there.

But, you are an American worker, who does very good work and you stand behind your work.

For the most part, local providers, who have to insure themselves, want to have NO liabilities regarding their services and products!!!!

Are, the big manufacturers going to be liable, when something happens, due to imported goods, when they can afford big corporate lawyers to protect them?
Ralph-RJL 

I own one of the ZW Transformers from 2000 production,sent it back three times and to this day it still has problems as well as my Backshop which resides in a box,money down the drain,so now Lionel comes out with another ZW,I wonder how long that will last,maybe they should have found a fix for the previous production units.

Try Digikey, they have a lot of them.  Here's a 10A Panel Mounted one, obviously they have other values as well.

Thanks for the link!

 

John,

 

I followed the link, they seem great!  But I can't get the data sheet link to work.  What is their reaction time?  I was looking at some,available, locally, that would take anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes to trip, way to long to protect anything!  Would expect these to be fast acting, right?

I got the datasheet immediately, here's the link.

 

In looking, they do seem a little slow, I think I'd probably go with the 6A models, for 12A they'll trip pretty quickly, and they'll take an hour at 125% of rating.