Need Help With My Lionel ZW-L

They make a replacement binding post that replaces the old riveted/staked style posts.

Search for T-159 BINDING POST REPAIR KIT

It's threaded on both sides you you just press or drill out the failed original, you insert this one, and use a nut on the inside of the transformer- easy fix.

Open the case and take a look, see how it is attached. The Lionel parts page does not break out the post but for the command binding post. You may be able to use a post war post or take the nut to a hardware store and make a new post.

Oh crap, I missed it was a ZW-L

I was thinking old school ZW.

Also- that looks toasty??? Did it melt the case?

So this search on Lionel support for ZW-L, there are 2 relevant parts breakdowns.

This first one shows the PCB inside- but the long screws part 18 are show and gives the data for them.

cs-6307921138-p

SCREW / PANHD # 8-32 X 1 3/8"

18

$1.10

Unavailable

https://www.lionelsupport.com/...EAKDOWN-630-7921-800

Now this second one shows the lower housing and the relevant stackup of nuts and washers to that terminal post

https://www.lionelsupport.com/...TROLLER-630-7921-245

I'd be very concerned about the melting case.

I agree with a few of the others.  Solve for the melting case first.  That's what caused the bolt to lose it's strength/temper.  And why no circuit breaker protection?

Many thanks to all of you. Honest reaction, I did not even realize the case had started to melt. I will send this to Lionel for repair.

It as melted because the nut came loose through time which being a loose connection creates heat which melted the case and connector ! you can replaced all the connector parts if your  comfortable but it your concerned  and   don't  believe you can handle the repair contact asc tech  , or a certified tech that can do the repair!

Alan