Skip to main content

I bought a PW-ZW at York. It works great except for the fact that when I push the whistle lever, the bell rings. I didn't have this problem when I had my CW or my KW connected to the track. I haven't changed any of the wiring so I'm wondering could there be something with how the transformer is wired for the whistle. When I run the trains on the club layout which also has a ZW and I push the whistle lever, the whistles work, plus when I run my PW 2037 2-6-4 on my layout, the tender whistle works, but all the other engines if they respond, the bell rings. The guy I bought it from has a good reputation for his transformers, but before I call him I want to see if there is anything I can do. I should just install the diode that replaces the disc. The video on YouTube that shows how to do the replacement was not done very well and I got nothing usable from it.

100_4130

100_4134

Attachments

Images (2)
  • 100_4130
  • 100_4134
Last edited by DennyM
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

You could reverse the wiring going to the rails (provided that won't interfere with other wiring from other transformers). If you have U going to the outside rail(s), switch it so U is going to the center rail.

 

The postwar tender whistle relays weren't polarity sensitive, so your 2037's whistle tender should work regardless of how the wiring from the transformer to the rails are hooked up.

 

Hope this helps,

 

J White

 

Originally Posted by j white:

You could reverse the wiring going to the rails (provided that won't interfere with other wiring from other transformers). If you have U going to the outside rail(s), switch it so U is going to the center rail.

 

The postwar tender whistle relays weren't polarity sensitive, so your 2037's whistle tender should work regardless of how the wiring from the transformer to the rails are hooked up.

 

Hope this helps,

 

J White

 

I'm going to try that. My biggest issue is my remote switch tracks. I'm not sure if switching the wires will be that simple without having to rewire them.

If my memory serves correctly, the new selenium rectifier discs sold for use in the PW Lionel transformers generate a DC voltage of the opposite polarity from the original copper oxide rectifiers. This makes no difference when running PW equipment, as the whistle relays are not polarity sensitive, but it will indeed reverse the bell and whistle functions on newer equipment. Jeff at The Train Tender has some "polarity reversal discs" that will let you reverse the new rectifier discs to return the whistle control to the same polarity as the originals. Give him a call.

 

This of course assumes that your transformer has the new rectifier discs installed. 

Last edited by PLCProf

Add Reply

Post

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×