Hello All:
I'm at the end of rebuilding an old Lionel Z transformer and I wish to ask the correct way the control knobs fit onto the metal faceplate. The knobs I have are original ones off of a scrapped Z that have the metal tension band around the lower narrower neck and not a set screw. The metal face plate has holes for the knobs punched into it that mushroom out on the ventral side. My problem is that with the metal tension band on the narrow neck of the knobs they do not fit through the holes of the face plate. When I bought this Z the old knobs were installed with the tension bands pushed up to the wider neck portion. This allowed for too much play, in my estimation, of the knob on the face plate (side to side) and thus rub marks on the face plate. Do I have to compress the metal bands somehow to get them in the hole for a tighter fit? I take it the metal tension bands should ultimately be between the plastic neck of the knob and the aluminum face plate hole--or am I wrong? I'm just trying to tighten up any lateral play on these knobs as they sit on the face plate. Thanks for letting me tap into your experience.
Mickey Demian
The band should be on the wider part. The narrower part should protrude about 3/16 inch beyond the band. That narrower part should fit into the hole in the faceplate, with just enough clearance to allow the shaft to turn freely. The hole should be punched inward, into the transformer box to provide a lip just below the surface for the narrow part to bear against.
If the knob is making circular marks on the faceplate, you should be able to correct that just by not pushing it quite all the way onto the shaft.
Bob Nelson
Thank You Bob for the explanation on how knob is to be assembled. You answered my questions. My replacement knobs all had the bands on the lower narrow shaft--thus my questioning.
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