Help with KW transformer [190 watt], trying to find blowup from Lionel site???]

[ChiefEagles]

Claims it never heard of it. Have it apart and want to clean it up and etc. What do you clean the pickups and fields with? Thinking of replacing the cord to three prong] and phasing it with the other transformers I have. Any suggestions. One of the "contol arms" had been cracked years ago and the glue has turned aloose. Re-gluing with slow drying hard epoxy. Thought I might do a little cleaning and etc while apart.

[Dr.Fu-Manchu]

The [}:)] Doctor is in! Chief, My first thought is: What The Heck Are You Doing?????
Opening up a transformer is a dicey operation unless you have a fair electrical back
-ground. I am not going to say you can't do it, But I myself am more inclined to take it
to a Lionel Dealer who has someone trained to repair Lionel items. Now that's out of
the way, you can buy replacement control arms from most parts dealers. So gluing
the old one can be a moot point. As to replacing the cord to a three prong grounded
cord, I have no idea if you can. I again feel that this should be left to a "Trained Person"
who knows what to do and not do. If you are dead set on your course of action, There
is in both Greenburg's Repair and Opreating Manual for Lionel Trains 1945-1969 and
in the K-Line repair guide(blue hard cover) for Lionel trains. I am not sure if the first one
is still in print or not, I bought mine on E-bay. The K-Line one is still in print. In Closing,
I still feel you should leave tranformer work to the folk trained to do it !!!! If you decide to
try your own repairs(internal) Then GO WITH GOD,MY SON!!, I warned you!!!
Till My Next Missive, I Remain The Humble Yet, [}:)] Doctor!!! (I am also an universalist
minister, just in case)

[Kooljock1]

LIONEL has not produced the KW at any time in the modern era (since well before 1969), so there would be no info for it on their web-site.

The Doctor is correct in regards to replacement parts for the KW. George Tebolt has the arms, the "A" and "B" buttons, the metal or plastic direction buttons, the orange "Whistle" handle, The metal top plate, and whatever else you might need, including a replacement TWO prong, phased power cord.

The innards are fairly simple, but you do need good skills with a soldering iron, and basic electrical knowledge. You may also want to check or replace the rollers and rectifier disks while in there too!

Jon [8D]

[ChiefEagles]

Done others before. Just been a few years [about 18]. Just wondered what to clean verything with. Could not remember is alcohol was OK. Don't want to desolve anything from that era varnish and etc. in transformer. Repair is done to control arm. Anyone familiar?

[jkerklo]

Alcohol is used for cleaning most anything electrical. I have used it for cleaning KWs before.

If you use a three-prong replacement cord, the cord's green wire can be used to ground the chasis (metal parts of case.) Three-prong cords are round, and larger than the original cord; you may have a problem squeezing the cord in the places it has to go.

I use a two-prong polarized cord. (One blade is bigger than the other). I install short cords (like two feet) since all my transformers connect to a power strip. That way, there is less excess cord to manage.

There is no single "right" way to phase. Either phasing will work, as long as all the track power transformers are the same. If you are using all PW transformers, pick one and make all the others match. If you have a modern transformer (already has a polarized plug) then phase all the PW transformers to it.

Only problem is you will want to perform the phasing with the case off, so you can easily change the phasing, if required. Just make all the connections, including your meter, with it unplugged, then plug it in to test phase, then pull the plug to complete the work.

John Kerklo
TCA 94-38455
www.Three-Rail.com

[ChiefEagles]

Thanks John. I had done some later model older ones with three prong and grounded the case. [I do all my elelctrical wireing and etc as took it at NCSU] I like your idea of the two prong as most everything is plastic on the case. Guess die-electric is fine for these old guys.

[ChiefEagles]

Well, I did not take the Dr's advice. I repaired the KW myself. Glad I took it apart. Cord had come apart in the knot. Do not know why it had not shorted out. Fixed the control arm and a crack that had been in the case since I had bought it years ago. [good waterproof epoxy that dries slowly] Found a terminal to one of the outside lugs was glued on and that was why it had a low voltage when I tested it [one of the constant voltage ones]. Soldered it together. Drilled the hole larger in plastic [think it is bacolite] on the back to use bigger cord. Also got the new cord [two wire phased plug] soldered in and the phase was right with a smaller transformer I had put a three prong cord on back in the 80's. Then I replaced the plug on another small transformer with a phased two prong plug. Everything is working great and phased together. Now it is hooked to test track up stairs. Will run all engines including two new Williams SD90's. Good afternoon's work. [:D]

[Jim Duda]

I want a picture of you with your KW and your SD90s and MY golden egg! Sounds like you're gettin' into the fun part of this hobby - runnin' your trains!

JD

[ChiefEagles]

Just a test track in half empty daughter's bedroom. If it had not been raining today [glad it did] I would have gotten most of the attic storage done. Worked on this instead and glad I did.

[Anonymous]

Chief:
I would be happy to send you, or any interested Forumite, a photo copy of operating instructions and Schematic Wiring Diagram for Lionel's KW Trainmaster. Provide me with your name and
mailing address and send your e-mail request to me at: [e-mail] and I'll mail them off to you.
Bill
www.modeltrainjournal.com

[Dr.Fu-Manchu]

The [}:)] Doctor is in!!!! Chief, It seems I owe you a Humble Pardon(bow & scrape) I
assumed that you were with out understanding in such matters! I have always left
matters that I don't know about to folk who do know. I am able to do most repairs my
-self, But I don't have the tools or knowhow for certain things, so the train shop gets
the work. But, I am willing to learn and share. May your departed elders smile on
you and yours! Till My Next Missive I Remain The Humble Yet[}:)] Doctor!!!

[ChiefEagles]

Thanks Doc. I work on cars and build buildings and garden. Even can do plumbing but do not care for it. Problem with doing all of that, wife and others thinks that you should do everything they want and in their time frame. [:D] That is now cutting into my fishing and train time. So I'm off this Thursday to do another Bass Pro Shops show and then I get nothing done. The overworked retiree. Thanks Bill. Email has been sent. Mighty nice of you.

[Anonymous]

NEED DIAGRAM FOR BACK OF KW 190 WATT LIONEL TRANSFORMER

[wrmcclellan]

RSYRAC,

Welcome to the CTT forum!

Here are some detailed drawings of the KW.

http://pictures.olsenstoy.com/searchcd31.htm?itm=657

Hope this helps.

BTW - The terminals work like this - all voltages are AC:

A-U and B-U are variable 6 - 20 volts to run trains.

C-D is a fixed 14 volts for accessories

C-U is a fixed 6 volts, but note it is not protected by the circuit breaker.

D-U is a fixed 20 volts

Regards,
Roy

[orangetrainman]

 George Tebolt has the arms, the "A" and "B" buttons, the metal or plastic direction buttons, the orange "Whistle" handle, The metal top plate, and whatever else you might need, including a replacement TWO prong, phased power cord.

dose anyone have a URL or e-mail address for George Tebot?

thanks

orangetrainman

[rtraincollector]

try Jeff at the train tender [e-mail]  or 585-229-2050 he should have what you need I found them on his web site so he should have them in stock

[TrainLarry]

  The website for George Tebolt is here.

Do not get a polarized cord. If you ever need to phase 2 transformers together with polarized plugs, you will need to do some surgery on the plugs.

Larry

[webenda]

.

[EJN]

Here is his email and product listing.   [e-mail] Eric

 

http://www.georgetebolt.com/postlist.html 

[Anonymous]

http://www.georgetebolt.com/

[RABELL]

I have a KW 190 transformer and I thought something is wrong with it as the B-U posts do not go to zero, only to about 7 volts, the A-U posts will go to zero volts and both will go to 20 volts on the high end. They will both go to zero if the reversing buttons are pushed and the 6, 14, & 20 volt terminals are all correct... Is this all normal??? Thanks for your help.. 

[ADCX Rob]

Re-test it with a load.

[rtraincollector]

I just want to put a non-related comment in here if I may this is the first time I have seen that someone actually dug/search the old topics for what there looking for to get help with there questions usually if you see a post that was started 11 years ago or so it's someone just looking for something to say and makes a comment that really doesn't aply or brings up a post that is so old it's way of doing it is not done anymore and hasn't for years 

thanks for doing it right