I have a 50030 toy-transformer and the spring-loaded DC and AC contacts don't spring back like they should. The pack has no obvious places to disassemble it (no screws). Does anyone know how to get this apart and have you heard of the spring issue before?
Those spring-type terminals can certainly loose their spring over the years, especially if they've been holdign fairly heavy wire for a continuous period of time. There's not much can be done for them other than to replace them. I have no idea how you'd go about opening the LGB pack, if it's even openable it will likely use some oddball screws (for safety and liability reasons - they wanted to keep the end user from opening things up and either hurting themselves because they didn't unplug it first, or making a modification that would cause a fiere hazard. It's actually all part of later safety standards liek UL and CSL that the unit cannot be opened by the end user). Depending on the material that the terminals are made of, you MIGHT be able to sodler wires to the terminals, but be careful about overheating and either melting the case or unsoldering the wires INSIDE.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.