Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines

@Junkologist I know this is a very old post but I was running a B33 that my brother picked up from @txlabman and it died this morning.  While looking at the one that I already have it seems someone worked on its transformer and I think some of the windings are gone, though hard to tell really as I was looking at it from the top of the cylinder facade.  But I can 100% see the windings are loose at the top of the transformer!  Likely why I always thought it ran a bit slow / under powered.

Anyways, yours is slightly different from the one that died on me today.  This one has two leads off the top of the transformer, the far left is input AC - then the top right went to the engine.  Then at the bottom there were three leads, the left two went to the other input AC and switch.  The right went to the engine.  Interestingly the middle lead actually was two leads from the transformer twisted together all the way into the winding.

Now I am trying to source a powerful enough transformer that will fit into the cylinder facade and not burn up.  I first tried a "doorbell" transformer that have 24v AC.  It ran slow, then died too - which I assumed it would.  I was surprised it ran at all on the little doorbell transformer!  Next up is a AC/AC 24v @2A wall adapter, a 2-pack I ordered off Amazon (brand Jameco Electronics).  Before this I ran the engine straight off my Mophorn AC Auto Transformer and it ran like a banshee at 24v AC but it can supply a ton of amps too.  This may run for a bit and die too but I am hoping the windings hold up being rated at 2 amps.

Anyways, I came here to the forums to see if anyone replaced a Empire's B-33 transformer and figured I'd reply to your thread... it seemed so lonely ;-)

That's interesting, mine ran for about 5 or so minutes then died!  And it ran no where as fast as before (or as on the variable AC supply set at 24v) when on the doorbell transformer.  Though I bet not all doorbell transformers are the same.

I have high hopes for the 24v/50av (~2 amps / 50 watts) wall adapter.

I thought I take photos of the other wall wart after I broke it open and the transformer out.  I just used a flat head screw driver and a mallet to break the glue.  The original transformer is rather tall and is 3lbs 4oz and the one from the wall wart is much shorter @ 2lbs 6oz.  Comparing the windings, the wall wart the copper is higher gauge wirer (larger).  This is good as the transformer should hold up well to the coils charging/discharging.

Now to come up with some brackets for better mounting to the B-33's base.  Hanger strap material is a bit to pliable, so something a bit stiffer but still where I could bend/form it around the transformer's metal core and have it rise up to have two feet attached.  Perhaps I could walk around Lowes and find something.

The B-33 I have had for a while now was worked on, this can easily be seen when looking at the bottom of the engine (last phot).  There is a mess of different color wires and shrink tube.  It's like the previous owner used anything he had lying around!  Then when I looked a bit closer inside the tank the other day, I could tell the transformer had been undone a bit.  I'll be replacing all that mess of random wire/shrink tube for the 24v lines with new black single copper core 22 AWG wire when I tackle the its transformer.

I fell back to hanger straps... I was in the garage and the installer used that stuff for my garage door motor and its been up there for over 20 years.  I figured it would work on this little transformer holding it down.  I wrapped it around the metal core of the transformer, slipped in the original screws (needed to drill the holes a bit to line up with the base), and then pitched it together at the bottom with a new screw/nut keeping it tight. 

With the savings of buying random metal parts to make another type of brace I am going to get a new power cord that has a outer cloth covering.  I found this place online that has a great selection: 8' Flat 2-Wire Cloth Covered Cord with Plug Attached - Snake Head Vintage

Great fix, Rich!
Do you have a link for those transformers you bout off Amazon?

Okay, here is likely my last B-33 video showing off the new cord from Snake Head Vintage and how the paddle works with the coils.