MTHTrains DASH-8 DIESEL ENGINE Operating Instructions Manual
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MTHTrains DASH-8 DIESEL ENGINE Operating Instructions Manual

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MTH DASH-8 DIESEL ENGINE
OPERATING INSTRUTIONS
Thank you for purchasing the MTH Electric Trains Dash-8 diesel
locomotive. This ¼" scale reproduction of the famous Dash-8 locomotive
consist measures over 18" in length and weighs over 6 pounds. Despite its
scale size, the locomotive is capable of operating on O-31 3-rail track with
any compatible AC transformer (see the chart on page 34 for a complete
list of compatible transformers and wiring instructions) and is completely
compatible with most other 3-rail locomotives, rolling stock and
accessories.
The locomotive is equipped with several deluxe features that are simple
and fun to operate. Each feature is described among the following pages
which should be read before the engine is operated. For those of you who
can't wait to get started, the Quick Start Basic Operating Instructions
found on Pages 3 through 5 should be read so that you understand the basics
of the operating system. Please note that some features are only found in
the ProtoSound® models and are marked as such. Features not marked as
ProtoSound features are available in all models.
E L E C T R I C
T R A I N S
R

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Summary of Contents for MTHTrains DASH-8 DIESEL ENGINE

  • Page 1 E L E C T R I C T R A I N S MTH DASH-8 DIESEL ENGINE OPERATING INSTRUTIONS Thank you for purchasing the MTH Electric Trains Dash-8 diesel locomotive. This ¼” scale reproduction of the famous Dash-8 locomotive consist measures over 18”...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    Table Of Contents QUICK START - BASIC OPERATION PROTOSOUNDS® OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS DCRU® Reverse Unit Operation(All 3-Rail Models) Horn Operation Bell Operation ProtoCoupler® Operation Squeaking Brake Sounds Tips On Using Squeaking Brakes Passenger Station Sounds (PFA) Tips On Using The Passenger Station Sounds Self-Recharging Battery Backup System Replacing The Battery ProtoSound®...

  • Page 3: Quick Start - Basic Operation

    QUICK START - BASIC OPERATION The MTH Dash-8 contains state-of-the art electronics with several built-in automatic features for incredibly realistic operation. Despite these advanced features, the Dash-8 is easy to operate with any compatible standard AC transformer (see the compatibility chart on page 34). All models are equipped with an operating smoke system that should be primed with smoke fluid before operating.
  • Page 4 PROTOSMOKE™ UNIT OPERATION The Dash-8 contains a self-powered smoke unit that outputs a steady stream of smoke through the smoke stack on the roof of the engine. The ON/OFF switch located next to the power truck must be in the ON position in order for the smoke unit to function. See Fig. 1 on page 3.
  • Page 5 PROTOSOUNDS® INSTRUCTIONS The MTH ProtoSound® digital sound and train control system provides the operator with unprecedented realistic operation on your model railroad. In addition to actual diesel engine, CD-equivalent 16-bit digital sounds, you get the following features: * Built-In DCRU Reverse Unit * Authentic Diesel Engine Horn Sound * Authentic Diesel Engine Bell Sound * Squeaking Brake Sound * Passenger Station Sounds * Operating Remote Controlled ProtoCoupler™...

  • Page 6: Horn Operation

    system, transformer and engine are operating correctly. This takes approximately 2.2 seconds during which you will hear the engine’s startup sounds begin. In order for ProtoSounds to properly initiate the system check, do not advance the transformer throttle past 10 volts when you first enter RESET, wait for the diesel startup sounds to begin and then slowly turn the transformer throttle to the off position and then back on again to enter the forward phase.

  • Page 7: Protocoupler® Operation

    Lionel® Railsounds® No. 5906 Bell Button, by simply pushing the button. If you don’t have a separate bell button, the bell can be controlled through your transformer’s whistle button whenever the engine is in NEUTRAL. The bell will never ring continuously in RESET (Remember NEUTRAL is the state between Forward and Reverse).

  • Page 8: Squeaking Brake Sounds

    When the knuckle fires open you will hear the buzzing of the coil energizing and the sound of the air lines coming apart. It can best be described as a CHA-CHUSHHH sound. The coupler doesn’t’t have to be fired in NEUTRAL. Once the coupler is armed it can be fired Lubricate Coupler Rivet in Forward, Neutral or Reverse.
  • Page 9 and is explained in more detail in the “Activating Freight Yard Sounds” section found later in this manual. The sound itself is a stored record on the ProtoSounds software chip and will always play the same brake sound for the same three second length each time the voltage is reduced from high to low.
  • Page 10 PASSENGER ANNOUNCEMENTS (PFA) ProtoSounds is now equipped with operator controlled passenger station announcements, hereby known as PFA. This easy to use feature plays digitally reproduced passenger station sounds whenever your engine stops at a train station on your layout. No additional wires or modifications are needed on your layout to enjoy these amazing sound effects.
  • Page 11 the bell chiming turn on and if you listen carefully you should hear an air release sound after three seconds have passed at which time you can release because the air release sound is hard to hear, we Note: the bell button. ( recommend that you count out a full three seconds before releasing the bell button.) The bell will continue to chime, so if you want to turn off the bell ringing, simply press and release the bell button a second time.
  • Page 12 ACTIVATING AND TRIGGERING PASSENGER STATION ANNOUNCEMENTS Before PFA can be heard the feature must be activated first. Activation is accomplished by holding down the bell button for three or more seconds as described in the Activating and Triggering The Passenger Station Sounds section found earlier on page 10.
  • Page 13 II. After entering neutral, ProtoSounds will immediately play an air release sound followed approximately two seconds later by an arrival message. The arrival message lists the train by name and the track it arrived on Listen For Air Release Sound And Cab Chatter Message (the track is identified as either track 1 or track 2, alternating each time during the...
  • Page 14 This is followed by a public address message that the train on track 1 or 2 (whichever track number the arriving public address message stated) is now boarding. Upon completion of the PA message, two conductor voice highlights randomly begin playing. These conductor voices include “Welcome Aboard”...
  • Page 15 TIPS ON USING THE PFA FEATURES PFA is a unique feature of ProtoSounds that is completely controlled by the operator. You decide how, when or if you want to utilize the feature. By reviewing following tips you should find solutions or suggestions to the various operating scenarios you might encounter when using PFA.

  • Page 16: Self-Recharging Battery Backup System

    SELF-RECHARGING BATTERY BACKUP ProtoSounds® state-of-the-art design includes a self-recharging battery backup system for improved performance at any speed. The self-recharging battery backup system is automatically turned on or off whenever track power is turned on or off. There are no switches to turn on or off to enjoy the benefits of the automatic battery backup system.

  • Page 17: Protosound® Volume Adjustment

    PROTOSOUND® VOLUME ADJUSTMENT Your ProtoSound® system has two types of volume adjustment. A manual turn knob on the bottom of the chassis (See Fig. 4 below) allows you to control all the sounds in the system and a remote control “RESET" option (Option # 6), allows you to control the volume level of the engine sounds remotely from the transformer.

  • Page 18: Using "Reset" To Program Protosounds

    USING “RESET" TO PROGRAM PROTOSOUNDS® As mentioned earlier, there are several programmable options in each ProtoSound-equipped engine that can be remotely set from any compatible standard AC transformer equipped with a whistle button. For a list of compatible transformers, see the chart on page 34. This hands-off approach gives you unprecedented control of your railroad empire’s motive power never before seen in model railroading.

  • Page 19: Setting The Engine Volume

    times the throttle is advanced by playing back the number of “Clinks" and “Clanks" to confirm the feature you’ve selected. SETTING THE ENGINE VOLUME Of all the sounds that come with each ProtoSound-equipped locomotive, the one most often turned down is that of the engine volume because it is the one sound normally heard whenever the engine is running and is what usually can become tiresome to the ear over prolonged running sessions.

  • Page 20: Programming For A Separate Bell Button Controller

    PROGRAMMING FOR A SEPARATE BELL BUTTON CONTROLLER To operate ProtoSounds with a separate bell button controller, like the Lionel® No. 5906 bell button, you will need to wire up the controller to your Common transformer and track as shown in Fig. 5. Once the button is RED Wire BLACK Wire wired, ProtoSounds comes...

  • Page 21: Programming For Horn In Neutral Operation

    Feature 45. (See the section Using RESET To Program ProtoSounds® on page 18). Once in Feature 45, press the whistle button and wait for the module to sound a bell ding(s). Continue pressing the whistle button until the module plays back one ding for option 1 - Squeaking brakes are activated by the bell button.

  • Page 22: Programming For Protocoupler Operation

    you are in neutral, you can blow the horn with the transformer whistle button. To reset ProtoSounds to its original factory setting of no horn in neutral, repeat the above procedure but keep pressing the whistle button in Feature 25 until ProtoSounds only dings once instead of twice. Note: When “Horn In Neutral"...
  • Page 23 ProtoSounds® to sound a bell ding(s). Continue pressing the whistle button on and off until ProtoSounds sounds two bell dings (signifying that the PFA features have been turned off). Simply turn the In RESET Mode transformer throttle OFF Move The Throttle Push The Whistle Button Up &...

  • Page 24: Resetting All Protosound® Options To Factory Defaults

    Alternatively, you can go to RESET Feature 18 to reset all ProtoSound features back to their original factory defaults including Remote Lockout Control. RESETTING ALL PROTOSOUND® OPTIONS TO FACTORY DEFAULTS ProtoSounds® is equipped with a RESET feature (Feature 18) that resets all programmable options back to their original factory settings.

  • Page 25: Locking The Engine Into Forward Or Reverse

    REVERSE UNIT LOCK-OUT OPERATION ProtoSound’s unique design eliminates the need for a lock-out switch on the locomotive by allowing the customer to lock the engine into any directional state (forward, neutral or reverse) from the transformer. This will allow users to run the engine on layouts equipped with block signals or stop stations which would normally cycle the engine back into neutral.
  • Page 26 : When locking the engine in the Forward or Reverse positions, the whistle button will NOTE blow the horn. But when locking the engine into the NEUTRAL position, the whistle button may turn on or off sounds of the bell, coupler arming or coupler firing depending on the transformer throttle voltage settings prior to the user’s attempt to lock out the engine.

  • Page 27: Oil & Lubrication Instructions

    OIL & LUBRICATION INSTRUCTIONS In order for the engine to perform correctly and quietly, it is important that the chassis be lubricated before operation. Lubrication should include all truck block bushings and pickup rollers to prevent them from squeaking. Use light household oil and follow the lubrication points marked “L" in Fig. 7 below.

  • Page 28: Traction Tire Replacement Instructions

    Once the motor mount screw has been removed, pull the motor away from the truck block and lightly coat the motor worm gear and bronze drive gear (in the truck block) with grease. Reassemble the truck and motor, being careful not to pinch the pickup and ground wires between the truck block and motor mount.
  • Page 29 occur, you will need to remove the trucks and truck sides on the truck block from the chassis in order to slip the new tire over the grooved drive wheel. We suggest you follow the disassembly instructions found in the Lubrication section on the preceding pages to dissemble the chassis and truck blocks from the body.

  • Page 30: Trouble Shooting Protosound® Problems

    TROUBLE SHOOTING PROTOSOUND® PROBLEMS Although ProtoSound® has been designed and engineered for ease of use, some questions may arise during initial operation. The following table should answer most questions. If you find that your problem can’t be resolved with this manual, contact MTH ProtoSound Electronics (7020 Columbia Gateway Drive, Columbia, MD 21046, 410-381-2580) for additional assistance.
  • Page 31 COUPLER PROBLEMS REMEDY DIESEL START/CAB CHATTER REMEDY LOCKOUT PROBLEMS REMEDY VOLUME PROBLEMS REMEDY MTH Dash-8 Operating Manual...
  • Page 32 BATTERY PROBLEMS REMEDY RESET PROBLEMS REMEDY BRAKE SOUND PROBLEMS REMEDY MTH Dash-8 Operating Manual...

  • Page 33: Protosound Reset Feature Chart

    PFA PROBLEMS REMEDY PROTOSOUND RESET FEATURE CHART The following chart lists the available features found in your ProtoSound equipped locomotive. The default settings for each feature as well as the operation sequence of the feature are listed in separate columns. You can reset all features to their original factory settings by accessing Feature 18 in RESET and press and hold the transformer whistle button until you hear a soft, warbled bell sound.

  • Page 34: Transformer Wiring Chart

    TRANSFORMER WIRING CHART ProtoSounds® is designed to work with any standard AC transformer that uses a “Pure Sine-Wave" format. The chart below lists the many Lionel® compatible transformers, such as the Lionel KW or ZW models. In addition, the chart details how the terminals on these compatible transformers should be attached to your layout.

  • Page 35: O-31 Operation

    O-31 OPERATION While the MTH Dash-8 diesel is more than capable of operating on O-31 curves and switches, you may find that certain light freight cars are prone to derailing when being pulled or pushed by the MTH Dash-8 through O-31 switches.

  • Page 36: Service And Warranty Information

    SERVICE & WARRANTY INFORMATION HOW TO GET SERVICE UNDER THE TERMS OF THE LIMITED ONE YEAR WARRANTY For warranty repair, do not return your product to the place of purchase unless it was purchased from MTH Electric Trains in Columbia, MD. Instead, follow the instructions below to obtain warranty service as our dealer network is not prepared to service the product under the terms of this warranty.

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