Rail King DASH-8 DIESEL ENGINE Operating Instructions Manual
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Rail King DASH-8 DIESEL ENGINE Operating Instructions Manual

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R
K
AIL
ING
®
By MTH Electric Trains
RAILKING DASH-8 DIESEL ENGINE

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

Thank you for purchasing the RailKing® production of General Electric's
Dash-8 diesel engine. The engine's durable ABS body and die-cast trucks
are traditionally sized for operation on any O-27 Gauge track. The engine
should operate for years with any compatible AC transformer (see the chart
on page 35 for a list of compatible transformers) and is completely
compatible with most 3-rail locomotives, rolling stock and accessories.
The locomotive is equipped with either an electronic horn or the
ProtoSound® Digital Sound and train control system which contains 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 and 4 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.

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Summary of Contents for Rail King DASH-8 DIESEL ENGINE

  • Page 1: Operating Instructions

    OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS Thank you for purchasing the RailKing® production of General Electric’s Dash-8 diesel engine. The engine’s durable ABS body and die-cast trucks are traditionally sized for operation on any O-27 Gauge track. The engine should operate for years with any compatible AC transformer (see the chart on page 35 for a list of compatible transformers) and is completely compatible with most 3-rail locomotives, rolling stock and accessories.

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

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

  • Page 3: Quick Start - Basic Operation

    QUICK START - BASIC OPERATION The RailKing 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 35). All models are controlled by a ProtoSound®...

  • Page 4: Protosounds® Operating Instructions

    PROTOSOUNDS® OPERATING 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 ProtoSound® DCRU® Reverse Unit * Authentic Diesel Engine Horn Sound * Authentic Diesel Engine Bell Sound * Squeaking Brake Sound * Freight Yard Sounds * Operating Remote Controlled ProtoCoupler™...

  • Page 5: Protosound® Dcru® Reverse Unit Operation(All 3-Rail Models)

    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 6: Protocoupler™ Operation

    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). Once the bell is turned on, it will continue to ring when the engine is cycled into forward or reverse until you press the bell button or re-enter NEUTRAL and turn the bell off with the whistle button.

  • Page 7: Squeaking Brake Sounds

    However, you may find that the coupler doesn’t open when firing the coupler at high speeds. Reduce the voltage setting on your transformer if this occurs and run your engine at a slower speed before firing the coupler. If the coupler continues to open erratically, try lubricating the knuckle with light oil as indicated in Fig.

  • Page 8: Tips On Using Squeaking Brakes

    time the voltage is reduced from high to low. Some practice may be required to synchronize the playing of the brake sounds with the movement of the engine. It is not uncommon for the engine to stop before the brake sound is completed.

  • Page 9: Freight Yard Sounds (Fys)

    FREIGHT YARD SOUNDS (FYS) ProtoSounds® comes equipped with operator controlled Freight Yard Sounds, hereby referred to as FYS. This easy to use feature plays digitally reproduced freight yard sounds whenever your engine stops on your layout and is parked in the Neutral position. No additional wires or modifications are needed on your layout to enjoy these amazing sound effects.
  • Page 10 Note: release the bell button. ( because the air release sound is hard to hear, we 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 11 ACTIVATING AND TRIGGERING FREIGHT YARD SOUNDS Before FYS 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 Squeaking Brake Sounds section found earlier.
  • Page 12 B. After entering Neutral, ProtoSounds® will immediately play an air release sound followed approximately 2 seconds later by a Cab Chatter Arrival Message. The arrival message announces what yard the engine has arrived in Listen For Air Release Sound And Cab Chatter Message (the yard is described as either Yard A or Yard B, alternating each time FYS is enabled during the current operating session.

  • Page 13: Tips On Using The Freight Yard Sounds

    Event 5: The operator now interrupts the transformer throttle again to enter the next FYS phase; Event 5. FYS confirms to the operator that it has entered the Event 5 phase by playing the sound of the freight car door closing.
  • Page 14 throttle very high when entering Event 3. If the throttle is set too high, then the second locomotive will begin vibrating on the track as its motors will be turning in the reverse state since they cannot be disabled automatically like FYS equipped engines.

  • Page 15: Self-Recharging Battery Backup System

    SELF-RECHARGING BATTERY BACKUP SYSTEM 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 16: 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 17: 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 35. This hands-off approach gives you unprecedented control of your railroad empire’s motive power never before seen in model railroading.

  • Page 18: 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 19: 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®...

  • Page 20: Programming For Horn In Neutral Operation

    Feature 45. (See the section Using RESET To Program ProtoSounds® on page 17 ). 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 21: Programming For Cab Chatter Sounds

    Now, whenever 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.

  • Page 22: Programming For Protocoupler Operation

    PROGRAMMING FOR PROTOCOUPLER OPERATION ProtoSounds® comes with a RESET feature that allows the operator to remotely turn off the ProtoCoupler™ functions. This is especially useful when double or triple-heading ProtoSound® equipped engines since every engine equipped with a ProtoCoupler™ will fire when prompted to by the operator.

  • Page 23: Activating Reverse Unit Lock-Out Control

    that the FYS features have been turned off). Simply turn the transformer throttle OFF and then ON again to lock in the new setting. To reset ProtoSounds® to its original factory setting of Squeaking Brakes and FYS on, repeat the above procedure but keep pressing the whistle button in Feature 28 until ProtoSounds®...

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

    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. This is a useful feature if you find your engine not operating the way you think it should and don’t want to take the time to check each RESET feature one at a time.

  • Page 25: Reverse Unit Lockout Control Functions

    REVERSE UNIT LOCK-OUT OPERATION ProtoSounds® 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: Manual Reverse Unit Lockout

    NOTE: When locking the engine in the Forward or Reverse positions, the whistle button will 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. Lubricate (L) Pickup Rollers Grease (G) Lubricate (L)

  • Page 28: Traction Tire Replacement Instructions

    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. Repeat the procedure for the other motor and truck and then reassemble the chassis to the body.

  • Page 29: Light Bulb Removal & Replacement

    over the wheel. If a twist occurs, the tire will have to be removed and reinstalled or a noticeable wobble in your engine will occur when operating the locomotive. In addition, it is important to make sure that the tire is fully seated inside the groove.

  • 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 (9693-A Gerwig Lane, Columbia, MD 21046, 410-381-2580) for additional assistance.
  • Page 31 COUPLER PROBLEMS REMEDY The power required to fire the coupler open when the engine is on the “Fly” may be greater than the ProtoSound system is capable of providing. As a result, you may experience times when the coupler The ProtoCoupler won’t let the engine uncouple on the won’t fire open.
  • Page 32 BATTERY PROBLEMS REMEDY I get no sounds when the engine shifts between the The battery may be dead or needs charging. See the direction states. Battery Backup section for more information. After I turn off my transformer, my engine continues to ProtoSounds continues to sound for approximately 10 make sounds before quitting with a ding of its bell.
  • Page 33 FYS PROBLEMS REMEDY The power was not turned back on once the engine enter the neutral state thus disabling FYS.The The FYS feature does not begin even after stopping transformer throttle was interrupted too quickly in the engine and hearing the brake sounds. neutral thus disabling FYS.

  • Page 34: Protosound Reset Feature Chart

    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 35: 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 36: O-27 Operation

    O-27 OPERATION While the RailKing Dash-8 diesel is more than capable of operating on O-27 curves and switches, you may find that certain light freight cars are prone to derailing when being pulled or pushed by the RailKing Dash-8 through O-27 switches. Should this occur, we suggest adding weight to the cars making them heavier and less likely to derail.

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