Lionel FT A-Unit Diesel Locomotiv User manual

Lionel
FT A-Unit Diesel
Locomotive
Owner’s Manual
Lionel
FT A-Unit Diesel
Locomotive
Owner’s Manual
73-4501-250
11/05

Congratulations on your purchase of the Lionel FT A-Unit Diesel Locomotive! This locomotive features dual-motors and a diesel horn.
Congratulations!
Powered locomotive features
• Transformer controlled forward, neutral and reverse operation
• Diesel horn
• Operating headlight
• One operating coupler
• Dual powerful, maintenance-free motors
• Four traction tires
• Metal frame
• Durable painted body
The following Lionel marks may be used throughout this instruction manual and are protected under
law. All rights reserved.
Lionel®, TrainMaster®, Odyssey®, RailSounds®, CrewTalk™, TowerCom™, DynaChuff™,
StationSounds™, Pullmor®, ElectroCoupler™, Magne-Traction®, CAB-1®Remote Controller,
PowerMaster®, Lionel ZW®, ZW®, PowerHouse®, TMCC®, Lionelville™, Lockon®, Wireless Tether™,
LionMaster®, FatBoy™, American Flyer®, TrainSounds™
The name FasTrack®is used with permission from Pitsco, Inc.

3
Table of contents
Locomotive operations
Running your locomotive with a Lionel transformer 4
Locking your locomotive into a single operational state 5
Uncoupling your locomotive 6
Sounding your locomotive’s horn 7
Locomotive maintenance
Lubricating your locomotive 8
Replacing your locomotive’s lamps 9
Replacing the traction tires 10
Notes 11
Limited Warranty/Lionel Service 12

4
3
3Move ‘em out!
Get your locomotive moving. Press the DIRECTION button on your Lionel
transformer. This sequences the reverse unit to the next operating state in the
repeating sequence: forward, neutral, reverse, and neutral.
Adjust track voltage until your locomotive moves at your desired speed. To
increase speed, increase track voltage. To decrease speed, reduce voltage. To stop the
locomotive, turn-off track power.
Place your locomotive on Lionel or Lionel-compatible
O gauge track.
2
2Power up your locomotive with your transformer.
Your locomotive set is designed to operate on 8-18 volts alternating
current. Virtually all Lionel and Lionel-compatible alternating-current
transformers are suitable.
When double heading your train, couple the locomotives by their rear
couplers.
1
1
Running your locomotive with a Lionel transformer
Locomotive operations

5
To select a single operational state for
your locomotive (for
example, forward only),
you can deactivate the
reverse unit’s sequencing
function with the reverse
unit control switch.
Get your powered
locomotive moving in the
desired direction, then slow
it down without stopping.
Set the reverse unit switch to
LOCK. Refer to Figure 1 for
the location of the switch. The locomotive is now “locked” into your chosen direction.
When you no longer want single-direction operation, just slide the switch back to RUN.
Your locomotive’s reverse unit will “reset” to forward after any power interruption
lasting five seconds or longer, regardless of the original locked-out direction.
Locking your locomotive into a single operational state
Locomotive operations
Figure 1. Switch locations
Rear of locomotive
Reverse unit switch
RUN/LOCK
Note!

Locomotive operations
6
Lionel magnetic couplers react to the magnetic field generated by a Lionel Remote-Control Track section (available separately, 6-65149 or 6-12746 for O-27 gauge; or 6-65530 for O
gauge; and 6-12020 for FasTrack layouts).
As illustrated in Figure 2, place your locomotive’s coupler trigger disc over the central coil of a
Remote-Control Track section and press UNCOUPLE on the controller. The magnetic field pulls the
disc downward, and the knuckle opens.
One operating technique favored by Lionel railroaders is the “moving uncouple.” Press the
UNCOUPLE button as the locomotive passes over a Remote-Control Track section. The magnetic
field will open the coupler; the consist remains behind as the locomotive moves on. But be
careful—the speed of a newly uncoupled and moving locomotive can increase dramatically.
To open the coupler manually, pull down on the coupler’s trigger disk.
Uncoupling your locomotive
Note!
Figure 2. Coupler operation
Coupler
Trigger disk

7
Locomotive operations
Sounding your locomotive’s horn
12
POWER
SUPPLY
Existing wire
Black wire
Red wire
Lionel no. 610-5906-001
SoundActivation Button for
activating the diesel horn
The no. 610-5906-001 button works with any Lionel AC transformer except
no. 6-4690 Type MW.
Press the HORN/WHISTLE button on your controller to sound the locomotive's horn.
If your controller does not have a HORN/WHISTLE button, install a Lionel Sound Activation
Button (available separately, part no. 610-5906-001). Connect the button as shown in Figure 3.
All track power must feed through the Sound Activation Button. Do not bypass the
button.
Common/Ground/U
Power/A
Figure 3. Sound Activation Button wiring
Note!
Note!

8
Locomotive maintenance
Lubricating your locomotive
Help your Lionel locomotive lead a long and productive life on your railroad by maintaining it properly.
We recommend that you purchase a Lionel Lubrication and Maintenance Kit
(6-62927), available from your Lionel dealer. Two basic rules to keep in mind: never over-
lubricate (a small amount will do), and avoid getting grease or oil on the locomotive’s wheels,
contact rollers, or your track.
You’ll know your locomotive requires lubrication when visual inspection reveals dryness on
the parts indicated in Figure 4. Remove accumulated dirt and dust before lubricating, and
always lubricate any locomotive emerging from prolonged storage.
Lubricate
with Lionel oil
sparingly
Lubricate with Lionel
oil sparingly
Turn truck to remove
front body screws
Body screws
Body screws
Lubricate with Lionel
grease sparingly
Lubricate with Lionel
grease sparingly
Figure 4. Lubrication points

9
Locomotive maintenance
Replacing your locomotive’s lamps
Your locomotive is illuminated by several small lamps. During the course of normal operations, you may find that the lamps require replacement. We recommend that you
have the lamps serviced at an authorized Lionel Service Center.

Locomotive maintenance
10
Replacing the traction tires
Your powered locomotive is equipped with four traction tires. These rubber tires increase the tractive effort of your locomotive, allowing it to pull more cars at once. During the
course of normal operations, the traction tires may become worn out. Because you must
remove the trucks and the side frames to access the wheels, we recommend that you have the
traction tires replaced by your authorized Lionel Service Center.