Lionel SD-90 User manual

Lionel SD-90
Diesel Locomotive
Owner’s Manual
71-8269-250
2/01
LIONEL
®
featuring
and
SYSTEM

2
Table of contents
Transformer operations
Running your SD-90 with a Lionel transformer 3
Locking your SD-90 into a single operational state 4
Using your SD-90 ElectroCoupler in the non-command environment 5
Installing the Lionel no. 610-5906-001 sound activation button 6
Maintaining and servicing your SD-90
Lubricating your SD-90 7
Adding fluid to your Locomotive’s smoke generator 8
Replacing your SD-90’s lamps 8-9
Odyssey™ System operations
Odyssey™ System operations 10
TrainMaster®Command operations
Your SD-90’s RailSounds™system—the basics 11
Experiencing the range of your SD-90’s RailSounds™system 12
The Command™control environment 13
Running your SD-90 in the TrainMaster®Command environment 14
CAB-1 numeric keypad commands for your SD-90 15
Tuning your SD-90’s performance 16
Assigning your SD-90 a new ID# 17
Reprogramming R2LC circuit boards to restore or change features 18
Notes 19
Lionel Service 20
• OdysseyTM System Speed Control
• Two powerful flywheel equipped
can motors
• Digital TrainMaster Command™
controlled
• RailSoundsTM digital — sound system
• Tire-Traction
• Die-cast ElectroCouplers
• Illuminated headlights/rear light/
interior light
• CrewTalk (in command)
• TowerCom (in command)
• Diesel smoke generator
• Directional lighting
You purchased a tough, durable loco- motive—the SD-90 diesel locomotive
built by Lionel. From the crisp detail and
expert decoration on the outside to the brute
power under the hood, the Lionel SD-90 is
ready for duty on your model railroad.
Experience the superiority of today’s Lionel.
Congratulations!
IMPORTANT NOTICE (Please Read First)
In order to allow maximum play value of the SD-90 engine, it has been designed to run on
track as little as 0-31 radius. However, due to the immense scale length of the SD-90 the older
switches (5132, 5133) must have the Lantern Housing “Set” on the outside location of the
turnout to allow proper operation. Please refer to your O-gauge switch instruction sheet for
changing the orientation.
NOTE: Newer O-gauge Switch (P/N 612-3010-000, 612-3011-000) allow for better clearnace in
both locations and will not encounter any interference.

3
3
3Move ‘em out!
Place your SD-90 locomotives on Lionel or
Lionel-compatible O gauge track.
2
2Power up your SD-90 with your transformer.
•Your SD-90 is designed to operate on 8-18 volts alternating cur-
rent. Virtually all Lionel and Lionel-compatible alternating-current transform-
ers are suitable.
•Do not power your SD-90 with direct current (DC). Damage to sensitive
electronic components may occur.
•When you first power up your track, your SD-90’s headlights will illu-
minate. At this point, the locomotive is in neutral. This occurs when placing the
SD-90 on your railroad for the first time. When your train is first powered up, the
default state will be neutral and the default direction is forward. This means,
whenever you power up your engine for the first time, the engine will remain in
neutral, and when the power is removed and again applied, the train will move
forward. This condition holds true if the engine is being powered up for the first
time or if the engine has been powered down longer than 10 seconds.
Note!
1
1
Running your Lionel SD-90 with a Lionel transformer
Transformer operations
•Get your SD-90 moving. Press the DIR button on your CAB-1 remote or
Lionel transformer. This sequences the Lionel reverse unit to the next operating
state.
• Adjust track voltage until your SD-90 moves at your desired speed. To
increase speed, increase track voltage. To decrease speed, reduce voltage. To stop
the locomotive, cut track power.
• See page 4 for information on locking your SD-90 in a single oper-
ating state

4
Transformer operations
To select a single operational state for your Lionel SD-90 (example: forward
only), you can deactivate the R2LC’s
sequencing function with the reverse unit
control switch.
Get your locomotive moving in the
desired direction, then slow it down without
stopping. Set the reverse unit control switch
to PROGRAM. The SD-90 is now “locked”
into your chosen direction.
When you no longer want single-direction
operation, just slide the reverse unit control
switch back to RUN.
Locking your SD-90 into a single operational state
SND
NO SND
RUN
SMK
PRGM
NO SMK
Smoke Unit
(see page 8 for details)
FRONT

Transformer operations
5
Using your SD-90 ElectroCoupler in the
non-Command environment
To use your SD-90 ElectroCoupler in the non-Command environment, you must
first couple a piece of rolling stock equipped
with Lionel magnetic couplers directly to
your SD-90’s ElectroCouplers. The magnetic
coupler on the rolling stock will then react
to the magnetic field generated by a Lionel
remote-control track section (available sep-
arately). Place your rolling stock’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 cou-
pler opens.
Your SD-90 ElectroCouplers will
NOT open manually or by using
a remote-control track section
Magnetic coupler on the rolling stock coupled
to the rear of your SD-90
Note!
Remote-control
track section

6
Transformer operations
Installing the Lionel no. 610-5906-001 sound activation button
To operate the bell and horn sounds when operating your SD-90 with conventional
transformers, you’ll need to install the Lionel
no. 610-5906-001 sound activation button
(available separately). Connect the button(s)
as shown below.
ForAC transformers lacking a horn/whistle button (two no. 5906s required)
Lionel no. 610-5906-001
sound activation button for
activating the bell
Lionel no.
610-5906-001
sound activation
button
(for horn)
Lionel no. 610-5906-001
sound activation button (for bell)
Black wire
Red wire
Red wire attach to ground terminal
attach to power terminal
to your transformer
The no. 610-5906-001 sound activation button (available separately) works with
any Lionel AC transformer except no. 6-4690 Type MW. Transformers made by
other manufacturers may not be compatible with RailSounds.
Note!
attach to ground terminal
attach to power terminal
Red wire
to your transformer
Existing wire
Black wire
Note! All track power must feed through
the “Sound Activation Button”.
Do not bypass button
For AC transformers with a horn/whistle button

Help your Lionel SD-90 lead a long and productive life on your railroad by
maintaining it properly.
We recommend you purchase a Lionel
Lubrication and Maintenance Kit (no.
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
SD-90’s wheels or your track. You’ll know
your SD-90 requires lubrication when visual
inspection reveals dryness on the parts indi-
cated in the illustration. Remove accumu-
lated dirt and dust before lubricating, and
always lubricate any locomotive emerging
from prolonged storage.
SND
NO SND
RUN
SMK
PRGM
NO SMK
7
Lubricating your SD-90
Maintaining and servicing your SD-90
Body Mount
Screws
Body Mount
Screws
Body Mount Screws
Oil
(sparingly)
Grease Gears
(sparingly)
Oil
(sparingly)
Grease
(sparingly)
Volume Control
Set Screw
Body Mount
Screws

8
Adding fluid to your Locomotive’s smoke generator
Your Locomotive is equipped with a smoke generator that produces safe,
clean white smoke during operation.
The smoke generator requires the peri-
odic addition of Lionel smoke fluid in order
to function. Pierce the tube end with a pin,
then add 10-15 drops of fluid into the loco-
motive’s stack. See diagram for location of
smoke generator duct. Smoke production
will commence momentarily, faster if you
run your locomotive at speed. When smoke
production wanes, add more fluid (four to
eight drops).
If you prefer to have a smoke free loco-
motive, there is a switch located on the bot-
tom of the engine under the cab marked
SMK/NO SMK (see page 4 for location).
Move the switch to NO SMK and your loco-
motive will stop smoking.
When the smoke unit is on always keep
a small amount of smoke fluid in the loco-
motive’s smoke generator; the generator’s
element can become damaged if operated
without fluid. Smoke production is greater
at higher voltages and when the Locomotive
is pulling a heavy load or long consist.
Maintaining and servicing your SD-90
Add fluid to either side
Replacing your SD-90’s lamps
Your SD-90 is illuminated by several 18- volt lamps. During the course of normal
operation, they may require replacement.
Begin by removing the SD-90’s shell; see
page 7 for screw location. After removing the
eight screws, carefully lift the shell away
from the frame.
Locate the wire harness containing the
expired lamp. Carefully remove the lamps
from the clear plastic lens. Next route the
wires through the retaining clips and
unplug the connector from spring housing
(Note the manner in which the wires are
routed, this makes reinstallation easier.)
Refer to the diagram on next page for the
part number of the wire harness to be
replaced. The wire harnesses are available
from your authorized Lionel Service Center
or Lionel Service. See Lionel Service section
on page 20 for more information. Reinstall
the shell.
WARNING: Never operate the smoke unit when dry. This will cause the smoke unit
to overheat and may damage your engine.

Maintaining and servicing your SD-90
9
Rear
Front
Front Ditch Lights SD-90
Part #610-8241-019
Rear Harness
Front Harness
Harness Location
in SD-90 Front and Back Lights SD-90
Part #610-8241-019
To replace your SD-90’s interior lights, cut the two leads of the expired lamp and remove it
from the lamp holder in the motor shroud. Route the two leads from the new lamp up and
through the lamp holder, reversing the path taken to remove the expired lamps. Cut approxi-
mately 1/4˝ of insulation off of each lead, twist the two leads together. Wrap this connection
with insulated tape to ensure a secure connection. Before you reinstall the cab, put your
SD-90 on the track and power it up to verify that the connection you made is a good one.
When you have verified that your mission was a success. Reinstall the cab and get back on the
track!
Interior Lights
Part #610-8238-039
Replacing your SD-90’s lamps

10
Conventional Operation
• Setting Speed Control
1. Run the engine at the desired speed for approximately 5 seconds.
2. Press and hold the horn button.
3. While holding the horn button, increase the track voltage by at least 3 volts (at least
1/4 turn).
4. Speed control is set. (NOTE: Engine speed will increase slightly then return to set
speed.)
• Turning Off Speed Control:
1. While the engine is in neutral, turn the Controller up to the maximum power, wait 1
second then press and hold the horn button.
2. While holding the horn button slowly, reduce track voltage to 1/4 the full power.
3. Release horn.
4. Cycle the engine to forward/reverse. The engine is now out of speed control mode.
CAUTION: In conventional operation, the smoke unit and lights are connected
directly to track power. Do not exceed 14-16 volts for extended periods. Doing so will
cause damage to the locomotive.
Command Operation
While in the command control environment, the speed control feature of the Odyssey
System is always on. When turning the throttle, the speed of the engine will respond to each
flash of the command Base. Example: Address the engine, slowly turn the throttle. The first
light flash corresponds to the first speed step, this is the slowest speed of the locomotive.
Odyssey System operations
Odyssey System operations
Odyssey System operations
Basically, the Odyssey System is a “cruise control” for your engine. Once the
speed is set (see below), your engine will
maintain a constant speed, no matter what
loads or grades you have on your layout.
This digitally controlled system also allows
for extremely slow movement that will
amaze any “scale” enthusiasts.