M.T.H. premier shay User manual

Compatibility
This engine is available in 2-rail and
3-rail versions and will operate on any
traditional O-72 Gauge track system (3-rail)
or any 44” radius track system (2-rail).
It is also compatible with most standard
AC transformers and DC Power Packs.
(See page 21 for a complete list of compatible
transformers and wiring instructions.)
Premier Shay
Steam Engine
OPERATOR’S MANUAL
PLEASE READ BEFORE USE AND SAVE
Freight Yard Sound
July 2005

Table of Contents
Configuring Locomotive for 2-Rail or 3-Rail Operation 3
Installing/Removing Pickup Rollers 3
Configuring for 2-rail or 3-rail power input 3
Ensuring Proper Power to Track Polarity 4
Changing Track Polarity Inside Locomotive 4
Locomotive Coupler Options 5
Set Up Checklist 6
Lubrication and Greasing 6
Priming The Smoke Unit 6
Placing the Engine on the Track 7
Checking The Battery 7
Basic Operation 8
Throttle 8
Operating Buttons 8
Manual Volume Control 8
Proto-Sound 2.0 Operating Instructions 9
Activating Proto-Sound 2.0 Conventional Mode Features 9
PSA/FYS 10
Proto-Coupler® Operation 11
Speed Control 12
Locking Locomotive Into ADirection 12
Reset To Factory Default 13
Automatic Sound Effects 13
Maintenance 13
Lubrication and Greasing Instructions 14
Cleaning the Wheels, Tires and Track 15
Locomotive Traction Tire Replacement 15
ProtoSmoke® Unit Operation 16
Locomotive Light Bulb Replacement 17
Self-Charging Battery Back-Up 18
Troubleshooting 19
Transformer Compatibility Chart 21
Recommended DC Power Supplies System 22
Additional Features with DCS Remote Control System 23
Service and Warranty Information 24
Authorized Service Centers 25
CAUTION: ELECTRICALLY OPERATED PRODUCT:
Not recommended for children under 10 years of age. M.T.H. recommends adult supervision with children ages 10 - 16.
As with all electric products, precautions should be observed during handling and use to reduce the risk of electric shock.
WARNING:When usingelectricalproducts, basicsafetyprecautionsshould be observed, including the following:
Readthis manual thoroughly before using this device.
M.T.H. recommends that all users and persons supervising use examine the hobby transformer and other electronic equipment
periodically for conditions that may result in the risk of fire, electric shock, or injury to persons, such as damage to the primary
cord, plug blades, housing, output jacks or other parts. In the event such conditions exist, the train set should not be used until
properlyrepaired.
Donot operate your layout unattended. Obstructed accessories or stalled trainsmayoverheat,resultingindamagetoyourlayout.
Thistrain set is intended for indoor use. Do not useifwaterispresent. Seriousinjuryorfatalitymayresult.
Donot operate the hobby transformer with damaged cord, plug,switches,buttonsorcase.
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Premier Shay Steam Locomotive 3
Configuring Locomotive for
2-Rail or 3-Rail Operation
Installing/Removing 3-Rail Pickup Rollers
Both 2-Rail and 3-Rail versions of
this locomotive can be configured
to operate on either 2-rail or 3-rail
track by removing or adding the
center rail pickups. 3-rail track
operation requires the pickups, 2-
rail track operation does not. The
pickups are factory installed on 3-
rail versions and packaged
separately in the locomotive box
for 2-rail versions. Each pickup
roller installs with a single phillips
screw seen in Figure 1. When
installing the pickup rollers, the
black metal spacer plate must be
removed. When the pickup rollers
are removed, replace the black
spacer plates.
Once you have configured the
engine for 2-rail or 3-rail operation,
you must manually select the
power input switch located under
the tender to 2-rail or 3-rail
operation as seen in figure 2.
Configuring for 2-Rail or 3-Rail Power Input
Figure 1: 3-Rail Pickups installed with a single Phillips Screw
Figure 2: Selecting 2-rail or 3-rail power input setting
2-Rail/3-Rail Switch
Accessing Controls
The controls and switches for the 2-rail/3-rail operation, DCS polarity, smoke unit,
and sound volume are located under the removable tender deck. To gain access tot
he controls, remove the top by grasping the reverse light shell and pulling up.
When replacing the cover make sure the reverse light bulb is properly inserted into
the reverse light shell.
Pickup Roller Locations

4
Ensuring Proper Power to Track Polarity
Figure 3: Proper 2-Rail polarity wiring and locomotive orientation
Changing Track Polarity Inside the Locomotive
Figure 4: Changing the polarity with the
locomotive polarity switch
For 2-rail DCS operation, it is important that the polarity from the transformer to the
engine is properly configured. Correct polarity can be accomplished by ensuring that
the wiring from the TIU to the track and orientation of the locomotive when sitting on
the track follows the illustration in Figure 3.
To TIU Black Terminal
To TIU Red Terminal
DCS Polarity Switch
Failing to properly configure the
polarity for 2-rail operations will
result in the locomotive starting in
reverse instead of forward or not
receiving the DCS signal. Should
this occur, it is not necessary to
swap the wires from the
transformer to the track or reverse
the locomotive’s orientation on the
track itself. Instead, simply slide
the polarity switch on the bottom
of the Tender as seen in Figure 4.
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5
Locomotive Coupler Options
Figure 6: 3-Rail Proto-Coupler and Connection
Figure 5: Pre-drilled Kadee® Coupler mounting holes
All 2-rail Shay models do not come
with couplers since many 2-rail
enthusiasts may utilize different
coupler types on their 2-rail
locomotives and cars. Each engine
and tender does have pre-drilled
holes for use when installing a
Kadee® scale coupler as seen in
Figure 5. Follow the individual
coupler installation instructions
when installing another
manufacturer’s coupler system.
Owners of 2-rail models who intend to run this locomotive on a 3-rail layout will
find M.T.H. Proto-couplers packed in the styrofoam box so that they may enjoy
remote uncoupling action anywhere on a layout. Simply remove the Kadee®
Coupler Brackets. Attach the Proto-couplers to the trucks with the supplied
connectors and connect the Proto-coupler wire inside the tender and the boiler.
Coupler
Connecter
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6
•Lubricate the locomotive
•Prime the smoke unit
•Check to see whether the battery needs to be charged for full sound effects
•Apply power to run as described in the Basic Operating Section of this manual
Set Up Checklist
Lubrication
You should lubricate the engine to prevent it from squeaking. Use light
household oil and follow the lubrication points marked “L” in Fig. 7. Do
not over-oil. Use only a drop or two on each pivot point.
Lubricate Wheel Axles (L)
Lubricate Wheel Axles (L)
Figure 7: Lubrication Points on the Locomotive
Priming the Smoke Unit
When preparing to run this engine, add
15-20 drops of smoke fluid through the
smokestack. We recommend M.T.H.
ProtoSmoke, Seuthe, LGB, or LVTS
fluids. Do not overfill the unit or the
fluid may leak out and coat the interior
engine components.
If you choose not to add the fluid (or
have already added the fluid but choose
to run smoke-free), turn off the smoke
unit switch located on top of the tender
(see Fig. 8). Failure either to add fluid
to the unit or to turn it off may
damage the smoke unit heating
element and/or wicking material.
Figure 8: Smoke Unit Switch Location
(Inside Tender Hatches)
Smoke Switch
Premier Shay Steam Locomotive
Lubricate Pick Up Rollers (L)

7
The engine and tender are semi-permanently connected by a drawbar. The engine and
tender must be lifted and handled together.
Use caution. Do not bend the drawbar.
Place the locomotive on the track make sure the reverse unit plug that extends out of
the engine coal bunker is securely plugged into the receptacle in the water tender.
WARNING: DO NOT CONNECT THIS ENGINE TOTENDER FROM
ANOTHER ENGINE; IT MAY CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE.
At this point, you are ready to begin running your engine.
Placing The Engine On The Track
Figure 9
Insert reverse unit
into the front of the tender.
Checking the Battery
You may find, if your locomotive was built several months before you set it up, that the
rechargeable battery has run down and needs to be charged before operating. If you
notice that the sounds are garbled, test and charge the engine as described in the "Self-
Charging Battery Back-Up" on page 18.
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Basic Operation
Throttle
Throttle up the power to your track. Give enough power so that the engine’s headlight
shines brightly. Then put the engine in to motion by either firmly pressing the
Direction button on your transformer or remote once or dropping and advancing to
throttle to put the engine in forward.
Operating Buttons
Use the operation buttons on your transformer as described below.
Horn/Whistle - To sound the whistle, firmly press the Horn/Whistle button. The
whistle will sound for as long as you continue to depress the button. It will stop when
you release the button. the whistle has four different endings, depending on whether
you hold the button for less than three seconds, three seconds, four seconds, five
seconds or longer.
Bell - To sound the bell, firmly press and release the Bell button.To turn the bell off,
press and release the Bell button again. The bell will continue to ring from the time
your turn it on until you press the release the button again to turn it off.
Direction - Your train is programmed to start in neutral. To put the engine into forward
and then to change the direction of the train or to put it into neutral, firmly press and
release the Direction button on your transformer. Just as you must stop your car
between forward and reverse, this engine will not go directly from forward to reverse;
it goes into neutral between directions. If the train has been moving forward, the first
press of the Direction button will put the train from forward into neutral, the second
press into reverse, the third press back into neutral, and the fourth back into forward.
To prevent accidental high-speed start-ups, this engine is programmed to restart in
neutral each time the track voltage is turned off or 10 seconds or more.
Manual Volume Control
To adjust the volume of all sounds
made by this engine, turn the master
volume control knob located under the
water hatch on the tender deck
clockwise to increase the volume and
counter-clockwise to decrease the
volume.
Proto-Sound 2.0 Volume Adjustment Knob
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Proto-Sound 2.0 Operating Instructions
This manual contains the operating instructions for Proto-Sound 2.0 in conventional
mode only. Instructions for accessing DCS command mode features accompany the
DCS Remote Control System equipment.
Activating Proto-Sound 2.0 Conventional Mode Features
Proto-Sound 2.0 features are activated by sequences of Bell and Horn button pushes
described below. Please read the full descriptions of each feature before using it. To
use these buttons to activate features rather than to blow the horn or ring the bell, you
should tap the buttons very quickly with a ½-second pause between button presses.
You may need to practice your timing to make this work smoothly.
Timing Chart
Total Time Lapse: 1 Seconds½
Press
Horn
Short &
Firm
½ Sec.
Pause ½ Sec. Pause
Press
Bell
Short &
Firm
Press
Bell
Short &
Firm
Feature to Be Activated Button Code:
Freight Yard or Passenger Station Sounds
Fire the Rear Coupler
Fire the Front Coupler
Speed Control On/Off
Lock into a Direction
Reset to Factory Defaults
1 Bell, 2 Horn/Whistles
1 Bell, 3 Horn/Whistles
1 Bell, 4 Horn/Whistles
1 Horn/Whistle, 2 Bells (from Neutral only)
1 Horn/Whistle, 3 Bells
1 Horn/Whistle, 5 Bells (from Neutral only)
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Your engine is equipped with a sound package of passenger station announcements that
you can play when you pull into a station. Each sequence described below will play as
long as it is left on, randomly generating sounds, but be sure to allow approximately 30
seconds between the button pushes described below to allow the PSA/FYS sufficient
time to run through each sequence.
•To cue the sound system to play the PSA/FYS, quickly but firmly tap the Bell
button once followed by 2 quick taps of the Horn button while the engine is
moving. Tap the buttons quickly but allow approximately ½ second between
each press.
• Press the Direction button once to stop the engine. This will trigger the first
sequence of PSA/FYS. The reverse unit is temporarily disabled so that the train
will not move as you use the Direction button to trigger the sounds, and Proto-
Sound 2.0 has disabled operator control over the Horn and Bell buttons until
the full PSA/FYS. sequence is complete.
•After waiting about 30 seconds for that sequence to run, press the Direction
button again to trigger the second sequence of PSA/FYS.
•After about 30 seconds, press the Direction button again to trigger the third
PSA/FYS sequence.
•Again, after allowing about 30 seconds for that sequence to run, press the
Direction button one more time to trigger the fourth and final PSA/FYS
sequence. The PSA/FYS will continue, and within a few seconds, the engine
and bell will start and move out on its own at the current throttle setting, in the
same direction it was traveling when you began the sequence. Once the bell
turns off, the operator regains control of the transformer's bell and Horn
buttons and can ring the bell or blow the Horn as usual.
Passenger StationAnnouncements (PSA)/
Freight Yard Sounds (FYS)
+
Sound System Cued to Play
Freight Yard or Passenger
Station Sounds (FYS)/(PSA)
Horn/
Whistle
Bell
Direction
1st
Sequence
FYS/PSA
+
Direction
2nd
Sequence
FYS/PSA
+
Direction
3rd
Sequence
FYS/PSA
+
Direction
4th
Sequence
FYS/PSA
=Operator
Controls
When Bell
Turns Off
Horn/
Whistle
Horn/
Whistle
Premier Shay Steam Locomotive