M.T.H. F-3 ABA User manual

Compatibility
This diesel engine will operate on any traditional O-31 Gauge track
system, including M.T.H.’s RealTrax® or ScaleTrax™ or traditional
tubular track. It is also compatible with most standard AC transformers.
(See page 17 for a complete list of compatible transformers and wiring instructions.)
M.T.H. ELECTRIC TRAINS
F-3 ABA Diesel Engine Set

M.T.H. ELECTRIC TRAINS 2
F-3 A B A DIESEL ENGINE SET
Set Up............................................................................................................3
Basic Operation ........................................................................................4
Throttle ..............................................................................................4
Operation Buttons ..............................................................................4
Manual Volume Control ......................................................................4
Proto-Sound 2.0 ........................................................................................5
Activating Proto-Sound 2.0 Conventional Mode Features ................5
Passenger Station Announcements ..................................................5
Tips on Using PSA ............................................................................6
Proto-Coupler fiOperation ..................................................................7
S peed Control ....................................................................................7
Lock into a Direction S tate ................................................................7
Reset to Factory Default s ..................................................................8
Automatic Sounds ..............................................................................8
Maintenance................................................................................................8
Lubrication and Greasing Instructions ................................................8
Cleaning the Wheels, Tires and T rack ............................................10
T raction T ire Replacement ..............................................................10
Proto-Smoke Unit Operation ............................................................11
Light Bulb Replacement ..................................................................12
Self-Charging Battery Back-Up ........................................................13
Troubleshooting ......................................................................................14
Compatibility............................................................................................16
Transformer Compatibility Chart ......................................................17
Additional Features with DCS Remote Control System ............18
Safety Precautions..................................................................................19
Service and Warranty Information ..................................................20
Authorized Service Centers ................................................................21
TABLE OF CONTENTS

M.T.H. ELECTRIC TRAINS
3
F-3 A B A DIESEL ENGINE SET
There are a few simple step s you must t ake before operating this Premier
Diesel.
1. Y ou should prime the operating smoke unit with smoke fluid before
operating. Add 15-20 drops of smoke fluid through the smokest ack, then gen -
tly blow into the st ack to eliminate any air bubbles in the fluid.
(See Fig. 5 on p age 11)
2. If you choose not to prime the unit with fluid, turn the smoke unit switch
located under the engine to the OFF position. ( See Fig. 6 on p age 11)
Running the engine without a primed smoke unit may cause damage. See the
ProtoSmoke Unit Operation section of this book for more information on
smoke unit
maintenance.
3. Y ou should lubricate the wheel axles and pickup rollers to prevent them
from
squeaking. Use light household oil and follow the lubrication point s marked L
in Fig. 2 on p age 8. Do not over oil. Use only a drop or two on each pivot
point.
4. Y ou 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 operation. If you notice that the sounds are garbled, test and charge
the engine as described in the Self Charging Battery Back-Up section on
page 13.
At this point, you are ready to begin running your engine.
SET UP

M.T.H. ELECTRIC TRAINS 4
F-3 A B A DIESEL ENGINE SET
Throttle up the power to your track. Give enough power so that the engine s headlight
shines brightly . Then put the engine into 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.
BASIC OPERATION
Use the operation buttons on your transformer as described below.
Horn/Whistle -To sound the horn/whistle, firmly press the Horn/Whistle button. The
horn/whistle will sound for as long as you continue to depress the button. It will stop
when you release the button. The horn/whistle has four dif ferent endings, depending
on whether you hold the button for less than three seconds, three seconds, four sec -
onds, five seconds or longer.
Bell -To sound the bell, firmly press and release the Bell button. To turn the bell of f,
press
and release the Bell button again. The bell will continue to ring from the time your turn
it on until you press and release the button again to turn it of f.
Direction -Y our engine is programmed to start in neutral. T o put the engine into for -
ward
and then to change the direction of the engine 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
OPERATION BUTTONS
MANUAL VOLUME CONTROL
To adjust the volume of all sounds
made by this engine, turn the master
volume control knob, located on the
underside of the engine, clockwise to
increase the volume and counter-
clockwise to decrease the volume.
(see Figure 1)
Figure 1 - Proto-Sound 2.0 Volume Adjustment Knob
THROTTLE
V olume Adjustment Knob

M.T.H. ELECTRIC TRAINS
5
F-3 A B A DIESEL ENGINE SET
This manual cont ains the operating instructions for Proto-Sound 2.0 in conventional
mode only. Instructions for accessing DCS command mode features accomp any the
DCS Remote Control System equipment.
Because Proto-Sound 2.0 is an all-new system developed by M.T.H. s own research
and development team, it operates dif ferently from the original Proto-Sound. Most
Proto-Sound 2.0 features are automatically enabled, and the reset st ate has been
eliminated, so there is no need to program features as with original Proto-Sound.
Although the new system is easier to operate than original Proto-SOund, you should
read these instructions thoroughly before using Proto-Sound 2.0 features in order to
prevent harm
to yourself or your equipment.
Activating Proto-Sound 2.0 Conventional Mode Features: Proto-Sound 2.0
features are activated by sequences of Bell and Whistle 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 whistle or ring the bell, you should
press the
buttons for a shorter time (1/2 second); you may need to practice your timing to make
PROTO-SOUND 2.0
OPERATION
Passenger Station Announcements (PSA): Y our engine is equipped with a sound
package of freight yard sounds that you can play when you pull into a yard. Each
sequence described in the following will play as long as it is lef t on, randomly
generating sounds, but be sure to allow approximately 30 seconds between the
button pushes described below to allow the PSA sufficient time to run through
each sequence.
1. To cue the sound system to play the PSA, quickly, but firmly press the Bell button
Feature to be Activated Button Code
Passenger Station Announcements 1 Bell, 2 Whistles
Fire the Rear Coupler 1 Bell, 3 Whistles
Fire the Front Coupler 1 Bell, 4 Whistles
S peed Control On/Of f 1 Whistle, 2 Bells (from neutral only)
Lock into a Directional S tate/Unlock 1 Whistle, 3 Bells
Reset to Factory Default s 1 Whistle, 5 Bells ( from neutral only)

M.T.H. ELECTRIC TRAINS 6
F-3 A B A DIESEL ENGINE SET
2. Press the Direction button once to stop the engine. This will
trigger the first sequence of PSA. The reverse unit is temporarily
disabled so that the train will not move as you use the the Direction button to trigger
the sounds, and Proto-Sound 2.0 has disabled operator control over the Whistle and
Bell buttons until the full PSA sequence is complete.
3. Af ter waiting about 30 seconds for that sequence to run, press the Direction button
again to trigger the second sequence of PSA.
4. Af ter waiting about 30 seconds, press the Direction button again to trigger the third
P S A sequence.
5. Again, af ter allowing about 30 seconds for that sequence to run, press the Direction
button one more time to trigger the fourth and final PSA sequence. The PSA will con -
tinue, and within a few seconds, the engine will st art and move out on it s own at the
current throttle setting, in the same direction it was traveling when you began the
sequence. Once the bell turns of f, the operator regains control of the transformer s bell
and whistle buttons and can ring the bell or blow the whistle as usual.
Tips on Using PSA
You can terminate PSA at anytime by turning of f power to the track for 15 sec -
onds.
Y ou do not have to be in Forward to use PSA. At the conclusion of the full
sequence,
the train will pull away from the st ation in whatever direction you were going when
you activated the feature.
You can use PSA even if you are double-heading with another engine. If the sec -
ond
is not equipped with PSA at all, you must remember not to leave the throttle at a
high
volt age level once you have stopped the engine to run the PSA. Otherwise, the
engine without PSA willst art vibrating on the track as it s motors strain to move the
train, since they cannot be automatically disabled during the PSA cycle. If the sec -
ond engine is an original Proto-Sound engine equipped with PSA, you may choose

M.T.H. ELECTRIC TRAINS
7
F-3 A B A DIESEL ENGINE SET
This engine is equipped with a coil-wound Proto-Coupler for remote uncoupling action.
Because the Proto-Coupler is controlled through the Proto-Sound 2.0 microprocessor,
it does not require an uncoupling track section or modification to your layout to func -
tion. Use the codes listed below.
Rear Coupler: To fire the rear coupler , press the Bell button once followed immedi -
ately
by three pushes of the Horn/Whistle button. The sound of the lif t bar and air line
depletion will play , and the knuckle will be released.
PROTO-COUPLER ®OPERATION
M.T.H. engines equipped with Proto-Sound 2.0 have speed control cap abilities that
allow the engine to maint ain a const ant speed up and down grades and around
curves, much like an automobile cruise control. Y ou can add or drop cars on the run,
and the engine will maint ain the speed you set.
While the engine is programmed to st art with the speed control feature activated, you
can opt to turn it of f.This means the engine s speed will fall as it labors up a hill and
increase as it travels downward. It is also af fected by the addition or release of cars
while on the run. To maint ain a const ant speed when speed control is turned of f, you
need to adjust the track volt age yourself. When speed control is of f, the volume will
drop to allow for better low volt age operation. Full volume is restored upon reactivation
of speed control.
To turn speed control on and off: First, put the engine in neutral, then press the
transformer s Horn/Whistle button one time then immediately press the Bell button two
times. T wo whistle blast s will indicate that the engine has made the change. Repeat
the
1 Horn/Whistle, 2 bells code to return it to the other st ate. Y ou will want to do this
during the initial neutral st art-up if you ever couple this engine with another
SPEED CONTROL
Y ou can lock your engine into a directional st ate (forward, neutral, reverse) to prevent
it from changing directions. To do this, put the engine into the direction you want or in
neutral, run it at a very low speed (<10 scale mph), and quickly but firmly press your
remote s Horn/Whistle button once followed immediately by three presses of the Bell
LOCK INTO A DIRECTIONAL STATE

M.T.H. ELECTRIC TRAINS 8
F-3 A B A DIESEL ENGINE SET
To override the settings you currently have assigned to the engine and reset it to it s
factory default s, while in neutral press the Horn/Whistle button once, followed immedi -
ately by five quick pushes of the Bell button. T wo horn blast s will indicate that the
engine has made the change
RESET TO FACTORY DEFAULTS
Cert ain Proto-Sound 2.0 sound ef fect s automatically play in programmed conventional
mode conditions:
Squealing Brakes: This sound plays anytime the engine s speed decreases rapidly.
Cab Chatter: This sound play when the engine idles in neutral.
Engine Start-up and Shut-down: This sound plays when the engine is initially
powered on or is powered of f for five seconds or more.
AUTOMATIC SOUNDS
MAINTENANCE
This engine should be oiled and greased in order to run properly.
Y ou should regularly lubricate the engine to prevent them from squeaking. Use light
household oil and follow the lubrication point s marked L in Figure 2. Do not over oil.
Use only a drop or two on each pivot.
LUBRICATION AND GREASING
Figure 2 - Lubrication Point s on the Engine
Pick up Rollers
(L)
Wheel Axles (L)
button. T wo Horn/Whistle blast s will indicate that the engine has
made the change. The engine will not change direction (including
going into neutral) until you repeat the 1 Horn/Whistle, 3 bells
code to return the engine to it s normal st ate, even if the engine has been kept without
power for extended periods of time.

M.T.H. ELECTRIC TRAINS
9
F-3 A B A DIESEL ENGINE SET
The locomotive s internal gearing was greased at the factory and
should not need additional grease until af ter 50 hours of operation
or one year, which ever comes first. To access the gear box, do the following:
1. Unscrew the body mount screws as shown in Figure 3 and remove the body shell
from
the chassis.
Figure 3 - Location of body mount screws
Body Mount
Screws
2. Once the body is removed, remove the trucks by unscrewing
the motor mount screw located on the underside of the drive trucks. See Figure 4.
3. Pull the motor away from the truck block and lightly
coat the motor worm gear and bronze drive gear with
grease.
4. Reassemble the truck and motor being careful not to
pinch any wires between the truck block and motor mount.
5. Repeat steps on the other motor.
6. Reassemble the engine in reverse order.
7. Grease Idler Gears. Located on the out side of the truck block.
Figure 4 - Motor Mount Screw
Motor Mount Screw

M.T.H. ELECTRIC TRAINS10
F-3 A B A DIESEL ENGINE SET
CLEANING THE WHEELS & TRACK
Periodically check the engine wheels and pick-up rollers for dirt and buildup, which can
cause poor electrical cont act and traction and prematurely wear out the neoprene trac -
tion tires. Wheels and tires can be cleaned using denatured alcohol (not rubbing
alcohol), which can be found in home improvement stores, applied with a cotton swab.
Occasional cleaning of the track will also help to ensure good electrical cont act and
prolong the life of your engine s tires. To clean the track, use a clean rag and dena -
tured alcohol (not rubbing alcohol). Unplug the transformer and rub the rails of the
track,
turning the rag frequently to ensure that you are using clean cloth on the rails.
TRACTION TIRE REPLACEMENT
Y our locomotive is equipped with two neoprene rubber traction tires on each powered
truck block. While these tires are extremely durable, you may need to replace them at
some point.
1.Remove the body shell by unscrewing the body mount screws.
2.Remove the motor mount screw from the bottom of the truck block. Detaching the
truck block from the motor.
3.Remove the truckside frames giving you access to the traction tires.
4.Make sure the old tires have been completely removed from the groove in the drive
wheel, using a razor blade or flat head screwdriver to pry away any remains.
5.Slip the new tire onto the wheel. Y ou may find it useful to use two small flathead
screwdrivers to stretch the tire over the wheel.
6.If you twist the tire while stretching it over the wheel, you will need to remove
and reinst all the tire. Otherwise your engine will wobble while operating.
7.Make sure the tires are fully seated inside the groove. Use a razor blade to trim
away
any excess tire that doesn t seat it self inside the groove properly.
One set of replacement tires is included with your model.
Additional tires are available directly from M.T.H. Part s D e p artment (Phone: [phone]).