M.T.H. Premier H10 User manual

Premier H10 2-8-0 Consolidation
Steam Engine
OPERATOR’S MANUAL
Compatibility
This Premier 2-8-0 Consolidation Steam Engine features a die-cast boiler and tender and
operates on O-42 track. This Premier Steam Engine contains state-of-the-art electronics
with many built-in automatic features for incredibly realistic operation. Despite these
advanced features, the locomotive is easy to operate on an O-42 layout with any
compatible standard AC transformer that is equipped with whistle and bell buttons (see
the compatibility chart on page 20), and is compatible with most other 3-rail locomotives,
rolling stock, and accessories.
This locomotive is equipped with Proto-Sound 2.0 with Digital Command System
(DCS). This new system will allow you to operate your locomotive in Command mode
(when used with the DCS Remote Control System, sold separately) or Conventional
mode. Conventional operating features are described in the following pages, while the
DCS operating features are covered in the set of operating instructions that accompanies
the DCS equipment. Conventional Mode operation of this locomotive is much simpler
than operation of original Proto-Sound engines. For your own safety and that of your
equipment, please read the instructions before you operate this engine.

Table of Contents
Set Up Checklist.................................................................................3
Basic Operation .................................................................................4
Throttle...................................................................................4
Operation Buttons..................................................................4
Manual Volume Control.........................................................4
Proto-Sound 2.0 Operating Instructions .........................................5
Activating Proto-Sound 2.0 Conventional Mode Features....5
Freight Yard Sounds (FYS)....................................................6
Tips on Using FYS.................................................................7
Proto-Coupler® Operation.....................................................8
Speed Control.........................................................................8
Lock into a Direction..............................................................9
Reset to Factory Defaults ......................................................9
Automatic Sounds..................................................................9
Maintenance.......................................................................................10
ProtoSmoke Unit Operation...................................................10
Lubrication and Greasing Instructions...................................12
Traction Tire Replacement.....................................................13
Light Replacement Instructions.............................................14
Self-Charging Battery Back-Up.............................................16
Troubleshooting..................................................................................17
Compatibility......................................................................................19
Transformer Compatibility Chart....................................................20
Additional Features with DCS Remote Control System.................21
Safety Precautions..............................................................................23
Service and Warranty Information..................................................24
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Set Up
There are a couple of simple steps you must take before operating this Premier steamer.
1. Although the engine was lubricated at the factory, you should lubricate all side rods,
linkage components and pickup rollers to prevent them from squeaking. Use light
household oil and follow the lubrication points marked “L” in Fig. 6 on pg. 12. Do not
over-oil. Use only a drop or two on each pivot point
2. Prime the operating smoke unit with smoke fluid before operating. Add 15-20 drops
of smoke fluid through the smokestack (see Fig. 3 on pg. 10), then gently blow into the
stack to eliminate any air bubbles in the fluid.
3. If you choose not to prime the unit with fluid, turn the smoke unit switch located under
the tender to the OFF position (see Fig. 4 on pg. 10). 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.
4. Place the engine on the track, then insert the reverse unit plug that extends out of the
tender into the receptacle at the back of the boiler cab (Figure 1a). WARNING: DO NOT
CONNECT THIS ENGINE TOA TENDER FROMANOTHER ENGINE; IT MAY
CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE. Look at the bottom of the engine and tender where each
will have a color-coded stamp. If they match you may connect those two pieces; if not,
don’t.
5. Connect the draw bar between the engine and tender. The draw bar hole located
farthest from the tender is for applications such as display. The second hole is for normal
operation on the track.
At this point, you are ready to begin running your engine.
Figure 1a. Connect the Tender to the Engine
Premier H-10 2-8-0 Consolidation Steam Locomotive
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Basic Operation
Throttle – Throttle up the power to your track. Give about 10-14 volts or 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 the throttle to put the engine in forward. Operation Buttons
Use the operation buttons on your transformer or remote as described below.
Whistle/Horn- To sound the whistle, firmly press the Whistle/Horn 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, or 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 you
turn it on until you press and release the button again to turn it off.
Direction – Your train is programmed to start in neutral. The first direction after neutral
upon start-up is forward. Firmly press and release the Direction button to allow the
engine to move forward. Just as you must stop your automobile 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 for 25 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 tender clockwise to increase the
volume and counter-clockwise to decrease the volume (see Fig. 2).
Figure 2. Manually Adjusting the Proto-Sound 2.0 Volume
Premier H-10 2-8-0 Consolidation Steam Locomotive
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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
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11
Proto-Coupler® Operation
This locomotive is equipped with one or more coil-wound Proto-Couplers for remote
uncoupling action. Because Proto-Couplers are controlled through the Proto-Sound 2.0
microprocessor, they do not require an uncoupling track section or modification to your
layout to function. You can fire a coupler from neutral or while in motion. Use the
code shown below (and in the chart on p. 9) to fire the coupler(s).
Rear Coupler:
To fire the rear coupler, quickly tap the Bell button once followed by three quick taps of
the Horn button, allowing approximately ½ second to lapse between each quick button
press. The sound of the liftbar and air line depletion will play, and the knuckle will be
released.
Front Coupler:
To fire the front coupler (if your engine has one), quickly tap the Bell button once
followed by four quick taps of the Horn button, allowing approximately ½ second to
lapse between each quick button press. The sound of the liftbar and air line depletion
will play, and the knuckle will be released.
Horn Horn
Fire
Rear
Coupler
=
Horn
Bell
Horn Horn
Fire
Front
Coupler
=
Horn Horn
Bell
Tips on Using PSA/FYS
•You can terminate PSA/FYS at any time by turning off power to the track for 15
seconds.
•You do not have to be in Forward to use PSA/FYS.At the conclusion of the full
sequence, the train will pull away from the station in whatever direction you were
going when you activated the feature.
•You can use PSA/FYS even if you are double-heading with another engine. If the
second engine is not equipped with Proto-Sound 2.0, you must remember not to leave
the throttle at a high voltage level once you have stopped the engine to run the
PSA/FYS. Otherwise, the engine without PSA/FYS will begin vibrating on the track
as its motors strain to move the train, since they cannot be automatically disabled
during the PSA cycle (or if an original Proto-Sound engine, PSA/FYS are triggered
differently and that engine's motor-disable feature will not be active when you run
PSA/FYS in Proto-Sound 2.0).
•PSA/FYS can be triggered from Neutral. It will operate the same as if triggered while
in motion except that, at the conclusion of the PSA/FYS, the engine will depart in the
next direction of travel, as opposed to the direction it was traveling before entering
Neutral.
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M.T.H. engines equipped with Proto-Sound 2.0 have speed control capabilities that
allow the engine to maintain a constant speed up and down grades and around curves,
much like an automobile cruise control. You can add or drop cars on the run, and the
engine will maintain the speed you set.
While the engine is programmed to start with the speed control feature activated, you
can opt to turn it off. This means the engine's speed will fall as it labors up a hill and
increase as it travels downward. It is also affected by the addition or releasing of cars
while on the run. Because the engine will run more slowly at a given throttle voltage
when speed control is on than when it is off, you should adjust the throttle to a lower
power level for operation with speed control off to avoid high-speed derailments.
When speed control is off, the volume will drop to allow for better low voltage
operation.
To turn speed control on and off, put the engine in neutral, then quickly tap the
transformer's Horn button one time then quickly tap the Bell button two times,
allowing approximately ½ second to lapse between each quick button press. Two horn
blasts will indicate that the engine has made the change. Repeat the 1 horn, 2 bells
code to return it to the other condition. You will want to do this during the initial
neutral upon start-up if you ever couple this engine to another engine that is not
equipped with speed control to avoid damaging the motors in either engine. Each time
Speed Control
Horn
Place
Engine into
Neutral
Bell Bell
=
Speed Control
Two Horn Blasts
(indicates change is made)
Repeat to Return
to Normal Condition
Locking Locomotive Into A Direction
You can lock your engine into a direction (forward, neutral, or reverse) so that it will not change
directions. To do this, put the engine into the direction you want (or into neutral to lock it into
neutral), run it at a very slow crawl (as slowly as it will move without halting), and quickly but
firmly tap the Horn button once followed by three quick taps of the Bell button, allowing
approximately ½ second to lapse between each quick button press. Two horn blasts 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, 3 bells code to return the engine to its normal condition, even
if the engine is kept without power for extended periods of time.
Horn
Place
Engine into
Desired
Direction
Horn
Bell Bell Bell
=
Direction Lock
Two Horn Blasts
(indicates change is made)
Repeat to Return
to Normal Condition
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Automatic Sound Effects
Certain Proto-Sound 2.0 sound effects automatically play in programmed conventional
mode conditions:
•Squealing Brakes play any time the engine's speed decreases rapidly.
•Cab Chatter plays at random intervals when the engine idles in neutral.
•Engine Start-up and Shut-down sounds play when the engine is initially
powered on or is powered off for five seconds or more.
Reset to Factory Default
To override the settings you currently have assigned to the engine and reset it to its
factory defaults, while in Neutral tap the Horn button quickly once, followed by five
quick taps of the Bell button, allowing approximately ½ second to lapse between each
quick button press. Two horn blasts will indicate that the engine has made the change.
Reset
Two Horn Blasts
(indicates change is made)
Repeat to Return
to Normal Condition
Horn
Place
Engine in
Neutral =
BellBellBellBellBell
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Maintenance
ProtoSmoke® Unit Operation
This Premier steam locomotive contains a self-powered smoke unit that outputs smoke
through the smokestack on the roof of the engine. The smoke unit is essentially a small
heating element and wick that soaks up and then heats a mineral oil-based fluid that emits
a harmless smoke. The smoke is then forced out of the stack by a small electric fan.
Smoke volume is controlled by the Proto-Sound 2.0 system.
With a few easy maintenance steps, you should enjoy trouble-free smoke unit operation
for years.
When preparing to run this engine, add 15-20 drops of smoke fluid through the
smokestack (see Fig. 3). 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 under the water hatch (see Fig. 4).
Failure either to add fluid to the unit or to turn it off may damage the smoke unit heating
element and/or wick material.
When the smoke output while running the engine begins to diminish, add another 10-15
drops of smoke fluid or turn the smoke unit off.
When storing the unit for long periods of time, you may want to add about 15 drops of
fluid to prevent the wick from drying out.
After removing the engine from storage, add another 25 drops of fluid, letting the wick
soak up the fluid for 15 minutes prior to operation.
Figure 3. Add Smoke Through the Smokestack
Figure 4. Smoke Unit On/Off Switch
Add Smoke Fluid
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