MTHTrains Rail King FA-2 AA Diesel Locomotive Set User manual

FA-2 AA Diesel
Locomotive Set
OPERATOR’S MANUAL
PLEASE READ BEFORE USE AND SAVE
Compatibility
This 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 15 for a
complete list of compatible
transformers and wiring
instructions.)

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 using electrical products, basic safety precautions should be observed, including the followi ng:
Read this 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.
Do not operate your layout unattended. Obstructed accessories or stalled trains may overheat, resulting in damage to your layout.
This train set is intended for indoor use. Do not use if water is present. Serious injury or fatality may result.
l
l
l
lDo not operate the hobby transformer with damaged cord, plug, switches, buttons or case.
Table of Contents
Set Up Checklis t...................................................................................................3
Lubrication.............................................................................................3
Basic Operation .................................................................................................... 4
Activating Features.................................................................................4
Loco-Sound Operating Instructions...................................................................6
Activating Loco-Sound Features........................................................... 6
Speed Control........................................................................................ 7
Locking Locomotive Into A Direction.................................................. 7
Using Proto-Cast and Proto-Dispatch Features..................................... 8
Maintenance.........................................................................................................9
Lubricating and Greasing Instructions...................................................9
Cleaning The Wheels, Tires and Track..................................................10
Traction Tire Replacement Instructions.................................................11
Headlight Replacement Instructions......................................................12
Troubleshooting Loco-Sound Problems................................................ 13
Transformer Compatibility and Wiring Chart....................................... 15
Service & Warranty Information........................................................... 16
Limited One-Year Warranty..................................................................16

RailKing FA-2 AA Diesel Set 3
Set Up Checklist
•Lubricate the locomotive
•Apply power to run as described in the Basic Operating Section of this manual
Lubrication
You should lubricate the engine to prevent it from squeaking. Use
light household oil and follow the lubrication points marked “L” in
Fig. 1. Do not over-oil. Use only a drop or two on each pivot point.
Lubricate Pick Up Rollers (L)
Lubricate Wheel Axles (L)
Figure 1. Lubrication Points on the Locomotive
DO NOT
OVER OIL

4RailKing FA-2 AA Diesel Set
Basic Operation
The Throttle knob controls how fast your train will travel.
Turn the throttle knob up ½-way, until the engine and caboose lights shine bright.
Put the engine into motion by pressing the Direction button on your transformer once.
(hold it for approximately 1 second)
If the engine does not begin to move as soon as you firmly press the Direction button,
you may not have sent enough voltage to the track to make the train move. Turn the
throttle up a bit higher until the train begins to move.
Throttle To increase or decrease track voltage, and therefore train speed, turn the
throttle control knob. Turning clockwise will increase voltage and speed, while turning
counterclockwise will decrease voltage and speed. The engine will maintain the speed
you set after you release the throttle until you turn it again to change the voltage and
speed.
Bell - To sound the bell, in an engine equipped with a 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.
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.
Direction Your train is programmed to
start in neutral. The train will always
cycle neutral-forward-neutral-reverse with
each press and release of the direction
button. The engine is programmed to
restart in neutral each time the track
voltage is turned off for 25 seconds or
more.
Cycle Phases
Neutral
Neutral
ForwardReverse
Activating Features

RailKing FA-2 AA Diesel Set 5
Manual Volume Control
To adjust the volume of all sounds made by this engine, turn the master volume control
knob located next to the fuel tank clockwise to increase the volume and
counter-clockwise to decrease the volume.
Proto-Sound 2.0
Volume Adjustment Knob
Figure 2: Manual Loco-Sound Volume Adjustment

6RailKing FA-2 AA Diesel Set
Loco-Sound 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.
Loco-Sound
Operating Instructions
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:
Speed Control On/Off
Lock into a Direction/Unlock
Button Code:
1 Whistle, 2 Bells
1 Whistle, 3 Bells
Activating Loco-Sound Conventional
Mode Features

RailKing FA-2 AA Diesel Set 7
M.T.H. engines equipped with Loco-Sound 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 you shut down the engine
completely, it will automatically turn speed control on.
Horn
Place
Engine into
Neutral
Bell Bell
=
Speed Control
Two Horn Blasts
Repeat to Return
to Normal Condition
Speed Control
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

8RailKing FA-2 AA Diesel Set
Horn
Place
Engine into
Desired
Direction
Horn Bell Bell Bell
=Direction Lock
Repeat to Return
to Normal Condition
When used with the RailKing Remote Lock-on (sold separately), Loco-Sound-equipped
engines gain Proto-Cast ™and Proto-Dispatch™features.
Proto-Cast: This feature allows you to play audio recordings through your engine’s
speakers. You must supply the audio source (a small portable is sufficient) and a
male-to-male mini cable (1/8” plug, like that used for the headset with a portable CD/tape
player) to connect your audio source to the remote lock-on. To use Proto-Cast, simply
plug the mini-cable into your audio source (usually into the headphone jack) and into the
“Audio” port on the right side of the remote lock-on and adjust the volume.
Proto-Dispatch: This feature allows you to broadcast your own voice through your
engine’s speakers. You must supply the microphone and a mini cable (1/8” plug, like
that used for the headset with a portable CD/tape player) to connect your microphone to
the remote lock-on. To use Proto-Dispatch, simply plug the mini-cable into the
microphone and into the “Mic” port on the left side of the remote lock-on and speak into
the microphone.
When these features are in use, the locomotive’s own sounds (engine sounds and bells,
whistles, and horns) will be muted so that only the sounds you broadcast will be heard.
Because these two features are voice activated, there will be a 10-15 second delay after
you stop speaking into the microphone or turn off the audio source before the engine
sounds resume. To stop using the feature and return to normal operation, unplug the cable
from the lock-on jack.
If using parallel tracks with multiple Loco-Sound-equipped engines, Proto-Cast and
Proto-Dispatch transmissions from one track may be picked up by the other nearby
engines.
If you experience popping and interference, try cleaning the track with denatured alcohol
as described in the “Cleaning the Wheels, Tires and Track” section of this booklet.
Using Proto-Cast and Proto-Dispatch Features
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.

RailKing FA-2 AA Diesel Set 9
Maintenance
The engine should be well oiled and greased in order to run properly.
Regularly lubricate all axles and linkage components and pickup rollers
to prevent squeaking. Use light household oil, such as that found in
M.T.H.'s maintenance kit. Do not over oil. Use only a drop or two on
each pivot point.
DO NOT
OVER OIL
Body Mount Screws
Motor Mounting Screw
Grease Idler Gear (G)
Body Mount Screws
Motor Mounting Screw
Figure 3
The locomotive’s internal gearing was greased at the factory and should not need
additional grease until after 50 hours of operation or one year, whichever comes first.
Follow the greasing instructions below. Note that in some tightly packed engines you
may need to move internal components temporarily in order to access the gears.
1. To access the gear box, remove the cab from the chassis by unscrewing the chassis
screws as seen in Figure 3 and lifting the cab from the chassis.
2. Once the cab is removed, remove the trucks by unscrewing the black Phillips motor
mount screw located on the underside of the drive trucks (see Fig. 4).
3. Once the motor mount screw has been removed, pull the motor away from the truck
block and lightly coat the motor worm gear and bronze drive gear (in the truck block)
with grease.
4. Reassemble the truck and motor, being careful not to pinch any wires between the
truck block and motor mount.
Lubricating and Greasing Instructions

10 RailKing FA-2 AA Diesel Set
5. After repeating the procedure for the other motor, reassmble the chassis and body,
being careful that the wire harnesses are not caught between the chassis and body and
reinstall the chassis screws.
Lubricate the outside truck block
idler and drive gears with grease.
Use the diagram shown in Figure
6 below as a guide and add grease
to the points marked with a “G.”
Periodically check the locomotive wheels and pickups for dirt and buildup, which can
cause poor electrical contact and traction as well as prematurely wear out the neoprene
traction tires.
Periodically check the locomotive
wheels and pickups for dirt and
buildup, which can cause poor
electrical contact and traction and
prematurely wear out the neoprene
traction tires. Wheels and tires can be
cleaned using denatured (not rubbing)
alcohol applied with a cotton swab.
To clean the track, use RailKing Track
Cleaning Fluid and a clean rag or
denatured (not rubbing) alcohol.
Unplug the transformer and wipe the
rails of the track, turning the rag
frequently to ensure that you are using
clean cloth on the rails. Thereafter,
keep an eye on the track and clean it
when it gets dirty to ensure good electrical contact and to lengthen the life of the tires.
Motor Mount Screw
Figure 4
Cleaning The Wheels, Tires and Track