Rail King F-3 Passenger Set User manual

RK
AIL ING
By MT H ElectricTrains
®
F-3 PASSENGER TRAIN SET
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
Making the Most of Your Investment
Thank you for purchasing this RailKing Ready-to-Run F-3 Passenger Train
Set. We at MTH Electric Trains take pride in manufacturing quality
products like your set, and we hope that you will enjoy it for a long
time. To ensure the maximum durability and pleasure from locomotive,
rolling stock, track and transformer, please read all the way through the
Quick Start Basic Operating Instructions you will find on pages 4.
Remember that a little attention to routine maintenance yields a
maximum of trouble-free performance.
RAILKING

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RAILKING
Table Of Contents
QUICK START - BASIC OPERATION( 4
Setting Up The RiteTrax® Track System 4
Preparing The Locomotive & Cars For Operation 6
Lubrication 6
Operating The Locomotive & Cars 7
Electronic Reverse Unit 7
Transformer Operation 8
Special Reverse Unit Options 9
TRAIN SET MAINTENANCE 11
Oil 11
Grease 12
Locomotive Lamp Replacement 12
Passenger Car Lamp Replacement 13
Locomotive Traction Tire Replacement 15
RITETRAX® TRACK LAYOUT PLANS 16
TRANSFORMER COMPATIBILITY CHART 19
EXPLODED PARTS VIEW DIAGRAM 20
SAFTEY & WARNING PRECAUTIONS 22
SERVICE AND WARRANTY INFORMATION 23
HOW TO GET SERVICE 23
LIMITED ONE YEAR WARRANTY 23

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Compatibility
Our designers have sized the engine to operate on any traditional 0-27
or larger O Gauge track system, including RiteTrax using any standard
AC transformer including the Z-750 transformer packaged in your set.
(See page 19 for a complete list of compatible transformers as well as
wiring instructions.) All RailKing products are compatible with most
other 3-rail locomotives, rolling stock, and accessories.
Equipment Options
Your ready-to-run set features a F-3 Passenger Train locomotive
equipped with an operating headlight, electronic horn, and DCRU®
electronic reverse unit. All are simple and fun to operate. In addition
to the locomotive, your set should also include an oval of RiteTrax®
track (8 curved and 4 straight sections), a RiteTrax® lighted lock-on and
wire harness set (for connecting the track to the transformer) and a 75-
watt Z-750 transformer and controller.
You’ll find complete instructions for choosing and setting up options in
the following pages. If you don’t read through the entire manual before
starting to operate your equipment, be sure to check the Quick Start
Basic Operating Instructions, which will give you the basics of the
operating system.
CAUTION - ELECTRICALLY OPERATED
PRODUCT:
Not recommended for children under ten years of age without adult
supervision. As with all electric products, precautions should be
observed during handling and use to reduce the risk of electric shock.
Transformer Ratings:
Input: 120 VAC
60 HZ Only
Output: 21VAC, 3.75A, 78VA

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F-3 Passenger Train Set Operating Manual
RAILKING
Quick Start Operating Instructions
Track and Power
Although MTH Electric Trains manufactures its own track and
transformers, you can run your locomotive on 0-27 or wider-radius O
gauge track wired to draw power from any of the standard compatible
AC transformers listed in the chart on page 19. Be sure your track is in
good condition—clean and securely connected—to keep the locomotive
running and to prevent derailments. If you intend to utilize the
RiteTrax® track sections included in the set, see the directions below.
Setting Up the RiteTrax® Oval
Unlike other O Gauge track systems, each RiteTrax® track section
features a realistic built-in roadbed base, solid nickel-silver track rails and
realistic railroad ties all
designed to give the owner
an authentic looking track
system. In addition, each
RiteTrax® track section
employs the use of quick-
connect connectors instead
of track pins or railjoiners to
assemble the track sections
to one another. The quick
connectors and built-in base
allow RiteTrax® track
sections to be setup
anywhere, including some
carpeted surfaces without the need for track nails or the worry of carpet
stains.
You can set up literally hundreds of
different track designs utilizing
RiteTrax® components. We’ve
included just a few later in this
manual for your reference. Each
layout specifies the space required
and the components needed to
Align Quick Connect
Plugs and Gently Push
RiteTrax® Sections Together
Figure 1: Preparing to snap RiteTrax® sections together by
aligning Quick Connect Connectors together.
Figure 2: RiteTrax® sections in proper connected
position.

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complete the track design. You can purchase additional track
components from any authorized MTH reseller.
The lighted lockon included in
your set snaps into any RiteTrax®
track section roadbed and
functions as the interface
between the track and the
transformer. Each RiteTrax® track
section includes two “knock-out”
tabs in the roadbed (on either end
of the track) that must be removed
to reveal the opening for the lighted
lockon. To remove this knock-out
grab the knock-out with a pair of
pliers and gently twist the knock-out
until it snaps away from the
roadbed base. Once the knock-out
has been removed, snap the lighted
lockon into the roadbed taking care
to make sure that the lockon arms
snap into the roadbed electrical
receptors. To complete the
connection between the RiteTrax®
track section and the transformer,
simply plug in the color-coded wire
harness that was included in your
set.
Knock-out
Must Be Removed
Before Lighted Lockon
Can Be Inserted
Figure 3: Top view position of lighted lockon
preparing to enter RiteTrax® section.
Figure 5: Underside view of RiteTrax® track
section with lighted lockon in fully seated position.
Remove
Knock-out
By Holding
& Twisting
With A Pair
Of Pliers
Figure 4: Underside view of RiteTrax® section
with knock-out removed and lighted lockon in
position for insertion.
Figure 6: Top view of RiteTrax® section with
lighted lockon in fully seated position.

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F-3 Passenger Train Set Operating Manual
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Preparing the Locomotive & Cars For
Operation
Before you run your locomotive, you must oil the locomotive.
Lubrication
Before you run the locomotive, use a light household or hobby oil to
lubricate the gears and pick up rollers. Apply a small drop of oil (a
pinpoint oiler will help
place the right amount of
oil where you need it) to
each of the points
indicated by in the diagram
in figures 8. You may also
want to use either a
locomotive repair cradle or
an old towel folded over to
provide a protective bed
for the locomotive shell
while you’re working on it.
-750
DIRECTION
BELL
HORN
WHISTLE
POWER
RK
AIL ING
By MT H ElectricTrains
®
T R A NS FOR M E R CONT ROL L E R
OFF
FU LL
POWER
Also functions as a binding post.
Red Harness
Wire/Plug
Red Harness
Wire/Plug
Black Harness
Wire/Plug Black Harness
Wire/Plug
Figure 7: Wiring up the Z-750 transformer to the lighted lockon.
Lubricate Gears
Lubricate Pickup Rollers
Figure 8: Lubrication points of RailKing F-3 Passenger
locomotive.

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Because the locomotives’s internal gearing has been greased at the
factory, you shouldn’t need to add more grease until you have run the
locomotive for 50 hours or owned it for a year, whichever comes first.
See the section on lubrication, pages(s) 11-12, for detail.
Operating The Engine and Cars
Once the track has been assembled and the transformer wired to the
track lock-on, you are almost ready to begin running your new train set.
Place the engine and cars on the
track and couple each up to one
another. If the coupler is already
closed, pressing down on the
coupler armature will open the
coupler knuckle to allow the
couplers to interlock with one
another. Before turning on the
transformer, it is important to
understand the features of your new
train set.
Electronic Reverse Unit
The locomotive is controlled by a DCRU® electronic reverse unit. The
reverse unit operates in the same manner that all reverse units function
by using forward, neutral and
reverse states that are entered
each time the throttle is
turned on and off or by using
the transformer direction
switch (if so equipped).
The reverse unit is designed
to ignore dirty track, dead spots on switches or minor short circuits
without disrupting the engine operation, even at slow, prototypical
speeds. Once the engine is placed on the track, the transformer
throttle can be advanced. You will see that only the engine’s lights
come on but that the engine does not run. This is known as the RESET
state and is required when used with after-market MTH ProtoSound®
sound systems. The DCRU® will not power the motor until the
RESET
Neutral
Reverse
Neutral
Forward
Pushing Down
On The Coupler
Armature Opens
The Coupler
Knuckle
Figure 9: Pushing down on the coupler armature
to open up the coupler knuckle.

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throttle is turned OFF and then ON again. At this point, the engine will
now function just like any other electronic or mechanical E-unit.
In addition to the DCRU® electronic reverse unit, your new train set
locomotive features an electronic horn that can be activated by
pressing the white Horn/Whistle button on your Z-750 transformer.
Any compatible transformer whistle or horn button will also activate the
horn in your new locomotive. Simply pressing the Horn/Whistle button
whenever the throttle is above the OFF setting should activate the horn.
If the horn doesn’t blow, increase the throttle setting and press the
button again. The horn will blow as long as the button is depressed.
Now, if you’ve lubricated the locomotive friction points as indicated
earlier, you’re almost ready to start running your train set.
Transformer Operation
The Z-750 provides the model railroad enthusiast with an easy to use,
safe power source for AC-powered trains and accessories. Set up is
quick and easy by following the setup diagram below.
Functions:
Bell: Press to activate a digital sound system bell (not found on Amtrak
F-3 Passenger Set model number 30-4018-0), press again to deactivate.
Horn/Whistle: Press to activate.
Direction: Press to stop motion of train and press again to change
direction
-750
DIRECT ION
BELL
HORN
WHISTLE
POWER
RK
AIL ING
By MT H ElectricTrains
®
T R ANS F OR ME R CONT R OL L E R
OFF
FU L L
POWER
Figure 10: Z-750 Controls

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Starting to Roll
Advanced the transformer throttle. The locomotive's light will come on
but the engine will not move until you turn the throttle back OFF and
then ON again. The engine should now proceed in the forward
direction. At this point, advancing the throttle further will allow the
engine to pick up speed, reducing the throttle will slow the engine
down. Turning the throttle OFF and then back ON will park the engine
into neutral. Cycling the throttle OFF and then back ON again one
more time will allow the locomotive to enter reverse.
An alternative method to using the throttle to enter the next reverse
unit phase is to press the direction button. When depressed, the
transformer interrupts all power to the track as long as the button is
depressed. Releasing the button reapplies power to the track at
whatever voltage level the transformer throttle is set at.
Press the horn button, the horn should sound.
Note: Pressing the bell button will have no affect on your engine because your locomotive
is not equipped with a bell. Only locomotives equipped with full digital sound systems
(which feature engine sounds, horns, bells, air-release sound effects, squeaking brakes and
many other locomotive related sound effects) can utilize the bell button.
Special Reverse Unit Options
Locking Out The Reverse Unit Into One Full-Time
Direction
Your DCRU® electronic reverse unit locomotive may be locked out
into one of three positions;
forward, neutral or reverse.
Locking the engine into
one of these three positions
prevents the locomotive
from cycling through the
reverse unit phases and is
useful for operators
employing block signal
operations on their layout.
Once locked into a
position, turning the
Reverse Unit Lock-Out Switch
Figure 11: DCRU® Electronic Reverse Unit Lock-out Switch
location.

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F-3 Passenger Train Set Operating Manual
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throttle off and then on again will not allow the engine to enter the next
reverse unit phase and instead keeps the engine in the current locked
out phase.
To lock out the engine into one of the three positions, simply enter that
position using the transformer throttle or direction button. Once in the
desired direction, remove the locomotive from the track and slide the
ON/OFF switch located on the bottom of the chassis (See Figure 11) to
the OFF position. This locks the engine into the desired direction.
Sliding the switch back to the ON position resets the DCRU® reverse
unit into its normal reverse unit cycling phases.
Note: Once the DCRU® reverse unit is locked out and an hour or more of non-use has
passed, the reverse unit may cycle into any of the three directional states. Should this occur,
the ON/OFF switch should be reset to the ON position to regain normal operation. If the
operator desires to lock the engine out in another direction state, repeat the above steps to
do so.
Using the Z-750 With Self-Recharging, Battery
Equipped After-Market Sound Systems
When using the Z-750 transformer with after-market digital sound systems
employing a self-recharging battery backup system, operators should be
aware MTH does not recommend leaving the engine in neutral with the
power on and the throttle above the setting shown in Figure 10 for an
extended period of time. If you are recharging the battery found in these
after-market sound systems with a Z-750 transformer while in the neutral
position, MTH recommends the throttle be positioned as shown in Figure
10 for optimum charging power.