MTHTrains MTH F-3 DIESEL ENGINE, Operating Instructions Manual

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MTH F3 Diesel Engine

COUPLER PROBLEMS

REMEDY

The ProtoCoupler won’t let the engine uncouple on the 
“Fly”.

The power required to fire the coupler open when the
engine is on the “Fly” may be greater than the
ProtoSound system is capable of providing.  As a
result, you may experience times when the coupler
won’t fire open.  Unfortunately, the only solution is to
stop the engine and fire the coupler in Neutral.  If that
doesn’t resolve the problem, try lubricating the coupler
knuckle and rivet as explained in the ProtoCoupler
Operation section.

I can’t get the coupler to arm or fire open when I press
the whistle button.

You may be pressing the whistle button too quickly.
See the third remedy in the horn section above.
Another possibility is that ProtoSounds has been
programmed to turn the coupler function off.  See the
section entitled “Using RESET to Program
ProtoSounds”

Only one coupler will function when I press the whistle
button.

Only one coupler can operate at any one time.  Use
the coupler selection switch on the bottom of the
chassis to choose which coupler you want active.

DIESEL START/CAB CHATTER 

REMEDY

Sometimes the diesel start sounds don’t occur when I
first turn power on.

Occassionally the diesel engine start up sounds may
not occur when power is turned back on within 5
seconds of being shut off.  Wait 10 -- 15 seconds
before repowering.

Sometimes the Cab Chatter sounds don’t play.

The Cab Chatter sounds only play in neutral and
ProtoSounds may be programmed to turn thesounds
off.  See the section entitled “Using RESET to
Program ProtoSounds”

LOCKOUT PROBLEMS

REMEDY

I can’t get the engine to run after I power up the
transformer.  It sits still with the diesel compressor
sounds running.

The engine is locked out into the Neutral position.
Follow the unlocking proceedures in the Lockout
Section.

The engine won’t lock out into Forward, Neutral or
Reverse even after the short horn blast sounds.

You are waiting too long to turn the throttle back on
after the short horn blast sounds.  The power must be
turned back on immediately after the short horn blast
sounds or the engine will go back into RESET.  See
the lockout proceedure in the Lockout Section.

VOLUME PROBLEMS

REMEDY

 When I try to run the engine, the diesel volume is OFF 
or very low.

The diesel volume has been programmed at a reduced 
volume or to be silent.  Go to RESET Feature 6 and
adjust the volume.  See the section entitled “Using
RESET to Program ProtoSounds” for more
information.

When I try to set the diesel volume, it resets itself to
the original volume after I selected the new volume.

You are trying to set the volume with a poorly charged
or dead backup battery.  See the section on Battery
Backup for more information.

When I try to set the Diesel Volume to O Volume, I still 
hear the cab chatter sounds.

When the diesel volume is set to O, you will hear the
Cab Chatter sounds because setting the diesel volume 
only controls the sound of the diesel engine itself.  All
other sounds, including Cab Chatter, the horn and bell
will continue to play at the volume level set by the
manual volume control knob located on the bottom of
the chassis.  See the section entitled “ProtoSound
Volume Adjustment” for more information.

The sounds seem distorted, especially when the
whistle or bell is activated.

The overall ProtoSound volume has been set to high
creating the distorted sounds.  Try turning the volume
control knob located on the bottom of the chassis
counter clockwise to reduce the overall volume level.