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USRA 2-8-8-2 Steam Engine Operating Instructions
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 whistle 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.
LOCKOUT PROBLEMS
REMEDY
I can’t get the engine to run after I power up the
transformer. It sits still with the steam compressor
sounds running.
The engine is locked out into the Neutral position.
Follow the unlocking procedures in the Lockout
Section.
The engine won’t lock out into Forward, Neutral or
Reverse even after the short whistle blast sounds.
You are waiting too long to turn the throttle back on
after the short whistle blast sounds. The power must
be turned back on immediately after the short whistle
blast sounds or the engine will go back into RESET.
See the lockout procedure in the Lockout Section.
VOLUME PROBLEMS
REMEDY
When I try to run the engine, the steam volume is OFF
or very low.
The steam 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 steam 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 Steam Volume to O Volume, I
still hear the cab chatter sounds.
When the steam volume is set to O, you will hear the
Cab Chatter sounds because setting the steam
volume only controls the sound of the steam engine
itself. All other sounds, including Cab Chatter, the
whistle 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.
