MTH Dump Car Activation

Some Lionel dump cars are activated by the electromagnet in the Operating Track via the "Uncouple" Button.  Not sure about the MTH cars..., but if you haven't already tried this, try both "Unload" and "Uncouple"  If the cars still don't work then, you could run temporary power to the FasTrack Operating track to see if the MTH dump cars work on it (try both "Unload" and "Uncouple").

If they do work and you want to troubleshoot the tubular track,  try this: while you are pressing the "Unload" button check the "Activation Rails" on the tubular Operating track for AC voltage that should be at the same level as the power you're feeding to it (Aux?).  There are 4 sections of these activation rails in between the usual 3 rails.  You should be able to measure voltage between them in diagonal pairs with the Unload button pressed.

@Richard Whipkey posted:

I am in the process of building my layout and have worked through many problems to date with help from members on the OGR Forum and for this I offer a sincere thank you.  All of my Fastrack is now laid and all 21 switches are working flawlessly.

Will they, perhaps, work on the Fastrack operating sections.  I couldn't find any help with a thorough search.  Any suggestions will be deeply appreciated.

The MTH dump car will work fine on a fastrack operating track.

Just so we're clear. It requires the track with the extra rails to send power to the pickup shoe.

Rick, Thanks for clearing that up.  So with the FasTrack one would push the "Unload" button on the Operating track's wired remote.  Out of curiosity about the MTH dump cars, what electrical device(s) in the car do they use to dump the load; is it a solenoid?

@SteveH posted:

  Out of curiosity about the MTH dump cars, what electrical device(s) in the car do they use to dump the load; is it a solenoid?

They are motorized and use gears. The action is slow , smooth,and realistic.

Mth did a nice job on these.

Rick that does sound nice.  With the Lionel log dump cars, its fun to see how far we can launch the "Logs".  Thanks for the reply.

OK, now I'm really confused. First, let me say that the Fundimensions Coaling Station is wired as it came from the factory and works as it did 20+ years ago.  I tested voltage to the activation rails with the control lever thrown to "dump"; and there is no power. There is only power to the magnet.

1.  When I throw the control lever to "dump",  the post war twin bin dump car #3359 that we had on a layout for my children 25+ years ago works when it is on the tubular operating track even if no power is on to the siding (remember, the Coaling Station is powered by an accessory bus line).  When the car's coupler is over the magnet, it uncouples.  The car has shoes and would work with a post war OTC Lockon as well.  How is it working?  Are we to assume the magnet operates it?

2.  I next tried a Fundimensions barrel car and a post war barrel car.  Both have shoes.  And both work as described in # 1 above.  How are they working?

3.  Next I tried 2 Kline dump cars.  Both are in good shape and work on any powered section with the Kline remote.  They do not respond (except for uncoupling when moved over the magnet) by throwing the dump lever when only the accessory power directly to the operating track is on.  However, if the siding power is also on, they dump perfectly with the dump lever thrown on the control for the Coaling Station.

4.  Last, I tried all three of my MTH dump cars.  They will not respond in either powered scenario.  (They do uncouple).

I'm at a loss to explain any of this.  Thoughts?

@SteveH posted:

Rick that does sound nice.  With the Lionel log dump cars, its fun to see how far we can launch the "Logs".  Thanks for the reply.

Here's a video demonstration of an Mth dump car.

This is on a Fastrack operating track set at 10v.

I love these dump cars!  I have about 3 or 4 of the CSX ones.  I do not like the activation track, however.  I once thought about ripping out the Lionel Command Control Switch components to make these dump anywhere.  This is one idea that has remained just a thought.

Anthony

@A. Wells posted:

I love these dump cars!  I have about 3 or 4 of the CSX ones.  I do not like the activation track, however.  I once thought about ripping out the Lionel Command Control Switch components to make these dump anywhere.  This is one idea that has remained just a thought.

Anthony

I believe ERR makes a mini commander for this modification. The drawback is, it costs more than the car

If you have the operating track and activation switch(es) similar to the ones in the attached photos, try removing the one wire shown with the white cap pointing to it.  Then hold the "dump" lever down and the MTH cars should operate.  This does take away other operations of the coaling tower while disconnected but it should at least allow you to test your MTH cars.  All the rails are hot on mine if everything (wires) are connected and track power is on.  You can see the voltage with a multimeter or light bulb with 2 wires by touching one lead to the center rail and then alternating between the other rails with the other lead.

@RickO posted:

I believe ERR makes a mini commander for this modification. The drawback is, it costs more than the car

Thanks! I'll have to check it out.  Yeah, I'm just learning how expensive PLC (Power Line Communication) IC's are now. A

@Richard Whipkey If you have the 6-14107 model of the coaling station, there was a service addendum that was shared publicly to modify the wiring so it works with both old (shoe contacts) and newer (magnet plunger) cars.  From the factory, it only worked with magnet plunger type.  Does the MTH car have sliding shoes for activation?

If this is your problem, what you will be doing is moving the solenoid and Right control rail wires from B terminal (under the roof of the coaling station) to terminal A.  Please see attached addendum and also my crude wiring diagram of what it should be per the addendum.  After some minor soldering, mine now works with both older style and newer style dump cars.

If you look at it like this, the A terminal is the common ground for each mechanism, the rest begins to make sense.  Then the controller switches power to each terminal.  Terminal B passes power to the left control rails, Terminal C passes power to the solenoid for dropping coal down to the car, and Terminal D passes power to the motor.

Here's a crude sketch of the wiring diagram.

@RickO posted:

They are motorized and use gears. The action is slow , smooth,and realistic.

Mth did a nice job on these.

I couldn't agree more with RickO.  I had one of these MTH dump cars for many years and it was practically bulletproof.  Probably the most reliable/consistent operating car I've ever had.