MTH SD40-2 Questions

Many of the smoke units are loud, especially if you have the engine sound off. Check the
Ditch light settings with your remote. There is a setting for ON, OFF, AUTO, or Alternating.

Two quick checks on the smoke unit:

 

1. Try lightly oiling the fan motor.

2. Check to see that the fan isn't rubbing against anything. 

PS1 ditchlights dont flash. PS2/3 ditchlights flash when the horn is blown (or when set to flash in the remote). It appears you have a PS1 unit (20-2164-1)?

A dab of oil on the smoke unit fan shaft (some disassembly required) should quiet the fan motor down. 

I have an MTH SD-45  with PS-2 that I can change how the ditch lights work.

Maybe PS-1 or early PS-2 don't have that feature.

 

Lee Fritz

If the engine is a PS2/3, the ditch lights can be set via DCS (only) to flash or not flash.

Thanks for all your help.  I took it apart and the fan was loose.  I put some oil on it while I had it apart, put the fan back on, and it purrs like a kitten now.  

 

I will eventually upgrade it to a newer PS unit to get the ditch lights to flash, I figured that probably was the issue.

 

I know it is a bit older, but I am very impressed by it.  I have already ordered another MTH locomotive and I can't wait for it to arrive.  I have only had K-line and Lionel locomotives in the past.  It was time to branch out.