I was trying to find a parts list for my SD80 20-2474-1. MTH documentation seems to steer me to SD90MAC 20-2299-1. Can I assume( I hate that word) that the SD90MAC has the identical parts list?
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that's what I would guess, I have seen that before what are you trying to find what part or parts?
Alan
I looked up 20-2474-1 on the MTH website and it gives me the parts list for the SD-90.
Alan, I don't need anything now, but I like to have paper copy so if I do need parts I can identify part numbers to make it easier to order them. Trying to stay ahead of the game. Don
Gator, it would be nice if they let you know the parts were definitely the same. 
I agree.
Gator why don't you call midge at mth and ask her she has always been very helpful on the phone or email ! 410-381-2580 extension #516 !
Alan
I just received a new locomotive ( 20-20727-1 NS Dash-8) from Mr Muffin. No in depth operating instructions (not that big a deal since I've already got a few MTH loco's) but what if this was my first MTH Loco? No "how to change traction tires, lights" and no parts lists. I believe that info should be included with your locomotive. I don't believe I should have to spend my time looking this information up online. Call me crazy and old fashioned. Don
Well, changing traction tires on newer MTH diesels is very easy, remove the side frames with the two easily accessible screws from the bottom, you have full access to the wheels.
As for changing lights, you don't do that. All the lighting on PS/3 is LED, and they're supposed to last the life of the locomotive, same with the supercaps that replaced the batteries.
Now, they should have something on maintaining smoke units, those are arguably the most maintenance intensive items on most locomotives.
Grj,
Fortunately I turn my smoke units off so that should eliminate a lot of potential problems. Good information on the lights, too. The 20-2474-1 had the hidden screws. For some who has worked on them most of their lives it's a very simple thing, but for someone doing it for the first time on an expensive locomotive it's scary. My new loco 20-20727 Dash 8 has the easily accessible screws for the side plates .
I thank you for your input - your answers are always accurate and to the point.
Thanks again, Don
I was addressing the new PS/3 model,very limited internal maintenance on those. Not that things don't go wrong and we have to open them up anyway, but that's another story! 
The older models were indeed harder in that you either had to fish the tires in between the sideframes or drop the trucks to remove the sideframes. Of course to drop the trucks, you have to remove the shell, etc. Then you get into all the complications of pinching wires, and blowing up boards, etc.
OTOH, they do have downloadable manuals for most of the older stuff that does detail these operations, unpleasant as they might be.
Grj,
I'm trying to download everything I can now, do to the uncertainty of the MTH situation. I was able to drop the truck on 20-2474-1 w/o taking off the shell, otherwise it could have gotten ugly. I can't imagine the things you've seen and done on locomotives you've worked on. You've come through it with a vast amount of knowledge and I thank you for sharing it with us on the forum. Don
It's tricky to get the screw back in the motor mount without taking off the shell, you're lucky.
Grj,
For once it turned out " it's better to be lucky than skilled" worked out. I downloaded the documentation for the 20-2474-1, they did say to keep the locomotive in the upright position at all times then loosen the truck and let it fall into your hand. I hung the locomotive off the edge of my bench and did just that and luckily for me it worked out. I do have another question since I'm bugging the heck out of you. I want to add PSX-AC's to my layout. I have one Z-4000 wired to my TIU going to 4 track blocks. From the Z-4000 I run a red and black wire to each of the "fixed" inputs to the TIU. I then jumper wires from the 2 "fixed" inputs to the "variable" inputs and change their state to "Fixed". The TIU is powered externally by a Z-750. I've seen threads with PSX-AC's but none exactly like my setup. The threads I saw showed 2 PSX-AC's between the Z-4000 and the TIU. Does that sound right? Or can you point me to the correct thread for my setup?
Many thanks, Don
For maximum protection, you'd want a PSX-AC on each output, but I think there's a change you have to make to avoid them degrading the DCS signal. You can put them on the inputs, one on each transformer output.
Grj, Thanks for the info, Don
