#2 MTH's GG-1

[spikejones52002]

 UPS delivered my second GG-1(#1 is Green, #2 is Tuscon). I heard a load bang from my inclosed front porch. I seen the UPS truck drive away. UPS dumped off my new engine .
 I set up my initiation track and added the engine to my list in the controller.

I read and reread over the instructions on how to install the pantograph.
                        
  

One problem. What side of the GG-1 is the front. No clue given in the instructions. I toggled back and forth. The maker lights change from green to red and back.
Then I move the actuator backs apart. Then I carefully installed the (what I though to be the rear). Then I pushed the directional button and attempted to move the actuator blocks apart. They did not want to move.
I toggled the direction button several times. Nothing moved, the installed pan did not move.
Finally I was able to separate the blocks. I installed the Pan.
I placed the GG-1 up on my track. I applied power and pushed the “start up” button.  
After playing around a bit. I realized and not mentioned in the instructions. There is a front and back, at “start up”.  
The side away from smoke stack  is the rear. That is the side ‘half’ where the access hatch is.
The pantograph did not work again.
I took the engine down and placed it on my initiation again. I removed both pans. I hit start up. I checked to make sure the blocks were apart. I moved them apart. I installed the pan.

 Confusing
I pushed the “S2,  MOP” button. This is what is displayed in the screen.
“F with an up arrow,”     “F with down arrow,”      “AUTO”,
            S1                                     S2                              S3


 “R with up arrow,”   “R with down arrow.”
            S4                                S5
The pans do not move up or down. Then I pushed F1 and F2 then R1 and R2. The rear (access hatch side) goes up and down. Do not change to fast. They take some time. So do not rush them. The front pan did not work.
This is another confusing factor. With the “MOP” in auto.
I have manual control of the pans with “S1, S2, S4, S5".
When I push “S3" the screen reads to “Manual”, “S1, S2, S4, S5" disappear.
More confusing. When running on the track. With “MOP” in auto. The pans do not move with direction changes (slowly). When I pushed “MOP and S3" to manual. The rear pantograph goes up when that side marker light is “RED”. It goes down when the marker light is green. Some times the engine have to move several feet.
The front pan is up and never dropped.
I removed the front pan so as break anything.
I ran the engine a lot to test. Pause several seconds before movement. The rear pan worked perfect (with “MOP in manual).

[DMUinCT]

All real locomotives built in the United States, by law, must be marked with the letter "F" on both sides near the "designated" front of the locomotive.

  Nearly all scale models will have the "F" as on the real ones.   MTH should have pointed that out.

[spikejones52002]

 Right on the money DMUinCT.

There is a gold "F"  on the front.

 My old eyes and slow brain did not pick it up.

I did pull my engine off the rails and down onto a 5 ft test track.

The front actuator block was stuck in the inside. I have to really pick at it to move it into the outside position. I did a couple of tests and the pans worked properly.

I am watching the launch of the shuttle. Actually I am watching the DVR of the launch. The choice. Vanna White or the launch?

I need to do some work on my overhead track before  I will put the engine back overhead and do a good test.

[spikejones52002]

 I got the engine back on the run track. The pans work great. I had a slight bind in the front (newest). It would not go up smoothly. I applied a drop of oil to all the joints. That cleared the bind.

I now have a perfect running GG-1.

When I change direction. The back pan goes up. Then the front pan goes down.