Trains.com

Initial installation of MTH's GG-1 pantograph

2326 views
0 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    December 2006
  • From: Michigan City, In.
  • 781 posts
Initial installation of MTH's GG-1 pantograph
Posted by spikejones52002 on Wednesday, December 29, 2010 4:55 PM

Reading and understanding MTH's instruction for initial installation of MTH's Rail-1-King  GG-1 pantographs has a lot to be desired for the first time installation.

The first time you take the GG-1 out of the box and read the instructions. You do not have a clear picture of their procedure. If you do not get it exactly correct. The pantographs will not raise or lower correctly.

After you place the engine on an isolated section of track to install (add MTH engine) the engine into the "TIU". 

When the TIU acknowledges that the engine is installed and assigned a memory location. Push the "start up" button on the remote.

When the engine response and lights up. The back / rear of the engine's "RED" marker lights. That is the pantograph that will be in the "UP" position. With a flashlight or light source look straight down into the rectangle slots.

You should / will hear the pantograph motors "WEEEEN" as they run. If not check the pantograph switch under the hatch cover on top. The switch should be in "AUTO"

Now with a thin long instrument like a wooden toothpick. Probe into the slot. There are two blocks that slid back & forth.

With the pick you can slid the blocks back & forth. The blocks have to be spread out the there limits.

Careful as you push out one block the other might pull in some. Just attempt to get them equal out.

Now play with the pantograph in your hand. Watch how it operates as you let it spring up and you collapse it.

Do not push down to far. There is a catch to hold the pantograph down.

Look mainly at the two arms under the pantograph. They move out as the pantograph goes up.

That is there you want them to install.

Now gently squeeze the pantograph to get the two arms into the slots. Then squeeze them just a pit more and set the pantograph onto the 4 insulators.

I always had a bit of a problem lining up the holes with the insulators.

After you get them lined up. Use your thumb directly on the bracket and push down you will / should feel a snap as it sets.

If you do not get all 4 holes down on the insulators the pantograph will not function completely.

Let the pantograph spring up.

Now press the "red" directional button on the hand remote controller. The marker lights will change color. The engine will now be in reverse.

The pantograph should collapse. The process is set to lower the pantograph after the lowered one rises to make contact with the overhead wire.

You "will" hear the motors run. You might have to lower the volume or turn off the engine sounds.

After ?15? seconds the newly installed pantograph is set for the direction of the engine. Press the direction button on the remote to see the lights change and immediately see the pantograph go up. Again listen for the motors to run. You will hear a soft "WEEEEN".

If you do not hear the motors run and the pantograph move.
Check the switch position under the hatch cover on top of the engine.

After you see the "REAR   RED marker" go up. Then down (green marker).

Reverse the engine (red marker side). Spread the two blocks with the toothpick like you did. install that pantograph.

Now when every you reverse the engine. The pantograph at the rear of the engine will rise and touch the wire and the forward one will drop after several seconds.

If you do not want the pantograph to rise up to max. You can adjust the two arms that go down into the slots out just a bit. The pantographs might not go all the way down though.

Adjust slightly to your liking.

Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Garden Railways newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Garden Railways magazine. Please view our privacy policy