Mike's Train House W/Proto Fix

[@TwistedMacGyversTrains]

Awesome tip chuck, thank you! I’ve converted all of mine over to BCR’s.

[@luxurylinr56]

Thank you Lance! I have just one MTH train from 1999, a Burlington Pioneer Zephyr set. Like yourself, I am way more into the pre and post war Lionel, Marx, AF and Hoge trains. Love and collect them the most, but MTH did produce a nice version of that famous Zephyr train, which I really like. The original is one of the coolest trains ever made IMHO. One fully restored, sits at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry, which I'd love to see one day. Meanwhile, I do have the ultra rare Lionel Silver streak steam version, like yours, along with the Flying Yankee Diesel black top version, which runs the same 617 pullman cars and 618 observation car. Too many great trains out there to collect. Thanks again!

[@steelswaggerdepot1703]

Thank you for the information we appreciate you !

[@ShawnBowyer-nz4vj]

Take the printed circuit bord out all you need is a dioed to convert theAC from the track to DC to the moters.and it won't need a battery.

[@paulbervid1610]

Very interesting and informative. Thanks.

[@Ed-ICE-Berg]

Good tips. I've only got one MTH engine their Railking Hiawatha

[@johnact9134]

The ZW has a pure sine wave output and is on the list of MTH approved transformers for PS1 you can add a external magnetic breaker because the internal breaker is thermal and slow to react. The transformer you recommend has a fast breaker but does not have a pure sine wave output.

[@t.t.6398]

Remove the MTH battery and go on line and search MTH BCR replacement. It's about $25 as of 12/24/2020. It's a direct drop in replacement for the MTH battery and it never goes bad! Leave it for a year or 2 stick it on the track turn the power up 1/2 way for about a minute, power down, click your direction button, and notch out the throttle and you're all ready to go!

[@chiconian49]

Good info. I just investigated the newer MTH BCR battery. You are correct.

[@brentbach8467]

Absolutely! Best money I ever spent.

[@nachtjager77]

Can't you just use a regular 9V battery?

[@The-sn7no]

Thanks I just changed out a white battery with the MTH green. Hoping it will work. Another video says do not run your MTH trains with the white battery it will fry the electronic board. Change them. I got a lot to change. Sorry I bought the proto sound trains and trolleys.

[@CarolinaKid93]

Thanks for vid/info. I wish I was smart enough to reference vids like this a number of years ago. Several years ago, my one and only MTH loco that had been sitting for 15 years, I made a little layout, set my loco on it, and fried it. POW!!! Capacitor blew I reckon. I didn't know to change the battery before trying to operate it. Now it's for display only. Here I am several years later, and messing around again. I bought a 1998 new? never operated MTH loco. I'm smart enough this time to purchase new battery beforehand, and will charge it before I place it in loco. The factory battery was in it and some corrosion on terminal. I am waiting on a new battery connector to solder in as well. Not rushing this time around.

[@richardsobieck9660]

Lance do NOT use a standard 9 volt battery. The MTH battery is 8.4 to 8.7 volts. A standard 9 volt battery will ovreload the board and blow it out. I found this out the hard way. So only replace with the MTH battery.

[@3dkidsartfairs]

Better yet, use the BCR instead.

[@mitchcornacchia968]

Great info thanks

[@MemoriesRR]

Thank you.

[@joycejohnson2511]

Yeah right CW 80 or a zw -lw will not run a proto 1 engine no mater what i did the engine would not run so i had to use my old zw which makes run

[@chiconian49]

My only MTH Proto engine is a Proto -1 engine, made in Korea. There is no date of manufacture on the box or in the operating instructions. The Lionel CW is not mentioned in "Transformer and Wiring Chart." I am guessing that Lionel CW 80 was produced after my Rail King, Proto-1 instructions were printed. I remember "The Polar Express" movie was made in 2004 and Lionel produced train sets soon after along with The Hogwarts express. Many a child had a miserable Christmas morning because the CW-80's which came with the sets were bad. Lionel had to redesign them. I purchased my CW-80 new, approx. 11 years ago. I just know that my MTH item with Proto-! works splendidly with my CW-80.

[@scpvrr]

I disagree with you wholeheartedly on the comments on transformers. According to MTH manuals, the ZW is approved for MTH Locos. The CW80 and GW160 are unapproved because they have clipped sine waves and will do damage to the electronics. Yes, if you use a postwar transformer you should replace the power cord and circuit breaker before using them whatsoever.

[@chiconian49]

I just tested my transformers with my professional waveform multimeter. My old Lionel ZW does not produce pure waveform power, however my newer Lionel CW-80 does. Your MTH manual is incorrect.

[@johnact9134]

Stop yakking get to the point. It must be an 8.4v rechargeable battery not the 7.2v type.

[@chiconian49]

I don't recall forcing you to watch this upload. Quitcherbitching!

[@CarolinaKid93]

​@@chiconian49 Well, I appreciated the vid. The novice that I am, I got some good direction from it.