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This afternoon I unpackaged an MTH DL109 in New Haven Livery, It is in the hunter green and yellow paint scheme. From the looks of the package and the wrapping, it appears like it was never run. I don't know when it was manufactured and there was no operating instructions. When I attempted to run it, it seems as if the wheels need cleaning so I will do that. It seems very sluggish and I wonder if it has been wrapped and stored for sometime.  if the grease is old and needs to be changed in the gear box or something else. I never had a new MTH engine and don't know if there is anything else that should be done prior to running it. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks in advance.  Bill Park

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Cleaning the wheels can't hurt, and also the rollers. If it truly has never been run, you'll also want to put a drop of lightweight oil on each axle, and a tiny spot of grease on the gears.

If the engine has Proto-Sound, Proto-Sound 2.0, you'll want to charge the battery, or probably replace it. To charge the battery, put it on the track and apply about 10 volts or so from your transformer.  Let it sit for a few hours that way, then power it down and try again.

HOWEVER, you may just want to take it to someone who can service it for you and inspect the insides. There have been reports of the batteries that were installed from the factory leaking on occasion. These are usually 18-20+ year old versions. You can do it yourself too, it just depends on how comfortable you are working on it.

There is a chance, depending on age and the state of the battery that just applying power to it again will cook the electronics. There's also a small chance that the battery already did that for you.

Last edited by rplst8

  They came out in the early 2000’s. I had mine before DCS was available. They were offered with 3 different rd. Numbers and a separate sale B unit. The NH didn’t roster a B so it was nice you weren’t forced to buy one. Later this would change and on the used market. Sellers wouldn’t break them up if they had both.

I would probably switch out the battery. While the shell is off turn both flywheels and check for any binding. One screw separates the motor from the truck if you want to check the grease out. If you separate the truck from the motor. Mine was notorious for throwing traction tires. I’d give them a good look seeing they are over 20 years old. To remove the side frames. You have to separate the truck from the motor to access the screws for the side frames. Any questions on how things come apart. The parts list and drawings for this engine is on the new  MTH parts site.

I remember my first new one took some breaking in. It would stall on clean track just about anywhere. I finally just let it run at a good clip for an hour and it seemed to settle in and run fine after that. My feeling is the wheels needed a little run time just to wear in and make good electrical contact.

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