Racing Team 18 Wheeler (600-4156) Installation Faxback Doc. # 18784 Your Radio Shack Racing Team 18 Wheeler is built to haul freight and handle the road, just like the big rigs! You can drive the 18 Wheeler's tractor separately, or connect the supplied trailer for those "long hauls." You can load and unload cargo through the trailer's doors, or remove the trailer's cover to quickly convert it to a flatbed hauler, then use the supplied ramp to load and unload it. The tractor's headlights light up the road while you drive it. The 18 Wheeler's built-in charging jack lets you recharge nickel-cadmium C batteries (not supplied) inside the 18 Wheeler using a nickel-cadmium battery charger (not supplied), or outside the 18 Wheeler using an external battery charger (not supplied). NOTE: You need four C batteries to power your 18 wheeler, one 9-volt battery to power your 18 Wheeler, one 9-volt battery to power your 18 Wheeler's receiver, and one 9-volt battery to power the transmitter. INSTALLING BATTERIES CAUTIONS: Do not mix old and new batteries, non-rechargeable batteries with rechargeable batteries (except as noted in this manual), or rechargeable batteries of different capacities. Use only fresh batteries of the required size and type. Never leave dead or weak batteries in the 18 Wheeler. If you do not plan to use the 18 Wheeler for several days, remove the batteries. Dispose of batteries promptly and properly; do not bury or burn them. Installing the 18 Wheeler's Batteries You must use one 9-volt alkaline battery (such as Cat. No. 23-553) to power your 18 Wheeler's receiver. You can use either four C alkaline batteries (such as Radio Shack Cat. No. 23-651) or four C rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries (such as Cat. No. 23-124) to power your 18 Wheeler. If you use rechargeable C batteries, you can charge them with a battery charger you plug into the 18 Wheeler (Cat. No. 273-1652) or with an external battery charger (Cat. No. 23-134). NOTE: If you are using an external battery charger to charge rechargeable C batteries, make sure the batteries are fully charged before you install them in the 18 Wheeler. See "Charging Nickel-Cadmium Batteries." 1. Set ON/OFF on the bottom of the 18 Wheeler's tractor to OFF. 2. Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the screw from the bottom of the battery compartment cover. 3. Slide the battery compartment cover in the direction of the arrow until it stops. Then pull the cover down to remove it. 4. Install the four C batteries as indicated by the polarity symbols (+ and -) marked inside the compartment. 5. Snap the 9-volt battery into the terminals and place it inside the compartment. 6. Replace the cover. Then replace the screw to secure it. Installing the Transmitter's Battery The transmitter uses one 9-volt battery. We recommend an alkaline battery, such as Cat. No. 23-553. 1. Remove the battery compartment cover by sliding it down. 2. Install the battery as indicated by the polarity symbols (+ and -) marked inside the compartment. 3. Replace the cover. Be sure it snaps into place. CHARGING NICKEL-CADMIUM BATTERIES WARNING: Do not try to recharge alkaline or other non-rechargeable batteries. They might rupture or explode. Follow these steps to use the 18 Wheeler's charging jack and a nickel-cadmium battery charger (such as Cat. No. 273-1652) to charge the C batteries. CAUTIONS: The battery charger must supply 12 volts, its center tip must be set to positive, it must deliver at least 150 milliamps, and its plug must correctly fit the 18 Wheeler's charging jack. The recommended charger meets these requirements. Using a charger that does not meet these requirements could seriously damage the 18 Wheeler or the charger. If you use an external battery charger to recharge the C Batteries, you must remove the C batteries from the 18 Wheeler to charge them. 1. Set ON/OFF on the bottom of the 18 Wheeler's tractor to OFF. 2. Insert the charger's barrel plug into the charging jack. NOTE: The charging jack is on the left side of the 18 Wheeler's tractor. 3. Plug the charger into a standard AC outlet. 4. Charge the C batteries for about 14 hours. CAUTION: Charging batteries for longer than the recommended time can damage them. 5. Unplug the charger from the AC outlet first. Then unplug it from the charging jack. NOTE: Occasionally, fully discharge nickel-cadmium batteries before you recharge them. Otherwise, the batteries lose their ability to fully charge. IMPORTANT: Your 18 Wheeler is capable of using rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries. At the end of the batteries' useful life, they must be recycled or disposed of properly. Contact your local, county, or state hazardous waste management authorities for information on recycling or disposal programs in your area. Some options that might be available are: municipal curbside collection, drop-off boxes at retailers, recycling collection centers, and mail-back programs. DRIVING THE TRACTOR WARNING: Never play with your 18 Wheeler in the street. CAUTIONS: Do not use the 18 Wheeler on a wet floor, or sand, or in mud, rain, or snow. These can damage it. If the 18 Wheeler moves slowly, and you have installed fresh batteries or recharged the rechargeable batteries, check the wheel mechanisms on the tractor and remove any lint, hair, or dust you find. 1. Thread the tractor's antenna wire all the way through the supplied plastic tubing, then insert the plastic tubing into the antenna holder on the back of the tractor. NOTE: If the antenna wire is difficult to thread through the plastic tubing, gently thread the antenna wire between your index finger and thumb to remove any kinks, then try again. 2. Screw the transmitter's antenna clockwise into the top of the transmitter to install it, then fully extend the antenna. 3. Set ON/OFF on the tractor to ON. 4. Slide the power switch on the front of the transmitter to the right to turn it on. The indicator above the power switch lights. 5. Use the transmitter's control levers as follows: Left Control Lever Push forward to move forward. Push forward, slide to the right, then forward all the way for turbo power. Pull back to move backward. Release to stop. Right Control Lever Push left to move left. Push right to move right. Release to go straight. 6. When you finish driving the tractor, set ON/OFF to OFF, then slide the power switch on the transmitter to the left. The indicator above the power switch turns off. (PH 12/4/95)