I have several steam locos that the drawbar attaches to a plastic pin on the tender, problem is they keep coming apart. Has anyone modified this setup by removing the pin and using a screw to permanently attaching the two units together? How did it work for you? Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.Thanks.
Had the same issue. The draw bar is steel with a screw to the engine the plastic pin did shear off. Just drilled and put in a screw on the tender. Just have to be careful when it's off the tracks. A bolt/pin coming down from the top would probably be safer. Then it would be more like the missing plastic pin. Just a little longer.
I like the credit card idea. If you have a wife or steady girlfriend, get her credit card. Cut it into strips and fabricate a new drawbar. Win-win all around.
I like my metal draw bar. The front (to the engine) is only 3mm wide and the back is 4.5mm with two 2.7mm holes 3.4mm apart so that the tender can be placed close in or farther away to allow smaller turns. Of course the four little wires help keep it from total separation. I don't know the manufacturer. It's a 4-6-0 with straight stack and small round head light. My first DCC HO engine bought in 2007. I don't have one of those lady friends now but do have the old credit cards. He! he! he!
