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I have been have some tether problems. Mostly when my engines would enter a curve they would stop. If I would touch or kind of fiddle with the tether the engine would start only to soon again fail in a curve.

 

Today I bought a new tether, of course there were two choice of three in the packages and I pick wrong. My engine had a 50 and the largest in the package was 45.

In any event I have it a try. Of course that metal wire on top was way to long. I bent it as I am thinking it has to contact the tender connection.

Well the 45 works, gets close on 36 curves but it works. However if I run above 40mph the train sound different and the whistle and horn doesn't work. I have to slow it down to around 35mph to get the normal sounds and the whistle and bell to work.

I have no clue if this is related to the tether or not.

So my question is what is the wire on top of the draw bar for? Also does it have to touch the tender connection.

Then what is up with the whistle and bell functions?

The main thing is the locomotive is operational now.

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To be more precise, tethers usually mean the wire type harness connected between tender and engine for steam. Also Diesel ABA types.  The connector in the engine can have solder joints crack usually on the outside and this effects motor and some times power.  PS-1 had sam affliction.  Also the wire inside the harness from tender can break. 

You seem to be talking about drawbars.  Some can have the same solder cracking but it would be on one or both sides of the actual drawbar.  So if you change it that was most likely culprit.  But it can also be the harness from the tender or engine that plugs into the drawbar.  Usually it is the engine side which is more restrictive.  Tender has the swivel to keep pressure off tender harness.

Lastly the drawbar connection does need to be complete and firm.  Partial insertion to tender can cause issues.  G

"""The connector in the engine can have solder joints crack usually on the outside and this effects motor and some times power.  PS-1 had the same affliction.  Also the wire inside the harness from tender can break."""

This is the dog that bit me on my MTH Hudson...

Cracked solder joints on the tether connector were causing it to either run away, or run very erratic (jerky motion). A re-solder on the joints and she runs like new now.

I think what happens over time is that tight curves puts additional stress on the tether and connector causing solder stress cracks, or possible open wires in the tether harness itself (even though an engine might be rated okay for 031 curves). I also think that if the tether harness wire is too short from engine to tender, this could be another stress point on the harness.

I never pull on the tether wire to uncouple/couple to the tender, I work the tether via the plug whenever I have to handle it...

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