Tender coupling techniques?

Can you be more specific, i.e. is there a plug or does the current pass through the drawbar?  Two completely different sets of possible problems.  

It’s the typical metal drawbar with thin uninsulated wire.  The thin wire needs to contact  a relatively thick vertical metal pin about 3/32” also where the drawbar attaches to the tender.

My locomotives run on conventional DC power and are equipped with a six diode assembly mounted in the tender or int carbody if the model is a diesel,that provides constant/directional lighting.  A two pin male/female connector is all that is required for this method.  This circuit design has been around for many years.

Joe Foehrkolb

swrr posted:

It’s the typical metal drawbar with thin uninsulated wire.  The thin wire needs to contact  a relatively thick vertical metal pin about 3/32” also where the drawbar attaches to the tender.

 

I suspected as much.  Many top-notch imports (Korea, China) used this system years ago though most if not all have changed over to a more reliable plug system especially when DCC is installed.  In your case, check that the bare wire is making positive contact against the tender pin.  A common occurrence is for the solder holding the wire to the drawbar deteriorates requiring it to be re-soldered.  I’d suggest soldering the wire so that it is off-center at the drawbar hole.  When connecting the tender, position the tender pin so that you have to overcome a small amount of resistance from the wire to enable the pin to enter the drawbar hole.  This will ensure positive electrical contact during operations.  May I ask the specific model that you’re having issues with?  

Plus 1.

We routinely back up those horrible drawbar connections with a wire.  I use sub-miniature pins with shrink tube.

I standardized long ago on thick Bakelite drawbars permanently attached to the tender, with a long pin from the locomotive.  No nut on the pin.  All my tenders interchange.

All,

Thanks for the advice.  The specific model is a Pecos River ATSF 2-6-2.