My 20-3126 auxiliary tender has one roller which produces annoying flickering when running no matter how clean roller is. It appears that the pickup assembly is crimped by stiff wires to the truck axles. Can another roller can be added "after market" to other truck, or was it added to an axle then the wheels pressed on? If so, what roller assembly part number would I ask MTH for?
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How about the number for aux tender? 20-3126-1 is the locomotive. Also, a picture of the bottom of the truck would be useful. 
Nothing came up for that number, odd.
That's the truck with the roller, what's the other one look like?
Possible this tender was a limited run, or morphed to another MTH number. Other truck has a electric claw coupler that could be connected to the J engine tender through an un-installed tether assembly (involves cutting splicing inside tender,ugh), though I suspect it would be for PS1 or PS2 boards, as this aux tender has incandescent lights, while my PS3 J tender has LEDs.
I can get a 30-79497 tender, but don't know if it has backup lights or not and if it could be equipped with an electric coupler.
The "30" tender is RailKing and would be smaller overall.
The roller on that one sticks into a square cutout, does the other truck have the same cutout? If so, there are MTH rollers that drop right in.
The couplers for PS/2 and PS/3 are the same part.
My take would be to mount a roller in the indicated section below. I've included a couple of pictures of the way I've done rollers in the past. For this location, using that convenient screw hole and a piece of fiberglass or Styrene sheet you can make an insulated base and then mount the roller onto that. If necessary, add a layer for spacing. This truck looks like one of the easier ones to cobble up a pickup on.
Here's an example, this is the size roller I'd consider for this purpose.
Here's another example on a brass tender, note that I used the tender screws lengthened to mount my insulating plate.
Thanks John. Given me some good ideas. Going to a train shop Friday so will ask if he has a roller assembly I can buy. Need a winter project!
Secured the roller and figured out how to attach it to truck. As they say picture(s) worth 1000 words.
Last picture shows that roller sticks above flanges about same height as original roller.
What was interesting is the wiring harness inside the tender with wires running to a "keyhole shaped" PC board plus several small connectors. So assume these would have attached to the engine tender to control the rear light and/or coupler.
For some reason the first picture is duplicated but I could not delete it from embedded post. Oh well.
For the curious, I used a heavy piece of Evergreen plastic cut to shape, Drilled holes just large enough to pass plastic covered solid hookup wire. Bent the wire ends over the axles then backed off slightly to allow board to float on axle without binding. Figured plastic would act a "lubricant" rather than bare wire wearing into axle.
So far works like charm, though would be nice if I could control backup light, but I will leave well enough alone rather than tangle with rat nest wiring inside the PS3 tender!! Will tell curious visitors who ask, engineer forgot to switch it off after last backup move.
Looks good, that's all it takes. 
Engineer-Joe posted:
Could have been a misprint as the 20-3026 picture looks like my aux tender and time period would probably be the PS1 or earlier.
Hey maybe I got a factory misprint worth big $$$ !!
These are great ideas. What is the source and part number of the pickup?
RoyBoy posted:These are great ideas. What is the source and part number of the pickup?
Roy,
MTH part# BD0000042 and cost $5 each. I got mine from local MTH repair shop but MTH and other MTH shops should keep a small stock of them.
Thanks!
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