Drawbar pins for PS2.0 and PS3.0 steamers

It occurred to me where to where to measure these pins: end to end or from plug that goes into tender to screw under cab? Intuition says from end to end? The 25 mm long ones are the shortest in the catalog - and that would close the distance well - assuming it's measured from end of pin to the other end.

This is a bit of a racket on MTH's part. They should include a shorter draw bar with the engine not unlike having a second hole in a conventional draw bar. Then you have to buy three when you only need one and the three pack includes a draw bar the same length as the one you want to replace.

They are not hard to replace though, 

Pete

Just as an FYI, every PS3 steamer that I've purchased new came with a second, shorter drawbar in the box.

Swapping a drawbar involves a relatively simple, one-screw deinstallation and unplugging of the existing drawbar, and re-installation and plugging-in of the new drawbar. 

Yes called a Drawbar.  Premier and even some IMP RK do come with shorter drawbars.  Additionally you can order separately.  You just need to know what you need.  PS-2 is 10 pin, PS-3 is 6 pin, but you have variations depending on model.  Vertical and horizontal connectors depending on engine.   G

Interesting. I have one PS3 steamer and don't recall finding an extra drawbar. May have to dig a little deeper.

Pete

Guys, I have 3 new PS3.0 steamers - all Premier items - Reading T1, PRSL H-10, and an Erie 0-8-8-0, and they didn't come with a shorter drawbar in the box. The first two came out in 2015, and the Erie came out in 2012. They were all purchased new from MTH dealers. I can ask MTH if I was shorted on the short drawbars.

Since these were Premier items, is it possible they came with the shortest drawbar MTH makes already installed? From the catalog - 25 mm is the shortest length - does anyone know where you measure from - because the ones that came with the engines are much longer - when measuring from end to end.

The length should be printed on the drawbar, I think?

Paul,

Is it possible that the additional drawbars were removed from the engine's boxes before you received the engines?

Barry, I doubt it, since they were direct from the train shop, and in the plastic bag around the box.

I figured out that the drawbars are measure from plug to screw. The size might be on top of the drawbar but its hard to tell with it connected.

The 2/3 N&W J came with only the one (too long) drawbar.  The drawbar length is printed on the underside of the printed circuit board, which is hidden from view by the snap on plastic cap.  As a repair part you can order just one drawbar for around $10 -  shipping adds another $10. 

It is measured hole to hole.  G

Does anyone know why some PS3.0 drawbars have a metal spring that spans the length of the bar (grounding rod?) and some don't? The two recent steamers from 2015 have it and the one that is from 2012 does not?

Regarding why some people got a shorter bar with their engines and some didn't, does it have anything to do with Railking vs. Premier? I only have Premier steamers - and to date none came with a shorter bar. Maybe Railking steamers do since by default they run on smaller diameter track.

Paul,

I'm guessing that the spring is used by some steamers to transmit an outside rail connection from the tender to the locomotive. I believe the spring is used only by those engines that are 2-rail/3-rail capable and provides a path from one of the outside rails while an internal connection, through the drawbar's circuitry, provides a path for the other outside rail.

This would allow the 2-rail/3-rail switch to enable both outside rails straight through from the tender when in 3-rail operation.

I expect that someone who is more knowledgeable than I in this regard will come along to provide a more authoritative answer.

Barry is correct.  The spring, you can find it on PS-2 also, is an additional Left Wheel/Chassis ground (outside rail for 3R).  With a fiber drawbar it is more critical, and for 2R/3R engines with wireless drawbars it is the only chassis ground between engine left wheel and tender, since the normal black ground wire is Right wheel only for a 2R/3R engine.  G

Was the spring a recent addition to the wireless drawbar? I wonder why the Premier 0-8-8-0 doesn't have it - released in 2012?

Paul,

Is the 0-8-8-0 a 2-rail/3-rail engine?

Barry, its the 3-rail version - hi-rail wheels.

Paul,

its the 3-rail version - hi-rail wheels.

I guess that's the case, Barry, but I don't know how to tell whether it's 2 rail capable or not.

Paul,

but I don't know how to tell whether it's 2 rail capable or not.

If it is, there'll be a 2-rail/3-rail switch. If it's #20-3441-1, the manual makes no mention of it having a switch and that leads me to believe that it does not have that capability. In that case, it would not have the spring.

Barry, I think you're right. I recall seeing a switch on the bottom of the tender but that might have been for DCC and DCS - I'll check tonight.

Thanks.

Paul,

Yes, there would definitely be a DCS/DCC switch.

Barry, that's all it has - the DCS to DCC switch.

Paul,

that's all it has - the DCS to DCC switch.

That's exactly as it should be.

Barry, does the DCC option mean that it is 2-rail capable, and thus should have a spring in the drawbar?

I have 5 new PS3 NYC Premier steam engines and non came with a shorter drawbar, two of these are 2 rail and the 2 rail hudson came with an electrical claw coupler in the box and a Kadee mount bracket. The 3 rail Hudson only came with the electrical claw and no Kadee mount." Kadee mount is a metal stamping, probably cost 2 cents to make."

Clem

Paul,

Thanks, Barry.

fyi, Kirstin at MTH told me that shorter drawbars are not included with engines - and are only available thru separate sale.

Paul,

Kirstin at MTH told me that shorter drawbars are not included with engines

FWIW, I have at least a 1/2 dozen PS3 steamers that came with additional drawbars.

Barry, where did you buy them from? Were they customized or strait from MTH? So far, you're the only person that has reported getting extra drawbars - somebody must like you

Paul,

First of all, as I stated previously, several of my PS3 steamers each came with an additional drawbar in the box with the engine. However, I have no idea if this is still MTH's current practice.

Second, I've purchased additional PS2 and PS3 drawbars in 3 packs directly from MTH.

Barry,

To be clear, it is not MTH's practice to include extra drawbars with PS3.0 models, according to Kirstin at MTH, in a statement she made last week to me. Maybe they did in the past, but she didn't specify. My earliest PS3.0 engine came out in late 2012 and it didn't have one, neither did the 3 others released within the last year or so.

GGG,

What does S3/6 refer to for the following (is it an engine model and that drawbar only fits that engine or is it an engine model that came with an extra pin)?

You listed two pins - both 25 mm, but have different part #s. I thought they were all vertical connections?

FB-0000018 - this one has vertical ends on both ends, right?

FB-000022 - horizontal connector - vertical tender - do you know what engines this is for?

Also, what are the plastic covers that you listed part #s for - are these needed in addition to buying a drawbar?

We have drawbars in stock if anyone needs them....

Read it again, NO not all are vertical.  Some Tinplate as an example use a horizontal at the tender, but vertical at engine.  The Articulated Imperial Line uses a metal draw bar that extends away from the engine and some models use a horizontal at the engine side with vertical at tender.  So the items without extra info are vertical/vertical.  On your own with covers, some may be custom length, others are cut to fit.  Same with spring.  Some representative models are list, but not all inclusive.  

If you have a 50mm vert/vert and you want  a short, pick a shorter Vert/Vert and it can be used.  Order a cover and extra ground spring if your unit needs it so you can cut to length.  That way if you want to go back to original you still have it intact.  G

GGG posted:

If you have a 50mm vert/vert and you want  a short, pick a shorter Vert/Vert and it can be used.  Order a cover and extra ground spring if your unit needs it so you can cut to length.  That way if you want to go back to original you still have it intact.  G

I am planning on ordering 3-25 mm drawbars (FB-0000018) for PS3.0 engines.

So I understand correctly, I should order a plastic cover and extra ground spring separately for each 25 mm drawbar that I order? If so, should I get the "42 mm trim to fit" plastic cover (or do they make one smaller) and the only ground spring I see in your list is under the PS2.0 items (or are they the compatible with PS3.0 engines). To the layman, a new drawbar pin would come with a plastic cover and ground spring, but if I understand you that is not the case?

Maybe a dumb question, can I use the existing plastic cover and ground spring for the new drawbar?

In the case of my Premier 0-8-8-0 engine, there is no ground spring (based on earlier conversation that is because it is not 2-rail capable) so obviously I won't need one for that engine. And, if I never use the other two steamers in 2-rail operation do I even need to put the ground spring on?

Paul,