MTH Drawbar Tool.

We have found the best way to connect the drawbars is to lay the locomotive and tender on their sides before putting them on the track so that you can see all of the connections. After making the connections and checking that everything is seated and tight, place them back on the track. This method eliminates the sometimes erratic operations that can occur when one of the connections is not completly seated. Hope this helps.

It is pretty easy for me. As of this moment I only have one Proto 3.0 loco. It is a 19th century Ten Wheeler and I found it like other engines I have hooked up that are Proto 3.0 I just feel.

I'm with Jeb, I take an old towel and lay it beside the track, flop them on their side to connect, and then put them on the rails.  This works for some other balky tether connections as well.

Thanks for the input. I do connect my locomotives on their sides. But frankly you need 3 hands with a Yellowstone. Very often I twist the drawbar slightly in the process of righting the locomotive to the tracks and  lose the proper connection. I just wish someone would come up with a tool. I`d be in line to buy one.

Thanks

Thick Fingered

Schumann

I disagree with affixing the drawbar to the tender with the model on it's side. Once connected, there is then a tendency to apply a twisting action to the drawbar while trying to pick the whole model up and then put it on the track (especially with articulated models). I prefer to put the tender on the track first, then put the engine on the track. I then lay a small, very bright flashlight on the opposite side of the connection, and then move the tender close to the engine. Using my fingers, I then place the drawbar over the tin hanging down from the tender and then squeeze between the bottom of the drawbar blog and the top of the tender deck until the plug "snaps" into place and is seated.

I too connect the drawbar on the track. No twist possible this way.

I have never tried laying the locomotive on its side.  While I do not have large locomotives, I still have to be careful getting things connected and all wheels on the track.  Since I am still recovering from surgery on both hands, I wouldn't trust myself to not twist things.  While the symptoms that were from the nerves being pinched have gone away, now the arthritis seems to be unleashed in all it's glory.    (and yes, I have been trying all kinds of treatments)  I have been thinking that in the planning of my permanent layout, I will have some engine tracks to leave my modern locomotives on the track and only take them off for service.  Quite frankly, while they are very impressive, I will leave the large locomotives to others who graciously let me watch theirs run.  I don't want any larger than my N&W 611.

I'm in the "lay the engine + tender on its side" camp, but Hot Water's idea is well worth trying.

Mark, if you get back after the alterations to the club layout, you can run my VL-BB and the Allegheny.

Once my steamers are connected once, they typically stay that way until they need maintenance for a thrown traction tire, etc.

Regardless, I've connected the wireless drawbar it both ways.

When laying an engine and tender on their sides, I'm not overly concerned about twisting the drawbar. The drawbar was designed to withstand a 90 degree twist, as might occur if there was a derailment and the engine went over on its side, while the tender remained upright.

Most of the time, however, I just connect the engine and tender while they're on the tracks. I also have used a flashlight (my iPhone's flashlight feature) to illuminate things. I then:

• Line up the tender's square peg with the drawbar's square hole
• Grasp the engine with the fingers of one hand and the drawbar with the same hand's thumb
• Hold the tender down with the other hand
• Apply firm pressure until I feel the drawbar socket seat completely with the tender's pin connector.

Practice makes perfect!

With my Yellowstone I use the lay-on-side technique, but I roll the engine upright onto the tracks by using the cradle or "towel" to lift it.  It keeps everything in line and then all that's left is getting the wheels in proper order.  FWIW

Practice makes perfect is a good point!  Always a good reminder, Barry!

I don't like the idea laying it on its side even with a towel.  I may still scratch or break something, or damage some scenery.  One would need a space along the track where nothing else was in the way, except a parallel track.  That may be the best.  I'm going to practice Barry's method.  I only have one so far anyway.

Who are you calling a Drawbar Tool?

Couldn't resist.

Unless one only has a Christmas layout!

- walt

If you are having trouble with the O gauge one you should see some of the HO draw bars from MTH,

I wish MTH would design a replacement drawbar where it connects in the middle. Each side would be connected to either  the tender or the locomotive.

I wish MTH would design a replacement drawbar where it connects in the middle. Each side would be connected to either  the tender or the locomotive.

I would see such a drawbar as a recipe for disaster.

The point in the middle where the two ends would connect would be subject to tremendous stresses and would have to be able to articulate around curves.