need suggestions for engine/tender wire plug replacement, t-1 6-18006

@jhz563- I used these little plugs from Minitronics to add a light in a tender on a 0-4-0. This one is two pin but I'm sure they make other configurations. They are not cheap BTW.

I agree about that Lionel plug. I have a B-6 that uses the same one. Not very forgiving and no strain relief.

The Minaitronics plugs are great for a lot of applications, this is NOT one of them!  They're rated at a max of 1 amp, and that locomotive can easily draw two-three times that with the stock Pulmore motor.  The wires to these plugs are #30 wire, great for lights, etc. really bad for track power or motors!

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

The Minaitronics plugs are great for a lot of applications, this is NOT one of them!  They're rated at a max of 1 amp, and that locomotive can easily draw two-three times that with the stock Pulmore motor.  The wires to these plugs are #30 wire, great for lights, etc. really bad for track power or motors!

GRJ,

 you wouldn't happen to have any pictures from inside the tender on one of these you have worked on would you?

I haven't opened it yet but will likely need some help trying to figure out which lead goes were.

These connectors work well. You do need good soldering skills.

https://www.hobbyzone.com/wsdeans/

@jhz563 posted:

 you wouldn't happen to have any pictures from inside the tender on one of these you have worked on would you?

I haven't opened it yet but will likely need some help trying to figure out which lead goes were.

Actually, I haven't got any pictures.  Normally, I'm pulling all the stuff out and doing an upgrade.  

I have a T1 awaiting TMCC boards  I will pull the tender shell off and make some pix.   I found the T1 in the Lionel shop manual problem is no wiring diagram. While rewiring this plug I would swap out the wires going to the plugs with silicone super flex wires.   My work bench is loaded and I have to get a couple of things buttoned up before I can make some pix for you.     But ASAP.           j

Wiring to tender plug.   In case you have different color wires the black/brown wire is on the right side of the connections on the board and the blue/red is on the left side of the connections to the board.       j

@JohnActon posted:

Wiring to tender plug.   In case you have different color wires the black/brown wire is on the right side of the connections on the board and the blue/red is on the left side of the connections to the board.       j

Thanks a ton John!

You might be able to save that plug by taking a 1/16" drill bit in a pin vise or an old chuck you can rob from a drill and turning by hand drill through the back side of the plug but stop short of drilling into the connectors inside the plug. You should then be able to push the connectors out the front of the plug. Cut the wires off and push them into the proper hole till they stick out the front side of the plug.  Then with a very fine pointed tip soldering iron solder the wires back on to the connectors. Pull the connectors back into the place by pulling on the wires.  Put a drop of CA on each wire where they exit the back side of the plug to hold them in place.  Thought a couple of pix may help.   Can't wait to stuff that big tender full of TMCC         j

Finally got an afternoon to do some repairs...

I need to open the engine back up and shorten how much wire is sticking out.   My new tether has an extra pair of wires, so I intend to add a switch to turn the smoke unit on and off.  

Now I still have a weird thing to deal with.   For some reason the whistle is going off when the bell button is pressed and vice versa.   It was doing this before the plug broke off, since the last it got serviced (by someone else).

If I swap the leads going to the sound board will this be corrected?

Nice!  Sorry I can't answer your question about the whistle.

For future reference in case someone else reads this thread... on THIS SPECIFIC LOCOMOTIVE  you could have gotten away with the Miniatronics connectors because unless someone modfied your loco, the tether doesn't carry motor power-- just a little bit of current and back-EMF data for the sound board.

In other applications where the tender has pickup rollers that feed the motor, GRJ (as usual) is right, a heavier-duty connector is needed.

@jhz563 posted:

Finally got an afternoon to do some repairs...

I need to open the engine back up and shorten how much wire is sticking out.   My new tether has an extra pair of wires, so I intend to add a switch to turn the smoke unit on and off.  

Now I still have a weird thing to deal with.   For some reason the whistle is going off when the bell button is pressed and vice versa.   It was doing this before the plug broke off, since the last it got serviced (by someone else).

If I swap the leads going to the sound board will this be corrected?

Yes with a caveat. You could reverse the wires on your transformer however if you have other locos with RS1  or  whistles alone for which the bell whistle bottons are working properly then the fault is likely your tender wiring being backwards.  A few Lionel transformers had to be wired backwards for the built in whistle button to function correctly. I have no way of knowing what you are powering your layout with and how it is wired. So if you have more than one loco which the bell an whistle work correctly then I would let the majority rule.          j

I have original plug assemblies, if that is a viable option still.

@Chuck Sartor posted:

I have original plug assemblies, if that is a viable option still.

Well,  it definitely would have been!!  I tried to find originals with no luck.  Now I have a 6 wire setup, and I opened up the tender to accommodate the larger wire. Next I am going to add a switch in the tender for on/off function of the smoke unit. 

????(10) wires  for a tether????.   On the right is a Weaver A5 tender. 

(8) pin tether, does not include front coupler,  front head light control, marker lights, or cab lights.   Diagrams were associated with EOB control boards.  Very old speed control boards.  

Top left to right,   (Tender tether)

Pick-up roller/AC hot, Motor lead/M1, Sensor Signal, red wire on sensor, Smoke unit +

Loco frame, ground, Motor lead/M2 , Sensor signal, blue wire on sensor,Smoke fan + 5 VDC

Note the two images above are not mirror images.   

Bottom left to right,  (Loco, plug-in receptor). 

Smoke unit+, Sensor Signal, Red wire on sensor board, Motor lead M1, Red wire pickup roller, AC hot 

Smoke fan + 5VDC, Sensor +5 volts VDC, Motor lead M2, Loco frame ground.