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Draw bars

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  • Member since
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Posted by NVSRR on Tuesday, March 7, 2023 6:01 AM

That is a good idea.   I have a bunch of those mchenry version I could use. That and the credit card idea.  

shane

A pessimist sees a dark tunnel

An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel

A realist sees a frieght train

An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space

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Posted by jjdamnit on Monday, March 6, 2023 1:35 PM

Hello All,

Mark R.
I've made drawbars by gluing two Kadee couplers together and just install both ends in the original coupler boxes. Use epoxy from the bottom so it fills the gap where the knuckles join. This way, when you look between the engines, it still looks like they are "coupled" together.

Great suggestion!!!

Here's a photo of the close coupling of a prototypical F7 A-B set at the Colorado Railroad Museum...

For close coupling, Kadee #23 (#5 type spring) or #143 (whisker type spring) would work, albeit more expensive than the drawbars from Walthers.

If using Kadee couplers I would cut off the trip pins.

Hope this helps.

"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"

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Posted by doctorwayne on Monday, March 6, 2023 1:09 PM

The only time I need drawbars is for coupling a tender to a steam locomotive, and it's very easy to make them, using either black sheet styrene, or brass or aluminum sheet material.

Wayne

  • Member since
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  • From: Ontario Canada
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Posted by Mark R. on Monday, March 6, 2023 11:25 AM

I've made drawbars by gluing two Kadee couplers together and just install both ends in the original coupler boxes. Use epoxy from the bottom so it fills the gap where the knuckles join. This way, when you look between the engines, it still looks like they are "coupled" together.

 

Mark.

¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ

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Posted by John-NYBW on Monday, March 6, 2023 10:57 AM

SeeYou190

 

 
NVSRR
Is there a source for them?    if. It what is the best material to make them from.  Length obvioucly varies.  Height and width measurement s.   Probably don't.    I need two bars.  For both the slug sets I am working on.  One set is both atlas, the other is an atlas with bli.  Just in case that is needed for the coupler pocket sizing.  The length I can adjust as need be if I make them.  

 

Shane: I have had excellent results with these from State Tool & Die, and available from Walthers for a very reasonable price.

These get cut into one of three lengths to meet your needs.

The holes need to be enlarged slightly, and they will fit into Kadee #242 coupler boxes, or an OEM box that fits a Kadee coupler.

-Kevin

 

That's an interesting option and at that price, it's hard to go wrong. I might have to give it a try.

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Posted by John-NYBW on Monday, March 6, 2023 10:53 AM

Mark B

I think I'll try this with my wife's current credit cards.

Mark B.

 

Sounds like a win/win.

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Monday, March 6, 2023 8:13 AM

NVSRR
Is there a source for them?    if. It what is the best material to make them from.  Length obvioucly varies.  Height and width measurement s.   Probably don't.    I need two bars.  For both the slug sets I am working on.  One set is both atlas, the other is an atlas with bli.  Just in case that is needed for the coupler pocket sizing.  The length I can adjust as need be if I make them.  

Shane: I have had excellent results with these from State Tool & Die, and available from Walthers for a very reasonable price.

These get cut into one of three lengths to meet your needs.

The holes need to be enlarged slightly, and they will fit into Kadee #242 coupler boxes, or an OEM box that fits a Kadee coupler.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

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    September 2002
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Posted by ndbprr on Monday, March 6, 2023 7:44 AM

on regular engines rather then slugs how do you dawbar say two gp30s as an example.  do you do them elephant style with cabs in the same direction or with cabs at the ends? my preference is both cabs same direction.

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Posted by Mark B on Monday, March 6, 2023 7:35 AM

I think I'll try this with my wife's current credit cards.

Mark B.

  • Member since
    January 2019
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Posted by John-NYBW on Monday, March 6, 2023 7:10 AM

wvgca

easiest way is to make them from black styrene

 

Even better, cut up an old credit card and paint it black. It has just the right amount of stiffness. Somebody recommended that to me years ago and it works like a charm for getting my F-units to the desired spacing.

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Posted by wvgca on Monday, March 6, 2023 6:50 AM

easiest way is to make them from black styrene

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Draw bars
Posted by NVSRR on Monday, March 6, 2023 6:35 AM

Is there a source for them?    if. It what is the best material to make them from.  Length obvioucly varies.  Height and width measurement s.   Probably don't.    I need two bars.  For both the slug sets I am working on.  One set is both atlas, the other is an atlas with bli.  Just in case that is needed for the coupler pocket sizing.  The length I can adjust as need be if I make them.  

shane

A pessimist sees a dark tunnel

An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel

A realist sees a frieght train

An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space

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