Model Railway Forum

I have recently acquired two Hornby T9's. On one the tender drawbar has already broken, on the other there are signs of weakness. The drawbar appears to be a particulary flimsy item. The already narrow bar is compromised by a drilled hole midway along it's length. Given it's weakness I am concerned to learn that according to Peters Spares the drawbar (x9951) has been on back order for some time so it would appear that Hornby are not currently making them available. Ideas anyone what I can use as a substitute?

If it isn’t complicated, make one. Basically a strip of metal with a hole each end.

They shouldn’t break unless somebody picked up the loco without supporting the tender.

Yes I have already started experimenting but was hoping someone might come back with a "the one off an xyz is a reasonable substitute" type response. Not sure about how the problem arises as both second hand locos from separate sources - one clearly unused - had near 90 degree bends in the drawbars on arrival! I am not sure what the drawbar is made of but wonder if this is another form of the mazak rot that can affect other aspects of these locos.I note that helpfully Peters Spares supply their own brass motor mounts for the loco to substitute the non available rotted originals.

I have never had a drawbar bend, it has happened due careless handling, not by you.They are made of thin metal or slightly thicker plastic. Nothing to do with mazak rot.The loco has been picked up without supporting the tender.

Perhaps you could make one from a piece of thin hinge or even a tin can.

These drawbars are essentially the same size apart from the holes. Those that are waisted is usually to allow more sideways angle at the tender end.

As stated previously by others any old bit of metal or plastic will do suitably sized. I have even used the plastic cable grip bar out of a three pin plug.

If you have an old springy finger powered drawbar and need a plain one just file the rivet off and discard the electrical bits.

Problem solved using thin quarter inch brass strip from the local model aircraft shop (a little neater than my initial effort from a piece of scrap from an etched brass chassis kit for an O gauge wagon). I have found that provided the corners are rounded at both ends there is no need to "waist" the drawbar on the T9 - at least on my layout on which the tightest curves are the medium radius points in the fiddle yard.

Well done. You’ll have to make a load of them then sell them on eBay

Airfix scots always had a problem with the drawbar, there design was layers of thin metal on top of each other, Never been a fan of hornby drawbars even the tender drive era. The current wire also from tender to loco can be a problem on modern ones, but hornby have made a tool to help

The Hornby tool for extracting the plug is a must have. Drawbars are fine if you treat your locos with respect. My 100+ have caused no problems.