Franklin Type E-1 Radial Buffer

The Franklin Type E-1 Radial buffer uses a combination of springs and wedges to keep the locomotive and tender apart. The buffer contains four wedges: a fixed wedge mounted on the drawhead casting of the tender, an adjustable chaffing plate at the front of the buffer and two adjustable wedges which bear down on the two aforementioned wedges. Sitting on the outside of the two adjustable wedges are two sets of double-coil springs that are compressed by nuts and washers held on a large pin that runs through the the adjustable wedges. As the nuts on the pin are tightened, the wedges are compressed and this forces the adjustable chaffing plate forward. The Adjustable chaffing plate is held in place by a keeper pin that runs thought it vertically. On the locomotive, a stationary chaffing plate is bolted directly to the frame, and also supports a floating chaffing plate, which is held onto to the stationary chaffing plate by a lip that rests on the top of the stationary chaffing plate, as well as a chain.

The buffer is lubricated by an oil box located in the cab, next to the jump seat on the left side of the cab, that has three feeds which drip down onto the buffer.

The Franklin Type E-1 Radial Buffer installed on the tender of 6213. The straps around the buffer are supporting the drawbars, after the engine and tender were separated.

The locomotive half of the Radial Buffer.

The oil box located in the cab and the piping that lubricates the buffer.

The springs and pin that compress the adjustable wedges.

Diagram for the Franklin Type E-1 Radial Buffer from Sheet 3 of Franklin Drawing D-28363.

Specifications for the Franklin E-1 Radial Buffer on CNR locomotives from Sheet 3 of Franklin Drawing D-28363.

To disassemble the E-1 Radial buffer to facilitate separating engine and tender, loosen the large nuts that compress the springs and remove the pin and springs. This will create slack between engine and tender, allowing for the removal of the drawbar pin. Some of the nuts on the adjusting rd were seized in place, but they were later removed by heating with a torch. Remember to grease the chaffing plates etc. When putting the engine and tender back together.

Disassembling the Radial Buffer

Maintenance Regulation No. 84
Chafing Plates and Radial Buffers

Chafing Plates

1. General:
     On engines equipped with chaffing plates, all parts must be checked at general repairs for wear on the chafing surfaces. if, after all shims have been removed from behind the chafing block, the slack can be taken up by shortening the drawbar as specified in M.R. 72, no repairs to parts will be required except where an individual part requires to be built up, or renewed, if found worn beyond the limits as shown below.
     If, however, the total wear on the buffer parts is found to be such that the slack cannot be taken up by shortening the drawbar not more than 1", then the individual parts must be renewed, or restored to standard as required.
     No shimming must be done at Back Shops, and no slack must be taken up with the wedge, but the wedge pin must be in the first hole of the wedge and chafing casting.

2. Radial Chafing Block On Tender:
When Radial face of chafing block is worn less than 1/4", it should be dressed up and restored to standard radius.
When worn 1/4" or more less then the original, it must be built up by electric welding and machined to standard dimensions.

3. Chafing Casting On Engine:
When taper face on chafing casting is worn 1/8" less then original, it should be machined down, if possible sufficiently to allow of a 1/4" plate electrically welded on to restore taper face to standard. If sufficient metal is not available between wearing face and the pin holes to allow of machining, the casting must be renewed.

4.Wedge:
When flat face of wedge becomes worn 1/8", it should be machined down sufficiently to allow of a 1/4" plate being electrically welded on to restore the face to standard, or a new wedge should be applied.

5. Inspection:
Chaffing plates must be checked for slack at 90-day inspections. When all the adjustment provided by the wedge has been obtained, the wedge should be backed out until the pin can be dropped in the first hole in the wedge and chaffing castings. The slack should then be measured, and a shim of suitable thickness applied in the pocket casting on the tender, between the inside of the pocket casting and the chafe casting. The thickness of this shim must not exceed 1".

            Wedge type "A-1"
            Spring type "D"
            Spring and Wedge type "E-1"

Complete list of spare parts, with ordering references for all three types of radial buffers, is shown on the various sheets of Franklin Drawing D-28363.
This drawing also shows essential dimensions, and the instructions in the following paragraphs cover the different types of Buffers.

7. Springs:
Springs used on Radial Buffer Type "D" are as shown on Drawing 2H-10615 and on Radial Buffer Type "E-1" the A.A.R type "G" spring is used. At regular shoppings springs are to be removed and tested, and if found unable to withstand loads specified on this Drawing, must be replaced by new springs.

8. Gauges For Checking wear:
Gauges for checking wearing faces of radial buffer parts are shown on Drawing 3H-23231, and methods of gauging are shown on Drawing 4H-23232. These instructions must be carefully followed.

9. General Instructions:
When engines are shopped for general repairs, the amount of wear in the radial buffer parts must be determined by checking these parts with the gauges and Drawings. If it is found, that by removing all shims, and restoring the drawbar pins and bushings to standard, as called for in M.R. 72, all slack can be taken up by shortening the drawbar not more then 1", no building up, or renewal of radial buffer parts is required. In such cases the wearing faces of the buffer parts will simply be dressed up as found necessary, except that any individual part will be built up, or renewed, if found worn beyond the limits laid down herein.
If, however, the total wear on buffer parts is found to be such that the slack cannot be taken up by shortening the drawbar not more then 1", then the buffer parts must be renewed or restored to standard as required. In no case, however, must an engine be turned out of shop with the drawbar shortened more then 1" less than the standard length, and no shimming of any kind must be done in Back Shops, except on Type "E-1" Buffers, see paragraph 16.

            Stationary Chafing Plate on Engine.
            Adjustable Chafing Plate on Tender.
            Two Piece Floating Chafing Block.
            Adjusting Wedge.

On this type of buffer, the adjusting wedge is used to make and maintain contact between the chafing surfaces. In the initial application with drawbar and buffer parts to standard dimensions, and also after general repairs, all the slack should be taken up with the adjusting wedge pin in the first hole of the wedge.

11. Repairs At Main Shops:
If, after checking buffer parts as specified in paragraph 9, adjustments are found necessary, the method of repairing, and limits of wear on the individual buffer parts are as shown below:

Stationary Chafing Plate-
The wearing face of the Stationary Chafing Plate forms the portion of a ball with equal horizontal and vertical radii. This face must not be built up, but if the gauge stands out more then 1/8" from the face at any point, due to formation of shoulders, the ends of the face must be dressed up by chipping or grinding, to restore face to the correct contour. When the face becomes worn more then 1/4" less than original, the plate must be renewed. See Drawing 3H-18769.

Floating Chafing Block (Engine End)-
The wearing face of the block is spherical to match the face on the stationary chafing plate, and must not be built up. When grooved or worn hollow it must be dressed up by grinding, to restore the face to the proper contour. When the face becomes worn 1/4" less than original, the block must be renewed.

            Floating Chafing Block (Tender End)-
     As face of tender of floating block is radial in the horizontal plane only, this face, if worn, may be restored to standard radius by machining. If face is worn 1/8" less then original, it should be built up by electric welding sufficiently to allow for machining.
     The flat face of block where it bolts to engine end of floating chaffing block must be checked for warpage after welding and straightened, if necessary.

            Adjustable Chafing Plate-
     As wearing face of chafing plate is radial in the horizontal plane only, this face may be restored to standard radius by machining when worn. If the face is worn 1/8" less then original it should be built by electric welding, and machined to standard thickness and radius.
     When the taper face is worn so that the hook in the centre is less than 1/8" clear of the face on the tender, when the wedge is at the first hole (as shown on Drawing 4H-23232), the taper face must be built up by electric welding and restored to standard.

            Adjusting Wedge-
     When wedge is worn 1/8" less than original, the taper face should be machined down sufficiently to allow of a plate not less then 1/4" thick being electric welded on to restore wedge to standard dimensions. When the plate becomes worn 1/8" it should be replaced by new plate.
     It is not permissible to apply a plate thicker than 1/4" for the purpose of taking up slack.

12. Maintenance At Roundhouses:
Radial Buffers should be checked up for slack at 90 day inspections. All slack should be taken up by means of wedge. Drive the wedge in with a heavy sledge as far as it will go, then slack off to next hole. When all adjustment provided by the wedge has been used up, then slack must be taken up a by a shim. Drive the wedge in as far as it will go, back out till the wedge pin is in the first hole of the wedge, and measure slack. Part the locomotive and tender, and remove floating chafing block. Remove the rivets in the block, and apply a plate of suitable thickness between the two halves of the block, and rivet together. The thickness of this shim must be NOT MORE THAN 1", and no shimming is permitted at any other point.

            Stationary Chafing Plate on engine
            Adjustable Chafing Plate on tender
            Two Piece Floating Chafing Block
            Double coil springs

On this type of buffer, the chafing surfaces are held in contact by means of the two double coil springs. In the initial application, with drawbar and buffer parts to standard dimensions, the springs are compressed so that there is a clearance of 5/8" between the adjustable chafing plate and the chafing plate pocket. This clearance will gradually increase as the compression on the springs is released by reason of the wear on the buffer parts, but the clearance should not at any time, exceed 1-1/8". The clearance of 5/8" must be restored at all general repairs and at periodic inspections in Roundhouses if required.

14. Repair At Main Shops:
All radial buffer parts should be checked as specified in paragraph 9, and limits of wear on individual parts are as shown in the following paragraphs:

Stationary Chafing Plate-
This is a similar casting to that on Buffer Type "A-1", and should be repaired or renewed as specified in Paragraph 11.

Floating Chaffing Block-
This two piece casting is similar to that on Type "A-1" buffers, and should be repaired or renewed as specified in Paragraph 11.

15. Maintenance At Roundhouses:
     Radial buffers should be checked for slack at 90 day inspections. Block the engine and pull the tender back until all slack is taken up in the drawbar pins and bushings. If no slack is found in radial buffers with the clearance between the adjusting chaffing plate and the chafing plate pocket less than 1-1/8" then no shimming is required. If, however, the clearance has increased to 1-1/8" or over, shimming must be done, and the thickness of plate required may be found as follows:-
     Place 1-3/4" bolts through the lugs on the adjusting chafing plate and chafing plate pocket, and tighten up to compress the springs and restore the clearance between these castings to the standard 5/8". Measure the slack between the chafing plate and the floating block.
     If it is not desired to use the bolts to compress the springs, the springs may be removed, and the adjustable chafing plate bolted in place with a 5/8" plate between the chafing plate and pocket casting to act as a distance piece. Measure slack as before. Part locomotive and tender and remove floating block. Cut rivets and apply plate of suitable thickness between the two halves of the block, and rivet together.
     When necessary to take up additional slack after floating chafing block has been lined to 1", this may be done by the application of a liner at back of adjustable chafing plate pocket. Liners to be 1/4" or 1/2" thick, but no more than 1/2" of liners to be applied.
     Liners to be neatly fitted in pocket to provide proper contact for back edge of adjustable chafing plate, so that when buffer goes solid the springs are not compressed to the solid height. This feature must be carefully checked.

            Stationary Chafing Plate on Engine
            Wedge Bearing Plate on Tender
            Adjustable Chafing Plate on Tender
            Two piece Floating Chaffing Block
            Adjustable Wedges
            Double Coil Springs with Adjusting Rod and Nuts

On this type of buffer the chafing surfaces are held in contact by means of two horizontal spring controlled wedge blocks in the tender end, acting between the adjustable chafing plate and wedge bearing plate. In the initial application with drawbar and buffer parts to standard dimensions, the distance between the flanges of the adjustable chafing plate and the wedge bearing plate should be 5/8", and this distance must be restored when adjustments are made. The distance between the nut washers on the adjusting rod and the back of the wedge blocks must be 1-13/16", and this distance must not be reduced, as if the springs are compressed so that this distance is less then 1-13/16", the springs will go solid before the flanges of the adjustable chafing plate and the wedge bearing plate come together under a buffering shock. In addition to the radial faces on Type "E-1" buffers, there are four wearing faces as under:

            Taper face on back of adjustable chafing plate
            Taper face on front of wedge
            Taper face on back of wedge
            Taper face on on front of wedge bearing plate

The limits of wear on each of these faces is a 1/8" reduction in the thickness of the wall forming the face making a total of 1/2" permissible wear. If, after restoring drawbar pins and bushings to standard as called for in M.R. 72, this wear plus the wear on the radial faces of buffer parts can be taken up by shortening drawbar as specified in paragraph 9, then no adjustments are required except as follows:-

The adjustable chafing plate, wedges and bearing plat should be set up on a bench, and the wedges entered between the adjustable and bearing plates, until the flanges of these two plates are the standard distance of 5/8 apart.

     The distance will then be measured between the noses of the two wedges, and the noses machined off a sufficient amount to provide the standard distance of 2" between them.
     Wear in the radial faces of the buffer may be taken care of by applying a plate of suitable thickness between the two halves of the floating chaffing block. The thickness of this shim must be NOT MORE THAN 1", and no shimming is permitted in Back Shop between the wedge bearing plate and tender pocket.
     If the slack cannot be taken care of by shortening the drawbar or shimming the floating chafing block as above, the ndividual parts must be repaired or renewed, as shown below:

Stationary Chafing Plate-
This is a similar casting to that on Buffer Type "A-1", and should be repaired or renewed as specified in Paragraph 11.

Floating Chaffing Block-
This two piece casting is similar to that on Type "A-1" buffers, and should be repaired or renewed as specified in Paragraph 11.

Adjustable Chafing Plate-
As the front wearing face is radial in the horizontal plane only, this face may be restored to standard radius by machining when worn. If the face is worn 1/8" less than original it should be built up by electric welding, and machined to standard thickness and radius. When the taper faces are worn less than 1/8" they should be dressed up or machined to restore a true taper. If they are worn 1/8" or more, the faces must be machined sufficiently to allow of a 1/4" plate being welded on to restore the faces to standard. When plates become worn 1/8" they should be renewed.

Wedge Bearing Plate (Front End) - Adjusting Wedges-
When these taper faces are worn less than 1/8" they should be dressed up or machined to restore a true taper. If they are worn 1/8" or more the faces must be machined sufficiently to allow of a 1/4" plate being electrically welded onto restore the faces to standard. When plates become worn 1/6" they should be renewed.

Adjusting Rod and Nuts-
Adjusting rods and nuts to be checked for condition of thread, and condition of square section of the rod, and the latter must be such that it cannot turn in the holes in the wedges.

17. Maintenance At Roundhouses:
Radial buffers should be checked for slack at 90 day inspections. Tender pockets of Type "E-1" buffers are equipped top and bottom at each side with inspection slots, through which the edges of the flanges of the adjustable chafing plate and wedge bearing plate can be seen. The standard distance between these flanges is 5/8". Block the engine and pull the tender back until all slack is taken up in the drawbar pins and bushings. Measure the distance between this actual distance and the original 5/8" represents the amount of slack, and the thickness of the shim required. On this type of buffer the shim must be applied between the wedge bearing plate and the tender pocket in the following manner:-

Loosen the nuts on the adjusting rod and slack off the adjusting wedges. Wedge the wedge bearing plate away from the tender pocket. A shim of suitable thickness must be made up to detail shown on Franklin Drawing D-28363, and inserted through the slots in the sides of the pocket in the tender frame. After shim is applied, nuts on adjusting rods must be tightened up until the distance between the washers on each side is 1-13/16" from the back of the wedges. One shim only must be used, and the thickness must be NOT MORE THAN 3/4".
If additional shimming is necessary this may be applied between the two halves of the floating chafing block. The thickness of this shim must be NOT MORE THAN 1".

18. Machining Of Parts:
When Radial or taper faces are machined, particular care must be taken to ensure that the axis of and radial face is dead at right angles to the flat face on such part, and that taper faces are similarly at the exactly correct angle in relation to flat faces, so that when tapered faces bear against each one another, the bearing will be over the entire surface and the correct alignment of adjacent parts will be maintained.

19. Lubrication Of Radial Buffers:
All radial buffers must be lubricated as called for on individual drawings.