---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 C.F.R. § 229.61"
title: "49"
number: "229.61"
heading: "Draft system."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/49/229.61"
---

# §229.61. Draft system.

- (a) A coupler may not have any of the following conditions:
  - (1) **A distance between the guard arm and the knuckle nose of more than 5 5/16 inches on D&E couplers.**
  - (2) A crack or break in the side wall or pin bearing bosses outside of the shaded areas shown in Figure 1 or in the pulling face of the knuckle.
  - (3) **A coupler assembly without anti-creep protection.**
  - (4) Free slack in the coupler or drawbar not absorbed by friction devices or draft gears that exceeds one-half inches.
  - (5) **A broken or cracked coupler carrier.**
  - (6) **A broken or cracked yoke.**
  - (7) **A broken draft gear.**
- (b) A device shall be provided under the lower end of all drawbar pins and articulated connection pins to prevent the pin from falling out of place in case of breakage.

## Notes

### Amendments

[77 FR 21346, Apr. 9, 2012]

### Authority

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 20103, 20107, 20133, 20137-38, 20143, 20168, 20701-03, 21301-02, 21304; 28 U.S.C. 2461 note; and 49 CFR 1.89.

### Source

Source: 45 FR 21109, Mar. 31, 1980, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[77 FR 21346, Apr. 9, 2012]