Looking at the pintle setup, it looks as if all of the parts are fitting well with respect to each other. You would think they would have wanted the two solid supports as far apart as possible for strength (with the friction block between), that doesn't seem to fit with your parts or the manuals. If the drawbar is different diameters in the solid mounts and friction areas, that would be just too much to be a production error (manual seems to show only one diameter). I agree the photos in the AEDB Design Record and the Maintenance manual both show the friction block at the tip of the drawbar. One theory might be that the manuals used photos taken early in production and that a change was made part way through for an unknown reason. Another theory would be Brantford Coach & Body making the assembly one way and Frost & Wood doing it differently for their production. It will be interesting to see what others have on their trailers.
Is that a grease fitting on the top of the spring loaded part of the drawbar assembly? On the 15 and 20 cwt trailers, the spring loaded part contains friction blocks to reduce fore and aft surging against the brakes and there are specific cautions not to lubricate this area. I'm curious what you find when you open this area - steel, bronze bush, brake lining material?
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