Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Training / Qualification; Troubleshooting; Communication Breakdown; Time Pressure
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Ground Event / Encounter Ground Equipment Issue
Flight Crew Became Reoriented; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Logbook Entry; Equipment / Tooling; Aircraft; Procedure
During push back; the tug driver informed me that the tow bar shear pin had broken.  This had occurred in a benign and gentle manner; without any perceivable noise or vibration on the flight deck; or abnormal movement of the aircraft.   I set the parking brake and called ZZZ line maintenance.  I explained the situation; and asked if this required an inspection or logbook entry (we were on a MAX) and was told 'no' on both counts.  My first officer looked up 'tow bar breakage' in the FOM; and read to me the section that states 'an info only write up shall be made and the flight may continue as long as no aircraft damage is suspected'.  Unfortunately; that paragraph applies to the 737-NG; but not the MAX.  The aircraft should have been inspected; a discrepancy written up in the logbook; and subsequently signed off.Maybe a reminder in the form of a bulletin; for both pilots and mechanics; or a brief mention in the next quarterly CBT (Computer Based Training) to emphasize the difference in policy for the MAX.
Captain reported a broken shear pin on the tow bar during push back and was incorrectly advised that a log book entry was not required by maintenance.