Several of my postwar steamers have lost much of the mag. in their wheels. Is there some fairly easy way to remag. them?
I wonder if you could do that with braces too? It would have came in handy when I was in school. This gal I really liked had braces too.
It’s not the wheels that are magnetized. There is an actual magnet somewhere in the locomotive that is magnetically connected to the wheels. It may be in the motor or in the frame. In later postwar diesel-electrics it was inside a fat stainless-steel axle; but I can’t think of a steam locomotive that used that method.
Interesting. I just checked all 8 drivers on my 681, and found the most magnetic were on the front axle, progressivly decreasing to near zero at the rear.
The magnet in the 681 is located in the frame casting, in a recess between the first two axles.
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While I have not personally performed this proceedure, I did find this information on the Internet several years ago.
I’d like to read about anybody’s experience trying to remagnetize magnatraction wheels, using the method outlined in the article above, or any other method.
Some folks are probably aware that Lionel made an HO magnetizer in the early 1960’s. This unit puts out quite a powerful magnetic field. It was designed to remagnetize HO motor fields. But Lionel specifically stated that it would not remagnetize Magnatraction engines.
To All,
Lionel used a ‘Alnico’ (aluminun-nickle-cobalt) magnet.
Just how to remagnetize them I don’t know.
I would think some electrical energy would work.
Ralph
Remag. wouldn’t be necessary if there is a way to remove and replace the Magnetraction magnet in the frame. While some of the Alnico alloys (esp. 5 and 8) make very strong magnets, they can lose it very easily–unlike the rare-earth magnets.
So, is it difficult to replace the magnet in a steamer?
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I posed this question to someone who has long-time Lionel train repair experience:
Quote:
Most Lionel diesels with magnetraction have the magnets in the axles and therefore replacing them is not practicable. Some alco units like the 2023 have the magnet glued to the power frame and could be replaced with a thin rectangular magnet.
Steamers have magnets in different locations. Some, like the turbine, have a cylindrical magnet in a pocket and could be replaced easily enough. The 773 has magnets on the gear box cover and are very accessible.
I believe the rare earth magnets come in just about any shape.
You have to be careful to make sure the polarity is correct when replacing the magnet and use a good bonding agent that can withstand shock and vibration.
If anyone chooses to experiment, Alnico magnets are still available: