riki posted:I used vxb bearing.
Did you use their plastic bearings? What size(s) did you find to work?
I'm certain that somewhere the specs for the Magnetraction axles must exist, but I could not find them. So using both Craftsman micrometers I own to hopefully give valid readings for the axles and old bearings I was using, this is what I used to find new bearings:
Original Lionel bearings O.D. = 0.437"
Original Lionel bearings I.D. = ranged from 0.312" to 0.320" (oval shaped!) so I just used 0.312"
Magnetraction axle O.D. = 0.308" measured in center of axle, a non-wear area
The bearings I chose were, of course measured in metric, so for the axle roller bearings, I used F678ZZ Flanged Ball Bearings 8x12x3.5mm. This meant I had to drill/ream the aluminum side plate just a bit to allow these bearings to fit in place. The axle then slid inside the bearing with some play remaining, which is why I tried the Loctite - never again, Loctite is NOT a gap filler 
Given that this motor was manufactured in the mid to late 20th century during the great age of English Units of Measure, I'm fairly certain that the correct bearings would most likely be O.D.= 7/16" and I.D.= 5/16", and the flange O.D.= 1/2" Had I searched for and found something like that, I may not have had any problems, but everything I saw on the old interweb was listed in metric units.
The interesting measurement is the magnetraction axle - obviously Lionel intended for that axle to spin freely within the bearing sleeve, so it had to be something less than 5/16" (0.3125"), but how much less? When I measured the axles I have (in the center where there was no wear), they all 4 came out right at 0.308" or about four and a half thousands less than the 5/16" sleeve into which they fit. As far as I can tell, there is not "standard" value for that number, but 0.308" equals 7.8232mm, or pretty close to the 8mm figure which appears to be a standard value for many of these bearings. Which brings me back to my original issue of how to secure a metal shaft within the inner sleeve of a ball or roller bearing - I don't think you just let it slip within the inner sleeve, should be a press fit IMO, or a very close fit with maybe some Loctite? I'm out of my depth here, got any machinists in the crowd?
George
