What is the purpose of and how important is it to use a PA10549 DC magnet cover on DC suffix AF postwar steam engines such as a 342DC? Thank you.
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The purpose of the magnet cover was to prevent small metallic items from around the track being picked up and lodged in the armature. When I was very young my dad bought an AlNiCo armature and put it in my 322AC to make it a DC engine. We ran that engine w/o the cover for a decade with no problem.
Thanks Tom. That makes sense and it's good to hear you had success for so long without one. I was wondering if it might also serve as a "keeper" to help prevent the magnet from demagnetizing.
Problem is still around. Often the magnet/part of fuel tank speakers will collect metal from track/roadbed.
It is important for it to be there. The purpose is to complete a magnetic flux circuit for the magnet. The motor will not be as strong without it.