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Dennis Waldron had the magnetizer from the Lionel factory. He would remagnetize a locomotive at a reasonable cost.  He is no longer with us and I do not know where where his equipment will end up.

I wrote Dennis about a year ago and asked the same question, he replied:

Yes, we do offer a service to re-magnetize postwar Magnetraction axles. While we prefer to do this with the axles and wheel assembled in the truck, we can do them out of the truck as well. We charge $12.95 per chassis or $12.95 minimum if we do a pair of axles, plus shipping. I understand what you are trying to do with your ZW, a coil and bridge, however it won’t work well. Our magnetizer is modeled after Lionel’s and exerts 12,000 amps of magnetic force via two huge caps. 

Dennis

He is missed for a lot of reasons, this was just one of them.

George

I'm no expert, but my first response would be that rubbing magnets together would be futile. I tried using my ZW and a big honkin' 60 amp bridge rectifier to power a hand wound coil that just fit the magnetic axles. If it did have any real effect, I couldn't tell it. I ran it til the coil got hot, then let it cool and repeated probably 20 times per axle. Early on I thought it had worked, but later when I tried the "lift a piece of track in the air with your magnetic wheels" test, I didn't see any difference.

I'm sure Dennis was correct stating that it takes a huge momentary current flowing through a properly designed coil to have the desired effect. I too, hope his equipment ends up in equally good hands.

George

@DL posted:

Thanks you for the info.   I do hope his equipment will go to the right person.  

Is there anyone else knowledge about this if Mr. Dennis is not doing it or have an idea to assist by either replace or rub magnets together? Or this is not the correct approach.

I forgot to mention that new (reproduction) axles and wheel/axle combos are available and the ones I got from Jeff Kane had very good+ magnetraction. Of course going that route you will need a wheel puller and a press to get the new ones on your motor.

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OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

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