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 Posted - February 15 2013 : 11:51:38 PM
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I have an old AFX car (probably 70's vintage) that doesn't cling to the track at all. Is it common for the old magnets to wear out?
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blaneo
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Posted - February 16 2013 : 12:03:04 AM
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Yep those magnets can and do wear out. But, depending on which type of car you are talking about, it may not have originally stuck to the track anyway. The magna traction series didn't really stick to the track, but the magnets did help the car from drifting or sliding through the curves more then the older cars did. The first car that AFX car that actually stuck to the track was the G Plus. You could set those on a piece of track and flip the track upside down and the car would stick to the track. The pictures below are from 1971,1975,1978,and 1982 respectfully.
Blane
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Posted - February 16 2013 : 12:18:44 AM
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Thanks for the response and pictures! My car is the second one, the 1975 magnatraction. The problem I'm having is that the rear tires are made of foam and they just seem to bounce up and down on the track. Would the loss of magnetism cause that? I have a Tyco which seems to stick a little better and can at least get itself around the track 
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Posted - February 16 2013 : 06:15:33 AM
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DaCheez, join slotcarillustrated.com. Great place. I'm a member of their forum.
" Heck with counting 'em rivets, TRAINS ARE FOR FUN! Not called the Mad Scientist for nothing either!"
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blaneo
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Posted - February 16 2013 : 08:22:03 AM
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Yep there are tons of tips over there to help you tweak your motor.
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Posted - February 16 2013 : 6:42:02 PM
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Thanks for the tip! I'll have a look, maybe even join 
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Posted - February 16 2013 : 8:17:21 PM
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Foam tires came in different diameters, so if you have some overly large tires, it may cause the bouncing. There were rubber, hard foam, and soft foam tires, depending on make and racecourse style. If you have softer foam tires, they may bounce more. Many factors at play here. The early AFX Magnatraction chassis has both magnets spanning both pick-up rails, so I'd imagine the attraction is quite a bit weaker than having the magnets on either side of the car, with separate magnet fields on each pick-up rail. Just a guess here. But the early magnets weren't as strong as the later ones, either. I'm sure that has something to do with it as well.
Jerry
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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Posted - February 16 2013 : 8:52:51 PM
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I'm not really sure what I did, but I took the car apart a few times, gave it some oil, and it seems to be running much better. As dumb as I feel saying this, I think a large part of the problem may have just been dirty track...and a slightly bent guide pin probably doesn't help either 
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Posted - February 16 2013 : 9:49:39 PM
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In my experience ceramic magnets last forever, unless they're cracked or have been cooked by something much hotter than the chassis could handle. If the slicks are larger diameter, that will put more of an air gap between the magnets and the steel rails, reducing the pull. Uneven, or old hardened slicks will also make it lose traction.
My friends & I ultimately favored the old Thunder Jet Auroras over the AFX and G-Plus, because they took more skill to drive. 
The Tyco Depot
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