Modifying Lionel Mikado 2 to 4 chuffs question

I use Miniatronics reed switches on all of my locomotive conversions (over 20 so far).  The ones that come in the packages marked HO are the same as the ones marked N, so I've used both.  You can get really tiny disc magnets on Amazon and from other sources.  The ones I use are 1/8" diameter by 1/16" thick.  In some cases I've used 1/8" diameter by 1/8" thick magnets.  The Miniatronics magnets are too large for a chuff sensor. 

 

I mount 4 magnets to the backside of a driver, in the recess of the casting that forms the spokes.  I glue the magnet (using gap-filling ACC) to a plastic strip of the right thickness so the surface of the magnet is even with the back of the driver rim after installation.  A little trial and error is used to get the correct thickness.  Once the magnet is glued to the plastic strip and you've cut the strip to about the size of the magnet, I use a small flat screwdriver head to install onto the driver.  The magnet sticks to the screwdriver and you can hold it in place until the gap-filling ACC sets up. 

 

In some cases a magnet will need to be located between two driver spokes to be the proper 90 degrees offset from adjacent magnets.  In this case, make the plastic strip long enough so that the ends of the strip can be glued to the back of the spoke on each side of the magnet.

Thanks Bob. Where did you source the smaller magnets from?

I got some from Amazon and some from America's Best Trains in Chicago.  The brand name is Magcraft.  One hundred magnets cost $10 or less.

 

I buy mine here.

 

http://www.kjmagnetics.com/products.asp?cat=10

 

Bill

Awesome! Thanks guys.

**** ATTN MODS****

 

If someone decides to move a thread, can we please get a notification? This belongs just as much where I posted it in 3RS as it does here. I don't really care, but when I want to go back and read responses and it disappears because it has been moved with no notice it is really irritating.

Well not really. It should have been obvious that NONE of the 3RS guys where going to answer your question, since it didn't pertain to 3RS modeling. The Webmaster obviously moved it to the CORRECT technical forum, and you got the answers you needed.

Thanks for the reference Bill, they're a good price and they have a nice variety.

Well that shows what you know Hot Water... I got the answers in the 3RS forum before it was moved. How is a discussion regarding more prototypical chuff rate of a steam engine not acceptable to the 3RS forum? Regardless, my point is that it would be nice if posts didn't just disappear without any notice to the original poster.

 

Johnnyspeed, I just sent you a private email. Mike