What magnetism tests have been done?

[sm0ky2]

well,. if your attempt is to avert the sticky spot
by passing the magnets through a central "0-field" region of the magnet stack, then resume the 'driving action' of the magnetic motor,

i would arrange the magnets in a manner like, they would be a machine, in operation.
and focus on where the "0-field" shifts to throughout each step in the cycle. this will also give you an idea of how that relates to the changes going on at the outer ends of the field.

If you are looking for a consistent energy value, of the particular magnetic pair
  Repulsion offers a more accurate depiction.
an ammount of mass lifted by the magnet will be consistent.

In attraction, the distance is very small, so the break-away energy is very high.
  This is inneficient from the very start,. unless your machine is 30 meters tall to counteract the force.
For instance,. whatever height your test was done at, you had to lift that ammount of water.
  E = mgh, + E = mgh of the now freed magnet and container, falling distance x
now,.. im sure at some distance... maybe basketball goal? two story house? you will make up for the energy lost due to the magnetic attraction. But generally speaking, thats a losing battle. Theres a reason we use them to hold sh^%& to our refridgerators.

If your goal is to simply measure the break-away force, i would start by mimicing the situation in which that would occur, not physically attached to one another,.