Daily Newby question.

[Boonter]

I'm about to attemp my first ever engine clean up/lube In one publication at hand, it reccomends using "TV tuner cleaner" and/or mineral spirits (paint thinner ?) I checked the TV stuff....got laffed out of Radio Shack and our only TV shop. Heard some mumbles about "Crazy old far.........." as I left.

I'm familure with automotive products such as "Lectra-Motive Cleaner" by CRC. What products, and proceedures do you more experienced reccomend for a TOTAL newby to this hobby ????

All guidence appreciated!!!

[Anonymous]

What you're looking for is also called Contact or Switch cleaner, I believe. Radio Shack should have it. Unfortunately, RS has made the decision to make their money selling phones & TVs & other preassembled electronics & their sales staff generally don't know contact cleaner from furniture polish.

Yes, mineral spirits is used to thin oil based paint. I have no information on whether or not that's safe to use on your trains.

Good luck!

Tony

[jkerklo]

TV tuners no longer have any contacts, hence the "old fart" comment. Many electrical cleaners contained freon, and so are no longer available. Substitutes aren't as good. Those I am familar with are a couple types of alcohol.

For cleaning engines and most other train things, I stick with solvents that I know are safe and won't disolve plastics, paint, etc.

I am assuming you are cleaning an old engine, with an AC motor.

I use isopropyl alcohol, the drug store stuff, for motors and all contacts. Most any thing else needing cleaning just gets wiped and, sometimes, alcohol.

Useful supplies are: Q-tips, lint free paper towels, cloth rags (old sweatshirt material, bought as rags at home depot, works well), 400 grit wet-or-dry sandpaper, round toothpicks, toothbrush, paintbrush for dusting, needle oiler, white grease, and talc (baby powder). A few small plastic bins (old lids) to hold parts saves time searching for the missing screw. A small screw starter is useful. Greenberg reprints of repair manuals are useful, especially for some of the complicated steam engines.

The motor armature (removed) is cleaned with a strip of the 400 grit paper dipped in alcohol, then wiped with a corner of a paper towel. The toothpicks are for removing crud from the armature slots.

Any other contacts, such as in a #60 trolley, are cleaned with alcohol and 400 grit paper and/or toweling.

I seldom mess with an e-unit. Do so delicately. No oil!

The talc is used for lubricating soleniods, when needed, but not routinely.

John Kerklo
TCA 94-38455
www.Three-Rail.com

[Chris F]

Try your local home improvement center. I get my spray contact cleaner from the electrical section in Menard's.

[Kooljock1]

There are two terrific resources for restoring/repairing old-style open-frame AC motors. They are the article in CTT (I can't remember the issue), and the almost identicle step-by-step proceedure in the most recent "Jim Barret in the Backshop" DVD, available from the other guys. They both do the same things, but it nice to see the video version.

Just remember to use a solvent that will clean up with regular soap and water. You want to be able to immerse the whole thing in a sink of Palmolive, and get all that solvent outta there. Then dry that sucker off the best you can, and spray lightly with WD-40, and then rub it off. If you can, REPLACE the brushes. They're cheap.

As far as the E unit goes, there's another Backshop video that covers it, but some of these nice after market electronic units are quiet and reliable.

Jon[8D]

[Boonter]

Many thanks for all the good advise. I'll let you know the outcome later....