HI, I FOUND A NEW LGB ENGINE TRACK CLEARNER AND WANTED TO HEAR YOUR OPINIONS ABOUT THE UNIT, BEFORE I MAKE MY MIND UP. FOR THE EXPENSE, WILL IT DO THE PERFORMANCE THAT IT'S CREDITED FOR? THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT.
JOHN
John:
I don't have one, but here are some things I've heard, both good and bad.
THE GOOD: ease of use, quickness of task completion.
THE BAD: replacment "grinding wheels" can be hard to find. changes the profile of rail top.
THE UGLY: Cost (both original purchase and replacement "gringding whells")
Tom Trigg
Hi John You may find that if you have not used track over winter months the unit will not cope with the much on the track. only use this unit when you have manuely cleaned track.
Age is only a state of mind, keep the mind active and enjoy life
I run mine once a week, weather permitting. I have brass track and run track power with digital control. I make my runs when the track is dry, twice around is enough. If after a lot of running the track gets a little dirty, I'll hook in an Aristo Track Cleaning Caboose for a "touch up". With over 500 feet of track, I'm ready to go in minutes.
The replacement cleaning wheels are readily available. I get mine from "Train-Li-USA" in Upton MA (advertised in Garden Railways).
Don U. TCA 73-5735
I have the factory decoder version and am very pleased with the performance.
It does require powerful transformer. I am running 22 volts to the track with NCC digital control.
Replacement parts are readily available.
HI TO ALL THAT COMMENTED TO MY QUESTIONS AND THANK YOU FOR THEM. I GOT A REAL GOOD PRICE, UNDER 400, AND MAN DOES IT EVER DO A GREAT JOB CLEANING THE TRACK. I LAYED DOWN A CIRCUIT IN THE BASEMENT IN WHICH THE TRACK WAS ALMOST BLACK. JUST THREE PASSES AT A LOW SPEED AND IT WAS ALL GONE!!!! I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE WEATHER TO WARM A LITTLE OUTSIDE, PLOW THE TRACK, AND USE IT THERE.
OH YES, THE CLEANING PADS ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH WALTERS, JUST UP THE ROAD AN HOUR AWAY.
THANKS AGAIN,
There are 2 ways to change out the pads, one is just the pads, the other is pads and plastic wheels.
The wheels are important as when they wera, they no longer make the pads ride up so as not to grind the plastic on switch frogs as well as crossover frogs.
I change the plastic every other time.
THANK YOU FOR THE HEADS UP. I GOT TO ASK, HOW MUCH TRACK DO YOU CLEAN BEFORE RELACING THE PLASTIC WHEELS? I HAVE AROUND 300 FEET OUTSIDE AND AM WONDERING HOW MANY TIMES I CAN CLEAN WITH THE UNIT BEFORE I NEED TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE WHEELS.
THANK YOU, JOHN
Keep an eye on the wheels all the time!
The giveaway is usually when that part of the loco starts hopping up and down, or laying down "zebra stripes" when cleaning the wheels.
That means the cleaning disks are out of round.
Some people replace them when this happens, some actually try to true them.
While looking at this, inspect the plastic "disks".
That was my procedure with mine.
Regards, Greg
Visit my site: http://www.elmassian.com - lots of tips on locos, rolling stock and more.
Click here for Greg's web site
If desparate, just turn the pads around on each wheel. I find they wear on one side of the rim.
Do not throw used sets out!!! Save the plastic rms in case one goes bad prematurely, and the pads I cut into thirds and use to clean loco wheels. Aristo engines run much better after doing this!!
I also use these to clean motor armatures.
HI ALL,
WELL, YESTERDAY I GOT THE TRACK CLEANED OF SNOW BUT THERE WERE AREAS OF ICE ON THE RAILS. TODAY IT'S 38 DEGREES AND THE ICE IS GONE AND THE RAILS DRY.
SO, I PUT THE TRACK CLEANER ON FOR THE FIRST TIME, DOING THE OUTSIDE LOOP OF 300 FEET OF TRACK AND MEDIUM SPEED. I AM IMPRESSED!!!!!! I LET IT GO AROUND SEVEN TIMES AND THE RAILS LOOKED LIKE NEW! I ONLY WISH I COULD HAVE PURCHASED THIS SOME 10 YEARS AGO. THE TRACK WAS REALLY DARK ON TOP AND NOW IT JUST SHINES.
TONIGHT WE'RE SUPPOSE TO GET 2-3 INCHES OF SNOW, SO TOMORROW IT WILL BE A JOY IN RUNNING THE PLOW GONDOLA.
JUST WANTED TO UPDATE FOR YOU. AGAIN, THANKS FOR YOUR MANY POINTS OF IMPUT. ONE THING, I ONLY PAID LESS THAN HALF THE GOING PRICE, SO I'M REALLY HAPPY!
Get the Garden Railways newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month