Aristocraft Track cleaning car

[jerryl]

I just purchased an Aristo. track cleaning car & the cleaning pad seems a bit coarse, I'd never use something like that on my HO track. Are there replacement pads available thet aren't that rough or can you make your own?  I use Ariosto. brass track outdoors.  Thanks...Jerry

[Capt Bob Johnson]

Don't worry about it, pad is more eraser like than abrasive.  I couldn't determine any damage to track from it.  I found it would gunk up rather quickly.   Matter of fact, lot of guys get dry wall abrasive and add strips to the pad to make it work better!   Adding some pipe nipples with bb's or pellets siliconed inside on top of the floating part of the car also helps effectiveness.

 By the way, adding a rough geographic location to your profile would help in answering many questions you might pose.   State name, region, or the like, just to give folks some idea of your climate and stuff like that!   Operating conditions are indeed different when comparing the frozen tundra to the West Texas heat, or the dampness of the Atlantic coast to the arid desert regions!

[ghelman]

Jerry, I have used one for several years. I have not noticed any rail damage or wear.

[jerryl]

I live in NJ, but I didn't think that had anything to do with the coarsness of the track cleaning pad.  Maybe if I lived in a climate that made track cleaning necessary more often it may have some bearing.  I just dont want to create groves in the track that can trap more dirt.  Jerry

[piercedan]

And to cut the grease and grime, LGB suggests clreaning pads should have their smoke fluid added to the pad as the LGB fluid is both smoke and cleaning fluid.