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Cleaning turn outs

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GMG
  • Member since
    February 2015
  • 14 posts
Posted by GMG on Friday, July 24, 2015 12:09 PM

Cleaned points with a cheap toothbrush (hopefully, didn't do any damage to rails), used alcohol to clean, and finally bent the point. Getting 13.8v on the multimeter around the mainline.

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: S.E. Adirondacks, NY
  • 3,246 posts
Posted by modelmaker51 on Thursday, July 23, 2015 7:20 PM

Add some more electrical drops.

Jay 

C-415 Build: https://imageshack.com/a/tShC/1 

Other builds: https://imageshack.com/my/albums 

GMG
  • Member since
    February 2015
  • 14 posts
Posted by GMG on Monday, July 20, 2015 2:06 PM
Thanks for your suggestion - I have been having what I believe to be contact issues with my turnouts - points to the stockrails.
  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Westchester NY
  • 1,747 posts
Posted by retsignalmtr on Tuesday, July 14, 2015 12:25 PM

Cleaning the Point to Stockrail contact area is a very important but oft neglected maintenance duty. I usually use a Nylon brush wheel in my cordless Dremmel tool set to the slow speed so as not to melt the plastic ties with the heat created. Don't use a metal wheel at all as it will tear up the ties. I then use a thin wooden coffee stirrer with a thin piece of cloth dipped in alcohol to swab out the area between the point and stockrail.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: North Dakota
  • 9,592 posts
Posted by BroadwayLion on Sunday, July 12, 2015 2:40 PM

Try a nail file.

LIONS do not bother with such finiase. Him bothers not to power double crossovers and double slip switches at all. Just gap them out of the circuit and the train will just pass right over them.

Well, that presumes 48 wheel pick-up which our Warm Furry LION uses.

ROAR

The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.

Here there be cats.                                LIONS with CAMERAS

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Southwest US
  • 12,914 posts
Posted by tomikawaTT on Sunday, July 12, 2015 1:39 PM

I used to use a grey ink eraser for track cleaning and never had any problems.  Just use gentle pressure.

After I gleamed my track (including turnout rails) cleaning has been restricted to running a slider track cleaning car - several, in several different trains - and the occasional swipe with a dry paper towel.

Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - with inaccessible track)

  • Member since
    October 2007
  • From: Elizabethtown, KY.
  • 78 posts
Cleaning turn outs
Posted by SWA737 on Sunday, July 12, 2015 11:31 AM

 Has anyone tried cleaning the tight areas and delicate track of the turn outs with a pencil eraser? I had some hesitation with one of my engines over a couple of turnouts and cleaned them with a pencil  erasure  then lightly wiped off any of the residue. It's seemed  to work good. Does anyone see any problem in doing this?  I have 114 turnouts on my railroad so trying to find a simple and Safe way  to clean them all. 

 Thanks, Rob 

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