I have an Atlas loco that requires the wheels to be cleaned with Lacquer Thinner each time it runs ( Once a week). It's not the track as my three other locos run fine. Is there anything I can use after the wheels are cleaned to slow down the contact problem?
Change the wheels, What are you cleaning off of the wheels possibly oil from too much lubrication? I am no metallurgist but I can't see why you would have to clean them so much. I know some complain about plastic wheels leaving behind gunk on their tracks but I've never heard of metal wheels doing it but I guess anything is possible.
I have a trolley that used to behave that way. Even though the wheels were getting dirty, and it did help to clean them, the problem was actually poor electrical contact between the wheels and the motor.
Take a look at how the engine is getting its power. These days, every wheel should be part of the circuit. Put an ohmmeter on your engine (off the track, of course) and "buzz out" all the connections. You may have a loose wire, or the connections between the bushings and the frame may be intermittent.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
It does not appear to be electrical. The minute I clean the wheel it run like a champ. Also, If it runs poorly to start with it improves by just running the train and letting the tracks themselves clean the wheels. My question is there a product I can use after the wheel are cleaned to help? Thanks in advance
Try using Isopropal alcohol to clean your wheels. It will not leave a residue behind like the thinner will. If the plating on the wheels start to peel off than a new set of wheels is in order. I have had some old blue box Athearn locos that the plating flaked off. A set of Jay Bee wheels was the ticket.
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
Also give your track a good cleaning with alcohol. Some clubs use a quick burst CRC Electrical contact cleaner but you shouldn't have to. What model of Atlas do you have and what type of track are you using? I.E is it brass, steel, or nickle silver track?
Springfield PA
hwolf Also, If it runs poorly to start with it improves by just running the train and letting the tracks themselves clean the wheels.
Also, If it runs poorly to start with it improves by just running the train and letting the tracks themselves clean the wheels.
This statement is the key. Clean your track then clean the wheels. Guess where the dirt on those wheels is going?
This might be a case for trying the gleam method, a known track *** 'n span system of cleaning rails. If we can get the rails truly pristine, and you still get crud on the tires, you know that the engine is the problem. Count of poor contacts, or lubes migrating in an invisible film all over the lower half of your locomotive.
-Crandell
The problem loco is an atlas. The only one I have .. All three of my other engines run fine on the same tracks. The tracks are Nickel Silver. I live in Florida with high humidity. I still have not heard an answer if there is a product that can be put on after the wheels are cleaned to slow down this process. Is there such an animal?
I was using Goo Done but have switched to Laquer Thinner or Alcohol. I have also used the electric wheel cleaner that puts power to the wheel and cleans them with metal brushes. The track has been cleaned with a brass car with Abrasive bars.
I wouldn't use abrasives. Take a lint free cloth and wet it in alcohol. Lay it across the tracks. Hold the engine with one truck over the cloth and the other on the bare tracks. Run the train and move it back and forth to clean the wheels. Switch to the other truck and repeat. Next check out the electrical pick-ups they may be the actual culprit needing cleaning as well as the wheel or axle contact surface they connect to.
I had a similar problem with my 'N' scale layout. First, take a "Bright Boy" track cleaner to the track. Your track may look clean, but there could be very small dirty spots still on the track. Second, clean your wheels with a good electrical contact cleaner, the kind that is used on computer componets. Third, clean the copper contact strip that touches the wheels. Your wheels may be clean but contact strip may be your problem.
It is interesting that different cleaners work well on one layout and not on the other. If you live in a high humidity climate, this could be affecting your layout. Try to control the humidity. Once you found what works, stay with it. If you run your layout often, you should not have to clean the track or your locos very much. Don't give up!
Hope this helps you.
Have Fun!
Randy, "madmodeler"
There is a wheel cleaner available for N and HO scales to end these kind of problems for good. http://www.mrsonline.net/html/wheel_cleaner.html
Regards,Art LuescherZIMO Agency of North Americahttp://www.mrsonline.net/
Howdy,
Just to let you know that i have 43 engines all dcc and i have no trouble with any except the 1 atlas i have which i have to clean everytime i use it. Its just a touchy engine that needs alot of attention. When i clean it i use the wire brush cleaner from marklin that fits on the track and you just rev up the engine on the cleaner brushes. I only give it a reall good cleaning about every 6 months. And i only clean the track once a year and keep the train room humidity down to about 40 percent. You don't what it to dry either because of static electric shock.
Hope this helpeds you.
Railcon