I have recently converted to DCC. I have a Kadee wheel cleaner meant for DC. As many of you know, with this device, you clip the alligator clips on to the rails, turn up the power, and place the brush side of the cleaner on the powered wheels of your loco and away you go.....clean the pick-up wheels on your locos.
Now, my question is: can you use this device using DCC as is, or can you not? Is there some way to convert it for DCC, or is this device a thing of the past? I don't want to take a chance of using it, and messing up something......the decoder, or shorting out the DCC system.
I have always had good luck using it in DC, and would like to continue using it in DCC.
Thanks, Al.
It generally works, you need to disl up the address of the loco you are cleaning, and set it to a medium to high speed. When the decoder gets the signals when the brushes touch the wheel,s it will start the motor. Howeve,r the brushed tend to short. Or, if you didn;t disable analog in the decoder, just use the driver cleaner with your old DC power pack the same way as before.
I've had exceptional results using amuch simpler method. On a peice of track, lay a heacy duty paper towl - like a Handiwipe brand or a piece of blue shop towel, wet with 90% rubbing alsocol. Hold the loco and let the wheels spin and roll one truck over the wet towel a few times. Shift the towel slightly, and flip the loco and do the other truck. We have both options at the club - track with DCC and towels, and either alcohol or acetone, and the driver cleaner connected to an old DC power pack. I just use the paper towels and DCC for my locos and have no issues, and nice clean wheels. FOr really cruddy wheels I can see how the Kadee tool might work a little better as it is somewhat mroe abrasive (but being brass, should be plenty safe), but my wheels have never seemed to be THAT dirty that a couple of passes on the towel didn;t make them nice and shiny.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
The biggest problem is that the Kadee wheel cleaner doesn't really remove dirt as much as it spreads it around. If you use it too much, it can probably scratch the wheels and cause them to collect even more dirt.
Randy's method of cleaning is better and is what most people use.
I do what Randy does, except use synthetic ATF. I haven't used my Kadee cleaner for years.
Richard
I also do what Randy does. It will give good results. I also use DCC with it. No problems at all. If you use this method I think you'll be amazed sometimes how much gunk that comes off the locos wheels. Also, good for cleaning rolling stock wheels. I use 90% alcohol also. I also use track cleaning cars regularly.
Patrick Waltz
I will have to try the shop towel or heavy duty paper towel over the tracks method. However, for really cruddy tires, especially the odd plastic one, I use a piece of scrap scale lumber stripwood . I invert the car and use the corner edge against the crud. It takes some time, but only a couple of minutes per car if each tire needs the treatment. Often only one or two do.
The wooden edge scrapes the crud pretty well, and doesn't mar the plastic tire surface.
Crandell
selector I will have to try the shop towel or heavy duty paper towel over the tracks method. However, for really cruddy tires, especially the odd plastic one, I use a piece of scrap scale lumber stripwood . I invert the car and use the corner edge against the crud. It takes some time, but only a couple of minutes per car if each tire needs the treatment. Often only one or two do. The wooden edge scrapes the crud pretty well, and doesn't mar the plastic tire surface. Crandell
Crandall, used to do this cleaning w/ wood, but found I would loose the "sharp edge" too quickly even w/ strips of hardwood. Found that old credit card works great. If you need a new edge, just snip off a bit and keep cleaning.
Only clean w/ the alcohol/ paper towel, the Kadee cleaner has been basically retired. Used to do well on Athearn sintered wheels, but started to show signs of wear on the nickle coated ones.
Modeling B&O- Chessie Bob K. www.ssmrc.org
Yeah, I have to agree about using the Kadee cleaner. Now that I'm into DCC, I'd better get with it and start using the alcohol and paper towel method of cleaning my wheels!
Thanks so much for the info guys!
-Al
How does the paper towel w/ alcohol work on steam engines? The pilot and trailing trucks aren't powered so I would assume you just roll them over the towel? I ususally do them by hand with a Q-tip and alcohol or Goo Gone.
-Bob
Life is what happens while you are making other plans!
I also have an old Kadee cleaner but seldom use it any longer, for reasons noted above. I model trolleys along with light steam in the pre USRA era.
When I scratch build a trolley box motor I put a pair of contacts on the bottom of the loco that are take offs of the black and red decoder wires from the wheels. I have a wire pair that hangs near my command station that is wired to the track leads of the railroad. On the wires are alligator clips that I can hook to the hidden take off points on the loco. Then select the throttle to the loco and notch up the speed and clean the wheels with an alcohol swab and the a touch of Rail Zip on a felt pad.
For light older brass steamers one alligator clip on the loco in a hidden spot on the under frame and the other to a tender bolster screw. Then power up as noted above.
Using Rail Zip I have cut my cleaning to nearly zero over the last four years. I run regular ops sessions and there are almost no failed commands due to dirty track or wheels.
Rule: No plastic wheel sets.
Rule: No bright boy erasers.
see ya
Bob