Florence is getting ready to blast through the neighborhood, I guess we are ready, the winds are picking up so here goes.
I have tried several ways to clean my wheels, alcohol, q-tips, you name but it was such a hassle. Then one day I was looking at a piece of track and decided to hook it up to an old trans former, covered part of the track with a cloth with alcohol on it. I placed half of the engine on the track the other half on the towel with the alcohol and gave it some power and voila, the wheels rotated and were cleaned in a jiffy, then I turned the engine around and did the same thing.
I have been told that the Kadee electrical wheel cleaner can affect the nickle silver on the wheel and interfere with the electrical connection with the track but this way you won't damage the tire (wheel) facing or tread. I then lubricate the wheels with Labelle 101 oil that improves electrical conductivity and WOW the enigine ran great.
Just a thought.
Robert Sylvester
This picture was taken off my desk top. I copied it, then hit Select all and paisted it to the post.
Hello Robert. That's essentially what I do with my steam locos - I use a paper towel with some alcool on it. I don't know about putting lubricants on wheels though. It will probably attract dirt and get gummy after a while. Let us know what happens. By the way, I was looking at your locos in the other threads... they look great!
Simon
Robert,
This is a common method for cleaning steam & diesel drive wheels and has been posted several times here on the forum. Personally I leave off the oil (albeit Labelle, Wahl's or ATF), as that just attracts airborn dirt and dust, which dirties your track and requires more frequent cleanings. At least that's how I see it...
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Thank you both, the idea of the Labelle 101 oil came from Chuck Hitchcock. he says it doesn't really cause him any problems and he doesn't have to clean track for about a year, and a club in Jackson, TN., uses the ATF on their tracks, there room is immaculate, hardly any dust which I am sure makes a difference, but they have about the same results and can run engines for a long time before cleaning. I do notice some residual black coating on the rails but with the oil, which improves conductivity, but the trains run really well.
Newberry-Columbia Line
Im a newbie here and was contemplating just this last night. I tried the paper towel method and couldnt get it to work for me. So...
I took some fine 220 grit sandpaper and meticulously went over the wheels. It was hard to do. But in the end the wheels were shiny again. Not sure if the scratching will be a problem. BUt the loco works great again!
I hope you are OK after the storm. I have been through my share down here.
.
I only ever had problems with the wheels on my Blue Box Athearn diesels. Since U upgraded the few I have left to the new Athearn wheel/axle assemblies I have not had any problems.
-Kevin
Living the dream.