Under some circumstances plastic wheels acquire a thick layer of gunk that actually changes the contour of the tread and causes derailments. To get this stuff off I use a common point screwdriver to scale the tread while I twirl the wheel with my other hand. Other times I trim a groove into the left side of my right thumbnail matching the contour of the tread and rotate the wheel against that. It might seem weird but the heavy layer of crud comes off readily. After this step the wheels are ready for the paper towel treatment. Afterwards a thorough hand cleaning with soap and hot water is recommended. With 500+ pieces of rolling stock, a switch to metal wheels would put me in the poor house!
Thnx Marlon, I'll give it a try
Well, I've had the same brush for 10 years and I only need to clean the wheels once a year and my layout is in the unfinished basement. I've never cleaned the brush in all that time, so I don't know if it needs it, or not.
Marlon
See pictures of the Clinton-Golden Valley RR
Marion, I'd be interested to know how long a brush lasts? Does it need to be cleaned? Thnx
Since I've replaced all of the wheels on my rolling stock with metal wheels, I rarely have to clean them much. But, when I do, I use a Dremel with the nylon rotary brush. I remove the axles to clean them, and while I have them out, I clean out the journals with Micromark's truck tuning tool.
Thnx for the tip. I always use the soaked paper towel method on locos but never thought it would work on rolling stock because the wheels aren't propelled. I will give it a try.
Maybe I should clean my rolling stock wheels also. I never thought about that. My focus was on locos since gunky tires can create issues.
I'm with Ricky here. A paper towel soaked with track cleaner on a section of track and roll the cars back and forth with slight down pressure does it for me.
I have found that metal tires don't need much 'help.' Locomotive drivers' tires, yes, but not the rolling stock. However, if I find any cars doing funny wobbles down my tracks, and lift them to inspect them, it's the ones with the plastic wheels. Yeah, I still have a couple of cars that way. Hey, I'm no more lazy than the next guy!
Either way, my first job is to take a cleanly cut/chopped piece of scale lumber or a coffee stir-stick made of wood and scrub along the tire surfaces. Then I finish with a paper towel, which is usually mildly abrasive in its own right, and wet it with isopropyl alcohol. I wipe the tire to get it clean, and then wait until the car or loco shows that its wheels are dirty once again, usually close to a year later.
The old "wet paper towel over the rails" trick works for both locomotives and rolling stock wheels.
No need to overly complicate (or add expense) to this.
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
I've read many articles and viewed many vids regarding cleaning LOCO wheels, but haven't come across much/any regarding cleaning ROLLING STOCK wheels. Any suggestions regarding efficient ways to do several cars in one session, as in a major once a year project? Q-tips and alcohol one wheel at a time is ok for individual car maintenance as needed, but I'm looking for suggestions to do the entire fleet (maybe once a year ). Of course, I understand prevention is key and so cleaning track regularly is essential as well. Thnx all.