locomotive wheel cleaning/cleaner

[Anonymous]

My preference; turn the loco over, attached power clips from the track to the loco pick ups, throttle up and as
the wheels spin, apply MAAS metal cleaner/polisher.

[dwRavenstar]

As I'd done on my previous N-scale layouts I'll use alcohol and cloths like several others have mentioned.
Another carry over from previous experience will be to have a hinged shelf with a length of spare track mounted on it, hooked up like just another isolated block to the power supply.
When it's cleaning time I'll swing the shelf from its hiding place, hook it securely in place and throw the power switch for the track. When done it swings back out of view.

Dave (dwRavenstar)

[Anonymous]

It may sound a little heavy handed, but I have cleaned a lot of loco wheels with a wire brush in a Dremel tool!! Safety glasses are mandatory for this operation... While this is not as hard on the wheels as it sounds, I think that if you were to do this every day the wheels might , eventually, wear out!!!

Check for traction tyres, first, as they will not survive the first cleaning. But do not ignore the traction tyres: they will grip better if you clean them with a little alcohol.

Allan Lees

[Anonymous]

Trevor,
Indirectly related to locomotive wheel cleaning, is keeping the track clean. I usually try to run a work train over my track with one car that has alcohol on a roller and another with an adsorbant pad. Also, I think going to metal wheelsets has helped alot. The plastic wheels begin to break down and left behind more gunk. I run DCC and have very few electical continuity problems associated with dirty track.

[GMTRacing]

Trevor,
I'm using a combination of 30 year old locos and some new and gave up alcohol and scraping off crud for rail/zip and a swab. If i get ambitious i will set up a test track with an old controller, but so far no problems just swabbing and running. J.R.

[mondotrains]

Hi Trevor,
I also use alcohol to clean my engine wheels however, rather than bringing my engines onto the layout and using the paper towel method, I bring my engines to my workbench. There, I have a 24" piece of 1x2" lumber with an 18" piece of track mounted on it. I mounted an old power pack to the end of the board (I used black electrician's tape) and then soldered two wires to the track which are attached to the DC power feed on the power pack. In this way, I can sit down and clean a whole bunch of engines at one time without having to put them on the layout where alcohol could ruin my ballast and painted rails.

My little track cleaning apparatus cost me around $2.00 for the cheap second-hand power pack and a piece of scrap wood and some wire and best of all, it keeps me from ruining my layout track.

Hope this helps.
Mondo

[jwar]

I also use the alcohol method of cleaning wheel as stated above. When finished I take a strip of old worn bed sheet, wipe a thin coat of Maas on it, lay it over the track and spin the wheels under power. Doing this with light pressure and slightly pulling the sheet to the side as the rag blackens, repeating this on a fresh clean sheet to finish polishing the wheels. Then turn on the FM radio and listen for static, of which dirty powered wheels amplify.

BE FORWARNED, I just started do this and I have great expectations, However the ole addage may apply, Opptismn can kill LOL...just my two cents...John

[twhite]

Trevor: Micro-Mark has a pretty nifty wheel-cleaning station that I recently purchased. The station itself is some Atlas code 83 roadbed-rail sections, one of which has been modified with a section for mounting cleaning pads. Then you mount the loco on the cleaning pads, turn on the power to the tracks and just let 'er spin! It works really well for me, but the cleaning solution they have is the best I've EVER found! I use it on my tenders by upending them and cleaning the wheels with a Q-tip dipped in the solution. Absolutely amazing the gunk that comes off of what look like clean wheel-treads. I really reccommend it. As for track, they also have what amounts to a Bright Boy on a stick, that with the supplied extensions, can get to almost anyplace on your track without disturbing either scenery or close to rail details. Both products have really shortened my track-cleaning time and made it FAR less frequent--and I've got a garage (California Basement) layout that really attracts dust.
Tom [:D]

[Don Gibson]

I use the paper towel and alcohol on the track for car's wheels' but engines I use alcohol and cotton swab with the engine upside down and running.

To clean, one must loosen (alcohol) the contaniment and transfer it to another surface (swab or towel)..

ALL OilS will leave a dirt attracting film. Alcohol will not.

[cnw4001]

You will get a lot of suggestions.

Here's what I do.

Take a paper towel, wet it with alcohol and then put it on the track. Power up the track and spin the engine wheels on the paper towel. Spin them dry on a dry part of the towel.

Dale

[Anonymous]

I have seen in the past a few different gadgets for cleaning the wheels of a locomotive. Now it seems I am in need of one. I've been running my loco's on my track in between construction sessions (all work and no play...) and have noticed a slight build up on the wheels. I've been cleaning the track as much as possible, but not a clean as they probably should be. What are your personal recommendations for cleaning loco wheels?

Trevor