after 40 years I hate to ask this but here goes. the part of the motor that spins and comes in contact with the brushes (armature?) are continually getting dark and dirty. In my youth the trick was to use an eraser, but now I am fearing all i have done is put minute scratches on them to accumulate more crud. Any BETTER thought? HELP!
Doug
A normal pencil eraser works well. Don't use one with an abrasive in it, like a Brite Boy. Be sure to clean out any particles before runnign the motor. A normal pink pencil eraser shouldn't scratch the commutator segments (that's what those copper parts the brushes rub on are called). If you happen to remove the brushes, make sure you put them back in the right way - they will have a curve on the face to match the commutator and if they are twisted 90 degrees so only the two thin edges touch, the motor will run horribly.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
thanks Randy!
Thats what Ive been doing, so thats a relief!
Hi!
As usual, Randy is "right on".
A couple of additional comments..... I also use Q tips and "tuner cleaner" from Radio Shack which gets much of the gunk off. However, make sure you dry thoroughly and don't get any "fuzz" on the commutator. Also, there will always be some carbon residue on the commutator, and the need to clean an open motor should typically be an unusual occurance.
Mobilman44
ENJOY !
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
There are actual cleaning sticks made for cleaning those. Just push it against the commutator while it's spinning and it cleans and polishes it. I used them at a tool repair company I worked for long ago. http://www.advantagehobby.com/product.php?productid=93355&cat=358&page=3The alcohol/Q-tip method works well enough. CRC chemical makes a spray called 2-26 that helps keep it cleaned and lubed after cleaning.
loathar There are actual cleaning sticks made for cleaning those. Just push it against the commutator while it's spinning and it cleans and polishes it. I used them at a tool repair company I worked for long ago. http://www.advantagehobby.com/product.php?productid=93355&cat=358&page=3The alcohol/Q-tip method works well enough. CRC chemical makes a spray called 2-26 that helps keep it cleaned and lubed after cleaning.
Instead of a standard Q-Tip, which can leave cotton fibers in the motor, go to the dollar store, and in the cosmetics aisle, look for foam tip makeup applicators. They look just like a short cotton swab, but have a sponge head instead of cotton. You can usually get at least a dozen for a buck.
Yes, do NOT use q-tips or any kind of fiber swab. Foam-tipped cleaning swabs are the way to go. I wouldn't use a q-tip for much of anything around the wheels, pickups, or motor of a model train. The shafts of q-tips can be used to make piping in chemical plants and stuff though.