I have a collection of various older engines Athearn/Tyco/Rivarossi and a few others that currently don't run. Most have been in storage and many just appear to be in need of a good cleaning to get them running again. Can anyone tell me a good method to clean "gunked" up DC can motors (both diesel and steam) and get them running again? I spoke to a modeler once who I believe said he dipped the motor and mechanisms into a solution to clean them but don't recall what it was he used to free up frozen motors. Trying to figure out what if anything I can use to clean them and get them running once more. Does soaking them in any type of electrical contact cleaner such as QD Contact Cleaner work? Thanks in advance for any help. Dave
I use good ole WD40 dap it in with a Qtip & let it do the work! If worse, scrape it with an X-Acto knife, & then WD40 it, manually work it in, swab out the gunk, & repeat.It has worked for me, just my thoughts...Others may have better suggestions, & they are welcomed!
Most times a seized/ gunked up as you say is caused by dried/ hardened grease in the gearcase and or worm. If a motor itself is seized, moisture has deteriorated and caused corrosion to the point of seizing the shaft motor bushing. Cleaning out the gearcase and lubing w/ Labelle 106 usually does the trick, Other bushing/ bearing points should be oiled w/ plastic compatible lubricant (motor shaft, worm bearing as well as any axle and other pivot points.
I wouldn't go and "soak" the entire drive, disassemble and free up the components, if a motor is jambed that bad and won't turn even after oiling the shaft, it needs to be replaced.
Modeling B&O- Chessie Bob K. www.ssmrc.org
USAFCHESSIE I have a collection of various older engines Athearn/Tyco/Rivarossi and a few others that currently don't run. Most have been in storage and many just appear to be in need of a good cleaning to get them running again. Can anyone tell me a good method to clean "gunked" up DC can motors (both diesel and steam) and get them running again? I spoke to a modeler once who I believe said he dipped the motor and mechanisms into a solution to clean them but don't recall what it was he used to free up frozen motors. Trying to figure out what if anything I can use to clean them and get them running once more. Does soaking them in any type of electrical contact cleaner such as QD Contact Cleaner work? Thanks in advance for any help. Dave
I cannot recommend immersing an electric motor in anything. Doing so will soak the armature windings, which are bare copper wire dipped in varnish for insulation. Anything strong enough to do any good at cleaning, will likely attack the varnish.
To bring an old model back to life, you want to take it all apart, clean stiffened grease out of all the gears, clean the wheels, buff electrical contacts til they shine, lubricate, and reassemble.
Take photographs or make sketches as you take it apart as an aid to getting it back together. Sometimes it is necessary to remove the couplers to get the shell off. I lubricate metal parts with 3 in 1 oil, gears with lithium grease and plastic-on-plastic and couplers with powdered graphite. A wash in hot soapy water and scrubbing with a toothbrush will get grime off a plastic shell. The metal wheels need to be shiny bright for good electrical pickup. Likewise the truck bolsters where the juice flows from the trucks to the chassis need to be bright and shiny.
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com
You might want to check out the RC car hobby stuff. They have a motor cleaner liquid that is used to submerge motors and actually run them while in the stuff to clean them out. (At least they used to when I was in to RC cars about 10 years ago.)
Other than that, WD-40 should work.
Elmer.
The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.
(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.
All,
Thank you much for the advice. Sounds like specifically applied WD40 is the trick. I appreciate the info and will let you know how it goes! Thanks again... still open for any other ideas folks might have. To all a MERRY CHRISTMAS.
Sincerely,
Dave