In my foolish youth, I fried the motor in my Atlas track cleaning car by letting it out to play on the DCC powered track without a decoder. Now I need a new motor. Does anybody know a source for a replacement? I'm hoping its a fairly generic can motor. Atlas does not list any parts for the car except the cleaning pads.
Hi Bikerdad, Below is the listing for the PCB ( Printed Circuit Board) that goes inside the Atlas N scale track cleaning car. But first you may want to disassemble the cleaning car and test the motor using low voltage to see if it's still good. If it runs you may have just fried the circuit board which can be replaced for $6.95. If the motor is fried you may need to contact Atlas to see about a replacement. I searched their site & found the exploded diagrahm on the internal working of the cleaning car plus this listing below for the PCB but nothing on a replacement motor. Hopefully it's a easy fix. Railheadz List Price: $6.95 per EACH Qty: Item Code: 320010 PCB Replacement Board BRANDS: CHINA Stock: Yes HO & N SCALE PRODUCTS: N TRACK CLEANING CAR PARTS
I did the same thing on mine the pcb board was bad. I installed a decoder in it after i removed all the componits off the pcb. Now it real sweet on dcc .
OH BOY AM I GLAD I SAW THIS! I had no idea that this could happen. I have an Atlas cleaning car and I just got DCC although I haven’t hooked it up yet. You would think that there would be some kind of warning. I wonder what else is that I need to be concerned with. I’m getting ready to buy a wheel cleaning machine, do I have to do something for that?
The very first warning on the Atlas N Track Cleaning Car instruction sheet is" 'Track cleaning car is not recommended for use with DCC'. AL
In response to you getting a wheel cleaning machine try this before you spend alot of cash. This is how I do it; I take the engine and turn it upside down and power up the wheels, then I take my dremel tool with a stainless steel soft brush an gently run it on the tread of the engine wheels while all are spinning. I have my dremel usually on medium speed--- On the unpowered wheels I hold the engine in my hand and place my thumb on the other wheel (SAME AXEL) and alow the wheel to slowly slip while cleanning the oposite side. I have been doing this with no ill effect on the wheels and when IM done the wheels shine like brand new The only bad thing is you have to be careful about is hitting the wheel trucks as it may dull the finish on them Good Luck AlanC.
Thanks, I've been using a small steel brush and Q tips, but it’s a pain. I'm trying to imagine how to power up the wheels with loco upside down.
Could you provide more details? What do you mean "after you removed all the components off the pcb?" What components did you remove and why?
Here is a link to a article on one way to do it. My Model Railroad Question = MRQ. Also take a look at TCS website under installation Pictures, There is a section on Atlas track cleaning cars, hope this helps Look at the TCS website under Installation Pictures there is a artical on Atlas track cleaning cars.
For what it is worth, I have run this car on "00" without the board for over 5 years, no problems, great suction. Bob.
That link for the PCB board for using the track cleaning car on DCC doesn't work - can you give it out again?
