I am new to DCC and wondered if I can use those electronic wheel cleaners where you clip or attach power (in Minitrix's case) from the tracks that transfer the power to the brushes to clean the locomotive wheels? Can you use DC mode (on a separate piece of track powered by a simple transformer) on DCC locos? Or do you simply use this on the DCC enabled layout and punch in each loco's address to clean?
I am not fond of these types of wheel cleaners. I worry about scratching the wheels for some reason and shorts are always possible. Neither of these concerns may be valid though. I just use a coffee filter layed over the tracks soaked with a little alcohol and run the wheels until I don;t see any more black stripes coming off. Works fine and is a lot less money. There are those that use and like them and they will work on DCC.
I, too would worry about scratching the wheel surface and worsening the dirt accumulation with that. I'm using the same method as SeanM and the Tomix cleaning track: No. 6414: “Track with Wheel Cleaning Device”, S140 with electrically-driven cleaning pads to rub wheels. hth Michael And yes, your cleaner will work on DCC by simply calling the address of the loco. It gets its power and the commands from the power station through the metal of the cleaning device.
No, the Tomix one is a real track piece: JapanModelRailways - technical and general information Catalog numbers are 6411, 6412, 6441. It seems, though, that it is not available anymore, but you might have more luck finding it than me. Michael
Why go to all the expense of any of these contraptions when alcohol on a paper towel on powered track works just fine. It's just as fast, way cheaper & the wheels are super clean!
This is what I use. DC and DCC. Is automatic transmission fluid ok to soak my tracks in or just for cleaning wheels? What about coating the rail heads with it to wash the webbing?
Hi, [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Georgia, Verdana]SinCity[/FONT] I have the Minitrix cleaner that just sits on the rails and run my locos through it. I think everyone else who advocates using coffee filters or paper towels or KimWipes is right. The wheels being cleaned on the wet paper products will likely get less damage than the wheels I'm running on the wire brush. The big "But!" in this is: I am also convinced that while those wheels are being cleaned on the wet paper, the wheels that are picking up power on the other truck are being rubbed on a rigid piece of rail! I think that solid rail causes more damage,m scratching, and wearing off of any plating than the relatively soft wire brush. YMMV! Both of the wirebrush wheel cleaners pictured will work just fine with DCC. I have both and merely select the loco address and turn speed up to 99. I like the Minitrix better because you don't have to hold it with one hand while trying to be gentle on the loco with the other.
Sorry, forgot to sign my post. Need to set up an automatic signature. Bill B South Okaloosa N Scalers
This is how I clean my wheels; I turn the engine upside down power it up to 1/4 speed and get a SOFT stainless steel bush and clean each wheel with my dramel tool. On the wheels that are unpowered I put the brush on the wheel and let it spin just fast enough to do the job. I hold the other/opposite wheel with my finger and use it as a break so it don''t over spin the wheel to fast. I have done it this way for years and so far so good. After cleaning, the wheel shine like they are brand new out of the box
Why go to all this trouble & risk getting wire frags in the motor & gears. Alcohol on a paper towel on powered track cleans a whole lot easier & cleaner!
Because it's really not 'just as fast', it's about three times faster and you have nothing to clean up or throw away. Also, because with the Trix cleaners you can place them on the track anywhere on a layout, even a scenicked area. Also, because bottles of alcohol run out and you have to buy more. Also because I can't keep a bottle of alchohol around the club without it going missing, but that's not true of these cleaners for some reason. Yes, I worry about bad effects from abrasive cleaning, but so far I have not had a really bad experience and I really do find them much more convenient.
I have the Micro-Trains handheld unit, I use it on DCC, just dial up the address and set the speed to 50%. As far as any wear, the brushes on the unit I have are made of copper, which wears before the wheels. I have never had any wear from the brush. The wet method does work but the loco wheels against the railheads could cause damage, because the nickel silver rails are as hard as the wheels.
