Is there a product to clean 3-rail engine wheels easily? If not what would be the best method for cleaning otherwise?
This may not be close to the best (not the safest) method- Years ago on my diesels I would lay a paper towel moistened with isopropyl alcohol on the track. Then run one powered truck onto the towel, while holding the engine from moving. The other truck would draw the AC to run a motor, spinning the first one on the towel. Boxcab E50
You're not crazy for doing it though. I've seen other people suggest this and I didn't think it would be smart to do. But if it works then I might give it a try.
My only fear would be possibly of the paper igniting. But it never did. Cloth would likely be somewhat safer. The one other potential might be if you had traction tires, if the alcohol could effect that material. I suppose there is a non-toxic, non-flammable cleaner available these days. Your local hardware store might have a suggestion? boxcab E50
Cleaning fluid I'd bet Lionel or MTH would make some sort of cleaner for engines. I do have tractions tires on the engine so alchohol probably wouldn't be a good idea.
I've done this quite often. The alcohol doesn't seem to affect the traction tires. I have never had the alcohol ignite. I have also done this with HO locomotives. With the number of delicate detail arts on todays locomotives, its not practical to put the locomotives upside down in a foam cradle to clean the wheels. Oil seems to affect traction tires more than anything. Cleaning with alcohol should help clear some of that oil off the rubber.
cleaning Thats good to hear that it doesn't affect rubber. I've also heard that alcohol can deteriorate paint from the shell. Is this true?
I don't know how old your engines are, but in my early train collecting and as a youth, I used alcohol on one of my engine shells (plastic) and it did remove paint. As for a liquid for cleaning wheels, a friend of mine uses "Goo Gone" on a paper towel as Box cab suggested. He's an O scale 2 rail operator and doesn't have traction tires to worry about. I can atest to the fact it works. Greg
Cleaned Engine I did finally get around to cleaning the engine and the wheels are grime free. I used isopropyl alchohol. Now I am also interested in getting a car to clean the track. What is a good track cleaner for O?
I'd have to say Center Line track cleaners. Off hand I don't have a link for them. I'll root around and check a couple magazines to get it. They use Goo Gone for their track cleaning solution. Another track cleaner is called Aztec. They have two type, one that uses Goo Gone on a rolling cylinder and a strip of paper towel and another with an abrasive wheel the is set at a slight angle to keep it from rolling easily and it scrubs the track. I've seen a couple home made ones which are rectangular particle board that slide on the track and do ok. Those are in HO. What brand of track are you using? Greg
Ok, the reason I asked was I don't know how well the track cleaners work on the MTH Scale track with the thin middle rail. I am a 2 rail runner myself and hand clean my temporary layouts when I set them up. Alcohol, rag and two fingers. Greg
I use Simple Green. It does the job. For traction tires I'm gittin' away from the rubber band tire thing. I 'm using black silcone for traction. Just fill up the groove scrap it even with the rim and let dry. So far I'm having good results........................ hev
I'm not too sure if Lionel has these on the market, but if I were you I would try to find yourself one of those track cleaning cars by Lionel. They have two tubes of cleaning solution on the back that you pour somewhere into the car (I think) and then the car does all the cleaning for you.
I use the CMX Clean Machine on my track (O Gauge). This is a brass "tank car" which will hold any cleaning solution you wish to add. It comes with a strip of cleaning pads and a syringe for adding the solution to the car. The syringe has a plastic tube that fits in the hole of the car. The car itself has space for two cleaning pads underneath it, one of which can be used as a "wet" cleaner. It lies beneath a drip hole in the car. The car itself is quite expensive, but I believe that is the cost of the brass. It is quite heavy as well. I got mine at Tony's Trains (www.TonysTrains.com) for about $260.
With the engine upside down with some type of support (so it doesn't tip over), I have attached transformer leads with alligator clips, one to the pick up roller and the other to some place on the truck. Powered up the engine then used isopropyl alcohol with shop paper towels to clean the wheels while they are turning. I am always amazed as to how dirty they have become. Larry B.
