I’ve acquired several Marx and Lionel engines and they have some rust on them. Can this be cleaned? If so, How? Also there is rust on some track, same question. Can it be cleaned?
Joe[?]
I’ve cleaned rust off of old locos with great results using just a fine grain finger nail file. Could you be more specific about where the rust is? Drive rods, linkages, pick up assemblies, etc.
Jim
Welcome!
Depends how bad the rust is, is it all the way thru the track? If so get new track! However you will want to try to salvage switches or cross-overs and uncoupling tracks as these cost more to replace. What color are the track ties holding the rails together?
Try some WD-40 or 3 in 1 oil for the locomotives, try scraping the dirt off the wheels with a small flat-tip screwdriver until you get most of the dirt off then use a pencil eraser to further clean the wheels.
Lee F. in West Palm Beach FL.
Depending on how bad the rust is on the wheels of the locomotices… try taking useing a dremel or bench grinder (what i use), with a wire bru***o remove the rust.
WD40 and sandpaper can also be used for the fine detailed work.
If you can, post up some pictures.
Where is the rust? Inside or out?
Clean it off the wheels with fine sand paper also the track. DO NOT use steel wool. Messes up the engine.
You can on old engines wa***hem with soap and water and it wont hurt them just be sure to dry them out over a low heat sourse like a furnace register.
I use dish washing soap and a tooth brush. They run like new cleaned this way , dried then lubricated with sewing machime iol. 3 in 1 oil is OK but singer oilhas a lower viscosity.
If they are cheap of inexpensive engines like Marx 333 or 666’s and some old Lionel starter set engines such as 0-4-0 or 2-4-0, ect you can sand them a bit and spay bank them if they look bad. The shells being non ferris wont rust but they will oxidize and turn white.