So. as I previously posted regarding those old Athearn motor mounts, I am undertaking a rehab on an old Athearn BB 4-wheel switcher. I am following the John Shaw/ Bill Anderson article " The Athearn Maintenance and Upgrade", which is, I believe, still available online. I have cleaned parts before using 91 alcohol and dish detergent, to get rid of old grease and such before lubrication and reassembly- nothing new there. But…I am cleaning THIS set of parts with that “Super Clean” stuff I have mentioned on this forum before. I get it in the large purple bottle size at WalMart in the Automotive section for about $5.00 a bottle. I have used this solution for removing stubborn old paint from car and diesel shells with great success, particularly with ancient paint jobs. All of a sudden, today, I get an epiphany! “Hey- how about using it to clean those parts you were going to dump in an alcohol bath?” So, in they went and I am on my way. This Super Clean has no bad effect on any plastic- even old stuff from the 1960s- and will not harm the acetal plastic gears and gearboxes I am working on right now. I will follow this with regular warm, then cold water rinse to remove the cleaner residue. I must be getting a bit of senioritis, not to have thought of this beforehand, but you’re never to old to learn. Try it, you’ll like it (as the old commercial used to say)! Cedarwoodron
Cedar,
Does the Super Clean have an odor and do you think it would be good for cleaning the rails??
Bob
It has a decent cleaning solution odor and dissolves grease “on contact” as per the label AND my humble experience. I have not thought of it as a rail cleaner, but that might be best done with rag where you put the solution on it first, then wipe down the rails. I would follow with a dampened rinsing rag of window cleaner. Good idea! Cedarwoodron
CedarwoodRon,
Thanks for posting this. I have several P2K locomotives that are in new condition and have very little run time, but because they’ve been sitting in their boxes for about 5 years, the gear assemblies need to be completed cleaned and relubed.
Additionally, recently a former coworker gave me a 1970s Athearn BB SW-9. The body, which is in the Southern Pacific orange and black scheme, is in good shape. However the drive is so completely caked with dirt that I think most modelers would toss it. But I’m going to attempt to save it.
I normally use 91% alcohol or an aeresol product like CRC, but I’ll drop by “Wallyworld” and get a container of the Super Clean. I like to try out and compare products as I’m always looking for a better way to get things done.
Merry Christmas and High Greens[8D]
That sounds interesting. I’m gonna have to give it a try. I disassemble and rebuild quite a few old (some could be called ancient) locos that have lube that’s dried and hardened to the consistency of granite.