What is recommended to use to clean an engines wheels?
The best way that I have found to clean locomotive wheels is to dampen a part of a paper towel and lay it across the tracks. Then put half of the driving wheels on the wet part of the towel and start the locomotive so it will run / craw toward the towel. As it is running, hold the loco and keep pulling it back so the wheels wipe on the towel. Then turn the loco around and do the rest of the driving wheels the same way. I use either 90% Isopropyl Alcohol or WD-40. I lean towards WD-40 more.
Take a paper towel or some clean cloth and put some rubbing alcohol on it. Put power to your locomotive’s wheels and let them spin for a bit to clean. Then run the same wheels on a clean dry piece of paper towel or cloth and dry the wheels. that’s what works for me.
i’ve had good success with an alcohol soaked rag.
set the loco on the track with half of the wheels on the rag, let wheels spin til the gunk comes off (also slide loco back & forth a little on the rag, so all the gunk comes off). repeat for the remaining wheels.
If I were you, I’d stay away from the WD-40. I’ve heard that that stuff eats model train gears.
Here’s a nice little link that may explain my thinking. Its WD-40 on cleaning track, but still expresses the concerns about it and the plastic.
I use a Kadee Speedi Driver cleaner myself. I’ve heard some claim gloom and doom about them for scratching wheels but I’ve been using mine for many years and have yet to see a scratch. All it takes is just a slight pressure against the wheels. Maybe those who wail about the scratches tried to use it like a scrub brush.
I use the isopropyl alcohol and paper towel method too. Always works fine.
I have a locomotive ‘cradle’ that I use for cleaning wheels. I invert the locomotive and tender into the foam cradle, apply needed power and clean the wheels with a Q-tip and a 70% alcohol solution. Works very well for me.
Tom
I use denatured alcohol to clean wheels and track. I’ve found Isopropyl leaves a film – we are constantly cleaning the track at the club I belong to because our MOW crew has been using Isopropyl. One cleaning with denatured alcohol and we can go about a month or so between cleaning. Try it, you’ll like it.
Chuck
I will cast a second vote for denatured alcohol. IMHO, it is the only way to go.
Rich
Do not ever use a paper towel dampened with water.
Someone in one of these forums has said he is having trouble with a loco. He uses a dampened paper towel to clean the wheels.
He just did not mention he used water until I specifically asked him what he dampened the paper towel with . Sigh.
Rich
Stay away from WD-40, it will damage plastic parts.
Like a previous poster, I invert the locomotive in a foam cradle and attach alligator clips to the tender’s axles.
I use Q-tips dipped in acetone; the cleaning action is superior to alchohol and does not leave behind any residue. Acetone has a rapid evaporation rate and when used correctly will not damage the plastic parts of your models. That being said, do not use acetone on traction tires and use sparingly, a little goes a long way.
When using acetone always have proper ventilation.
I’ve been using the paper towel soaked in alcohol across the tracks method for years. I use the blue Shop Towels brand, they hold up very well. It’s fast and easy to do.
I also use the alcohol soaked towel method. However, I use cut up white cotton T-shirts. That way there’s little chance of paper fibers getting all over from paper towels.
Also, this method works great for diesel locomotives. I’m not sure how one would clean a steam loco.
Its all about the fine touch. I use British style steam engines and its all about getting everything lined up perfectly.
This is the cleaning track I use to clean my locomotive wheels.
Got the idea from a back issue of Model Railroader where slots are cut out along the rails of a couple Atlas rerailers. The handywipe strips are then put through the slots over the rails. The rerailers then hold the strips in place. I’ll wet one with alcohol or Goo Gone and leave the other dry. The track then gets powered by a couple feeder clips that go to the nearest track. When I get a chance, I’m going to make a YouTube video of how it works.
For more thorough cleaning (like when a locomotive needs servicing), I generally pull the wheels when I have the locomotive apart so that I can clean them by hand.
Kevin