Does anyone have issues running a CMX cleaning car over a rerailer track? And how did you solve it? Sanding down the middle brown portion of the track?
I have several wood plank crossings and some are styrene. I bevel the approaches to reduce the chance of any “dragging equipment” getting snagged on them, including the fabric of the CMX cleaning pad.
I don’t have any plastic rerailers but if I recall, they come to a point. You should bevel the leading edges of these points.
Bevel the edges I’ve highlighted here, especially that point:
Run the CMX over the rerailer by hand until you don’t feel any snags anymore. A little resistance over the “Planking” shouldn’t cause a problem.
Be sure your cleaning pad is replaced often and that it is clipped so that it is snug against the brass backing plate.
Good Luck, Ed
I have two Atlas rerailers and I haven’t had any problems running my CMX. All three are quite old. The rerailers are at least 30 years old and I think I bought my CMX in the late 90s or very early 2000s.
EDIT:
Both rerailers are in hidden track and I would have to pull a cover panel to see if they have a tapered point but if you would like to know for sure I can pull the panel and take a look.
Mel
Ed, thanks for the tip, I will go ahead and bevel the rerailers where you indicate. I wash the fabric after each use and when it appears to be worn out, I will cut another piece off the roll that came with the car.
Mel, I appreciate the offer but I do not think that kind of effort on your part is necessary.
The longer I put off buying one of these, the more they cost. [%-)]
Mike.
Mike, they are on sale at ModelTrainStuff. Just got mine a few days ago.
OK, that’s $10. cheaper than the guy on Ebay.
Thanks Bearman.
Mike.
Recheck it Mike, it is 30$ off.
I’ve had mine for a long time, I think I paid around $70 for my CMX.
Mel
My Model Railroad
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
Bakersfield, California
I’m beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
Gee, thanks Mel [(-D] Now I feel better. You didn’t happen to grab an extra one, did you? [(-D]
Mike.
But, Mike, Mel’s was purchased with yesterday’s dollars. In 2018 dollars, Mel’s car cost 105$.
Yea, I suppose when Mel bought his, $70 was a lot of money for a car. $70 would have been a lot of money for a loco! depending on when he purchased it.
Oh well, I’ll get over it.
I like a little glass of top shelf whiskey, every once in a while, and I’m NOT about to add up what that cost over a few years time. [:O] [(-D]
Mike.
I have a few styrene grade crossings, painted as pavement in gray. When I run the CMS over them, using lacquer thinner as the solvent, sometimes it takes the paint off.
Turns out that beveling the points of the rerailers was not enough. I ran a sanding block over the top of the entire rerailer between the rails and was able to remove just enough material to allow the cleaning car to glide over it without stopping.
I also have some painted styrene crossings and I am taking note if the lacquer thinner I am using in the car is stripping off the paint. so far, so good. Eventually, I suspect I will switch over to denatured alcohol which I use when I clean the tracks using elbow grease.
Does the pad get frayed out? causing snags?
Mike.
The material that came with my CMX is like a velour or velvet so nothing to snag.
EDIT:
I might add that I’ve only changed the material once since I bought it. A simple cleaning with a slightly stiff brush using the cleaning ACT-6006 track cleaning fluid makes it look like new.
I’m sold on ACT-6006 for cleaning my track with my CMX, works great and the fluid doesn’t attack anything but the crud on the track. It also cleans the wheels if I run it a dozen or so laps. The wheels look like new.
Mel
My
I just got my CMX last week and have run it 4/5 times and no snagging. It just seems that the middle part of the rerailer was a little higher than the rails which caused the cleaning car to stop. I have reused the same pad and my experience is the same as Mel’s so far, although I am going to look into ACT 6006.
Wow bearman, 4 to 5 times in a week! you must have the cleanest track around! [(-D]
I do want one of those cars, just going have to bite the bullet, as they say and do it. I have a couple of the short covered hopper variety. They work OK, but…some times it’s an extra hassle because both of them have my home made pad on the bottom, as the original equipment is long gone.
Clean on! Good luck with yours bearman!
Mike.
Mike, the track was pretty gunked up to begin with and, with my club showing up on Saturday for our monthly meeting at my house, I wanted to make sure it was clean. I dreaded the thought of a couple of days of elbow grease labor. Check the retailers that are on line, it looks like you can score a CMX at less than MSRP.
PS: If I can spend money on a gizmo that makes life easier, I’ll do it. But I admit to being in your camp about the cost of a CMX and finally bit the bullet.
Wonder why the CMX had trouble on this layout? I had about 8 of the Atlas re-railers and it never got snagged. Curious because the trackwork on that layout was … not good and I had all kinds of problems. The only thing the CMX did was clean the paint off the center part.
Are newer Atlas re-railers made differently than ones from 1970?
Well, that CMX is the best track cleaning car I have. Enjoy it.