I have many Athearn units and I am seeking a way
2 keep the wheeles more clean. I have used a wheel cleaner with some success. Any other
suggestions.
To be honest, I like Andy Sperandeo’s suggestion of changing the wheeels with some from North West Short Line. In the long run I’m sure it’s the best solution. Having said that, here’s something you might want to try.
It’s been a long time since I’ve purchased an Athearn unit. At that time, they were using something called sintered metal for their wheels. I had a lot of problems with them picking up layers of dirt and I found I was spending too much time cleaning them. I decided to try something. I took the wheels out and put the axles in a drill. While I spun them, I used a Bright Boy to poli***he treads. They actually polished up to a good shine. I still found I had to clean them from time to time, but not nearly as often.
Glen
Here are three ideas.
MR Feb 02 edition.
http://ttx-dcc.com/technews/clean_machine.htm
Thats with a underscore_line between clean_machine.
http://www.ttx.dcc.com/technews/cmx_chemist_review.htm
Two underscore_lines, 1st between cmx_chemist
2nd between chemist_review.
My Dad and I use a product called “GOO-GONE” with a high degree of success:
1)Apply small drop to each rail with tip of finger,
2)run loco over spot at wheelslip speed,
3)wipe rails with a cloth after cleaning. (dirtier wheels may require successive cleanings, loco’s with idle wheelsets may need be cleened manualy with GOO-GONE+cloth or rag.)
Good luck and enjoy,
Cosmo
I like to replace the wheels on Athearn units with NorthWest Short Line nickel silver wheels. they’re easier to clean and stay clean longer. They’re also made in both 40" and 42" diameters, so for first-generation EMDs you can replace Athearn’s 42" wheels with the correct size.
So long,
Andy Sperandeo
MODEL RAILROADER Magazine
I use a similar technique, (with a fancy wheel cleaner from the train shop), but I put the cleaner on a paper towel or J cloth and run the loco onto that. Spin the wheels on the cleaner and then spin them some more on a dry bit of towel. Turn the loco around and do the other truck. This really only works if you have pickup from both trucks.
Do a similar process with all your cars, but this time just roll the wheels through the spot of cleaner and then back and forth on the dry towel. Move the towel a bit when you can see black marks appearing.
Watch that you don’t snag couplings or underbody details on the towel; sometimes you need three hands.
I have a small hand held brass bru***hat i have ran two wires down the each side of the brush and hook up power and run my athean until the wheels are clean.
I took a 2’ piece of 1" x 4" board nailed a 15" pc. of HO and N scale flex track to it, soldered wires to each track and crimped terminals on the other end to attach to an old power pack, wet a small piece of an old tee shirt rag with denatured alcohol lay it accross the track place one truck on the rail the other on the wet rag turm the power up to about 50% and watch the black crud come off, do the same for all trucks the run them on a dry pc of tee shirt rag, roll your cars over the same way back and forth wet then dry, I model both HO & N . Don’t like to use the track on my layouts for this to much scenery. I had bought on of those electric wire brush units but I was advised not to use it as it makes fine scratches in metal wheels that will collect more dirt so I returned it. I also clean my track with denatured alcohol on a pc. of old tee shirt.
Hope this helps
Beeline