Engine Cleaning

[weinschenksk]

Well, I finally got the nerve to tear done a locomotive…I chose one where I know the power is getting to the motor but it does not run so I’ve overcome that ‘mechanics’ block."

Now I think I need to tear down all of these locos and givbe them a good cleaning…I’ve read everything from spray it with WD-40 to using a solvent to using desatured alcohol to using isopropyl alcohol…

My questions…which is most effective clearner to clear out all of the accummulated crud?..and can I just immerse the entire loco (with shell removed)…and let it soak?..then clea it with some small brushes…

I look forward to your always helpful replies…

Sam

[cudaken]

Sam, what kind of engines is it anyway?

My self, on trucks I open them up (take notes and or pictures) and soak the parts in Dawn dish soap and water, and the use a tooth brush to clean. Metal side frames I use a fine grit sand paper (220 or so) to clean any rust out of contact points.

Motors where you can see the brushes, I use electrical contact cleaner. If the armature is still nasty looking hook up to a power supply and either clean with a pencil eraser or if you happen to have 1000 grit or finer sand paper use it. Run the motor and apply slight pressure. Clean again with the contact cleaner.

If it happens to be a old Athearn, is a link for you.

http://www.mcor-nmra.org/Publications/Articles/Athearn_TuneUp.html

Sorry it not a live link. Have not figured out how to do it using Fire Fox as the browser.

Cuda Ken

[doctorwayne]

Sam, what kind of engines is it anyway?

My self, on trucks I open them up (take notes and or pictures) and soak the parts in Dawn dish soap and water, and the use a tooth brush to clean. Metal side frames I use a fine grit sand paper (220 or so) to clean any rust out of contact points.

Motors where you can see the brushes, I use electrical contact cleaner. If the armature is still nasty looking hook up to a power supply and either clean with a pencil eraser or if you happen to have 1000 grit or finer sand paper use it. Run the motor and apply slight pressure. Clean again with the contact cleaner.

If it happens to be a old Athearn, is a link for you.

Athearn

Sorry it not a live link. Have not figured out how to do it using Fire Fox as the browser.

Cuda Ken

Ken, I brought your link to life, using Firefox, by typing it with thusly, with the changes shown in a larger font:

url=http://www.mcor-nmra.org/Publications/Articles/Athearn_TuneUp.html]Athearn[/url]

There has to be another [ preceding the first url but if I had typed it in, you’d be reading it only as it is in your quoted message. [(-D]

The word Athearn , by the way, could be anything, and it would still take you to the linked site.

Wayne

[dstarr]

Plastic shells and the like can be cleaned in hot soapy water, with a following clear water rinse. For built up grease and crud, any solvent is strong enough to cut it. Alcohol is good, it’s the least active solvent out there and the least likely to eat paint or plastic. And it evaporates completely and doesn’t leave an oily film. Mineral spirits, otherwise known as paint thinner or charcoal lighter is just as safe. It does leave a slight oily film, but that’s a good thing for metal parts.

Keep the motor dry. Moisture or solvent will get into the windings and stay there. Neither are good for the insulation. Keep oil off the commutator, and oil motor bearings sparingly to keep the oil in the bearings and off the commutator. Googone is good for cleaning the black oxidation off commutators.

Locomotives with plastic gear boxes and plastic gears (Athearn!!) often have tiny bits of plastic flash loose inside the gear boxes. That makes the locomotive noisy. Take the gearbox apart, wash it, and wipe each tooth of each gear with a pipecleaner.