When doing a quick on the spur of the moment locomotive wheel cleaning (at an operations session, etc.) is the use of rubbing alcohol on a Q tip safe to use on traction tires? Will it
dry them out and lead to cracking, disintegration, etc.? I have Athearn Big Boy and a Challenger if that makes any specific difference.
Thank You
I’ve done with no apparent harm. One time I guess about a year ago, I accidently got some oil underneath a traction tire, between the wheel and the tire, and I washed it out with rubbing alchohol. I think repeated use of alchohol on a rubber tire might do harm, but once isn’t something to worry about.
Jim
I use a Q tip dampened with alcohol. I do not saturate the tire.
Rich
I used alcohol to clean loco wheels on the old Bachmann pancake motor trucks. They used traction tires. I never noted any damage to them.
It works fine. Just don’t soak them in it for long periods of time.
Thanks guys. I was maybe going to use it tomorrow at a session as I ran my new locos on a friend’s layout
and his track was quite dirty. (He just finished laying.) Eventually, I’ll get a cleaning station set up (maybe the Micro Mark one) but
thought I might have to clean 'em tomorrow and didn’t want to cause any damage. These are my lst traction tires ever.
There’s also printing products like this.
http://www.generalgraphic.com/rejuvenator.htm
This stuff is great on rubber and would really increase your traction. You could probably get a local quick printer to sell you a little bottle of it for a few bucks. DON’T get it on plastic!!
Just a litte tip, but take it with all the appropriate cautions!!!
If you want to make your tires a bit stickier, use a weeeee bit of DEET (Deep Woods Formula Off) on your tire surface. You want to just wipe it on and then dab what you can off. This will make the rubber stickier. Unfortunately, it will also accelerate the demise of the tire insert by a little.
-Crandell
Since you’re using the rubbing alcohol to clean the wheels and promote better electrical contact, why bother cleaning wheels with tires that don’t contribute to that electrical contact anyway? I say no, unless you plan on replacing the traction tires long before they’re needed.
Tom
Thanks Tom. I considered that, actually…just figured they might eventually gum up enough to make things wobble? I think you’re right about leaving them until needed though.
Selector (Crandell) , thanks, I’ll keep that tip in mind for the really big grades 
and to hold down the mosquitoes in my “magic water” swamps :-0