How do you guys do it? Also I’m looking at the Kadee “speedi” driver which is advertised to work for HOn3 to O. Is n gauge included in this range? Thanks
Yes, it will work on N Scale locos as well. Don’t press the bristles hard against the wheels, just rest them on the wheels. Otherwise you’ll scratch them. The spinning wheels will be gently cleaned very quickly.
Keep in mind that Speedy driver will only work on geared, driven wheels that have electrical pick up. Steam tender pick up wheels and such still need to be cleaned by hand. Some 6 axle diesels only have pick up on 4 axles. Don’t know if that brush is wide enough to reach two axles at the same time. Maybe Jeff can answer that one.
I thought about getting one, but it would be useless on half my fleet without running a few jumper wires.[2c]
I just power my motors directly and use Q-Tips with alcohol or Goof Off.
I use a combination.
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Kadee speedi driver (works great)
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Run the loco’s wheels on an alcohol drenched cloth on the track
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Run a CMX cleaner twice a month to keep the track clean (works fantastic)
And yes I’ve already gleamed my rails and I still have to use the aformentioned products.
The speedi-driver cleaner has a jumper wire that can be clipped to a tender pickup wheel to power such setups. Do not send DC power directly to a motor that has a DCC decoder connected to it. You’ll fry the decoder.
I use a paper towel wet with GooGone. Lay it on a piece of track. For locomotives put power on the track so the wheels turn. Slide the rotating wheels over the paper towel. This also works for cars. Just run the car back and forth over the towel by hand.
Now there’s something that will really tear up your loco wheels, having them spinning on the track. Don’t ask me how I know.
I invert my locos in a foam cradle, hook up the power-pack to the loco and tender wheels, then use a Q-tip saturated with alcohol. I have to do the tender wheels by hand, but the Q-tip gets the loco wheels nice and shiny while they’re spinning.
Tom [:)]
I never did get a straight answer from the decoder makers on this----do you guys mean you hook up a decoder-equipped loco to a DC power pack, or are you strictly speaking about DC locos?
I have one of those Kadee brush gizmos too, but wonder why I bought it since I don’t dare run a DCC loco with it. Or am I wrong?
You can use DC power to run a DCC loco, just don’t put the DC power straight to the motor. It must go through the decoder. In other words, DC power to brush, brush to wheels of DCC loco, yes. DC power connected straight to DCC locos motor, no, it will blow the decoder.
I have a section of track about 2ft long mounted on a scrap piece of wood. I spray the track with TV tuner cleaner (or you could use electrical cleaner and lube available at auto part stores) and run the loco back and forth a few times. Cleans the wheels nice and easy.
Otis:
My bad. I should have mentioned that I’m strictly DC.
Tom
This my wheel cleaner and what I use. Its worked for years for me.
Hello I have the loco wheel cleaning down I use the paper towel and alcohol. But what I would like to know is how do you clean your rolling stock wheels? Thanks Frank