Locomotive wheel cleaning

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I am new to HO railroading. I would like to enquire about some of the techniques people use here to clean locomotive wheels. I never thought about cleaning the wheels until a friend mentioned it to me. Any guidance would be appreciated.

Kev

2

I usually use 70% rubbing alcohol (do not use 90%, it strips paint if you get it on your fingers and you touch the painted shell).

Lay a paper towel on the tracks, and soak it in alcohol. Set the locomotive on the track and run one truck onto the towel. Hold the loco and run the throttle to 100%. Move the locomotive back and forth on the wet towel. You may have to repeat or move the towel if the wheels are really dirty. Turn the loco around and do the rear truck.

3

I do this also. However, I use WD-40 and only wet the paper towel where the truck will be on it.

4

spin the wheels about 30 seconds on dry paper towel.

5

I do it that way too. Alcohol works. I’ve also had good results with GooGone, especially on metal wheels. I would not use the more active solvents like lacquer thinner for fear of damaging plastic or paint.

6

Best to stick with paper towel and your good friend, rubbing alcohol. I use the same technique with the two, but in a much different way. Take a piece of paper towel and rip it in half to get two squares. Take one of the squares and place it on you track. Here is the debatable part. Tape the towel down. It works best if you own an all wheel drive loco, and a special spur or siding to place the towel. Taping it to your layout ensures you total control of the towel when powering the locomotive wheels, allowing your other hand to be on the controller, and not on the towel. It also can be reused, so you don’t waste paper. The technique allows you clean dry, or with a substance(I don’t recommend WD40) Then it’s really just straight on with the loco. Just place one truck on the towel and apply power. Ten seconds for each truck should be enough. If you still don’t understand this, check out this video I did. http://youtu.be/hIMaVO_1F2A

7

Here is a link to what we use…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiRCyQa3cM0

A bit pricey but…

Cheers, the Bear.