Track Cleaning

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

What is the best way to clean DCC track? I have been told not to use Goo-Gone. I need some Ideas.

2

If you’re HO, then please use MAAS, a 2oz metal tube cleaner for $3.18 cents. Usually found in the house hold cleaning products section.
Also see www.maasinc.com
This prodeuct put my $99.99 Tony’s clean machine out of business and is up for sale.

3

MR also had a Jan 03 review on metal cleaners.
Fuuny, IMO, it’s the best and LHS haven’t picked up on it.

4

I have tried a lot of methods. Centerlines car works really well and so does Goo Gone. Goo gone is available in Wal mart and Ace hardware.

5

Why not Goo-Gone? Centerline recommends it for use in their track cleaners. I also use it (by hand) and it works fine.

6

John,
Dsose the goo gone mess up anything with DCC?

7

Some of teh people in my club have said it messed up their DCC. I have used it for the last three years and just installed DCC. Do you know of any issues?

Thanks
Mike

8

How are you using this product? My lay out is quit large and I would like to claen the track during operating sissions.

Thanks
Mike

9

There are many different cleaners.
The brite boys, the liquid ones, the paste and the car cleaners.
I have used rubbing alcohol @.79 cents a bottle,
denatured alcohol, nail polish remover, Wahl clipper
cleaner, QD aerosol electrical contact cleaner, goo gone and the most expensive, act-6006 at a buck an ounce.
Traded up from the $64.00 centerline car cleaner, www.centerline-products.com to the superior $99.00 Tony’s clean machine http://www.ttx-dcc.com/technews/clean_machine.htm

They ALL work.

I traded up to the clean machine because it’s the best but my layout isn’t that big. That was an over kill. I now regularly use the MAAS paste and park my Tony car on a siding. It’s now up for sale.

Some modlers use two centerlines as part of a work
track crew.
One for liquid application and the second for wiping.
You have a good selection available depending upon your requirements.

10

I run in DC, so I can’t speak for DCC (if there is any difference for track cleaning - seems odd if there is).

Maybe they ran their DCC loco’s before the solution dried and it caused a short? I’m just guessing as maybe DCC systems are more sensitive to these things?

11

I not DCC either and I will never know the answer but I have seen other forum members claim that products such as Act 3753 & 3003 by aero-locomotive works makes the following claim. "Recommended for enhancing ALL electrical contact areas, brushes,commutators, wheel & chassis wipers etc.

That would also apply after a track is cleaned by what ever product you first apply but comes at a stiff price. http://wwww.tttrains.com/aerocar/

A cheaper alternative that I picked up from Menards/home depot is , electrical grade, QD Contact Cleaner, a 11 ounce aerosol spray can for $5.00 bucks or so.

We all have to remember one important element;
no cleaner will prevent metal oxidation. It’s a natural chemical metal reaction. Preventive action will
slow it down and IMO MAAS coating fulfills that
requirement.

12

Mike The Goo Gone is the BEST product I have used for cleaning track. My Digitrax system works flawlessly and I attribute it to the Centerline car and Goo Gone. I run my cleaning car about once a month and have no problems with it. You may need to clean more often and since its so simple, I’d say once a week would be ideal.
John

13

Another product out there is called Flitz. It is a non-toxic metal polish. I bought a tube for my layout and I couldn’t believe the results! It’s been at least two months and I can’t see any oxidation or dirt build up yet.

Terry

14

i use the old centerline cars with the handi-wipes saturated with goo-gone. i use 4 cars,two with goo-gone and two dry. i pull them not pu***hem. if you keep rotating your cleaning cloth it will do a great job. the biggest mistake people make is not changing the cloth when it gets dirty. if you don’t it will lay the dirt back down. i have a medium size layout 17 by 22 feet and double decked. if you change the cloth reguarly your track will sparkle. i run dcc.

15

That Flitz, www.flitz-polish.com along with the Maas, www.maasinc.com were written up in MR Jan 03.

Here again it bears repeating: for N scale, because of the 4 to 4 1/2 oz loco weight, there will be slippage problems especially up a grade.

16

I’ve heard good things about Flitz too. I keep looking for it at my local Home Depot, but it’s never in stock (maybe there are a lot of other MRR’s in the area with the same idea?).

I’ll gladly give up Goo-Gone to keep the tracks cleaner for longer. As it is, I clean them by hand.

17

I use a Model Power cleaning car from time to time, and sometimes, when I really want to do some cleaning and good cloth was 99% rubbing alcohol[^]

18

I’ve heard that Goo Gone leaves a nasty residue that must itself be removed with alcohol. Personally, I have been using Radio Shack TV Tuner Cleaner and Lubricant with excellent results. But, I plan to Maas my layout before taking it to the Tallahassee Model Railroad Show on July 19th and see how that works.

I note yet another Atlas refugee on here, Welcome, Kent.[:o)]

19

Goo Gone is a multi purpose cleaner and as in the application of MAAS, requires clean cloth
wiping up.

Some liquid cleaners, Act 3003,3753, QD electrical contact cleaner & perhaps the radio shack
may leave residue that enhances electrical operation. This could be especially important to DCC
operations.

I have used the MAAS on loco wheels that haven’t been cleaned in 33 years. Woks for me.Meantime my .
Tony’s clean machine is out of work and seeking a new owner.