Bouncy track cleaner

Having just acquired a TCL I'm very impressed with it so far. I run it on DCC. It doesn't appear to bounce at all and does a splendid job.

My understanding is that on analogue it isn't the cleaning wheel speed that you alter by turning the knob, but rather the loco speed relative to the cleaning wheels? Under DCC the cleaning wheels run full tilt all the time and you just run the loco slower or faster depending on whether you want a deep clean or just a light pass.

[edit]
from the TCL instructions (analogue mode):
"Hints:
- The speed of the track cleaning loco
is adjusted with the on-board speed
control. The layout speed control
always should be set to the highest
speed, so the cleaning wheels are
turning at maximum speed. "
[/edit]

Given the above, perhaps bouncing could be alleviated by NOT turning the controller up so high (to reduce the rotation speed of the cleaning wheels), but use the knob on the roof to increase/decrease the relative speed of the loco itself until you find the best combination? Folk on here always seem to say you need to spend time finding the cleaning speed that works best for your trackwork.

I don't have any probs at all with the TCL going slow over my LGB R5 points, but then again I've converted mine to live frog so nothing at all has a problem anyway :D
 
Interesting the that instructions also mention that the loco may not run smoothly when the rings are new (this is the opposite to the suggestions being made here to replace the rings to cure the bounciness?) LGB's suggestion is to try gluing the rings to the plastic guide wheels - anyone ever tried this?
 
There are a couple of points raised that I would like to comment further on
-Gradients
I cannot get to my LGB instructios for a while as they are all Packed up for moving. But I am sure that there is a warning that the Cleaner should only be cleaning DOWN the grades. Perhaps someone could confirm this. We always use it like this on the Ruschbahn.

-R5 Points and the cleaner stalling
The stalling on these by small locomotives is a real issue. In spite of the bit of metal in the grove of the frog, this has to be cleaned for satisfactory running. We even have problems with LGB Corpets on R5 points.

JonD
 
dunnyrail said:
There are a couple of points raised that I would like to comment further on
-Gradients
I cannot get to my LGB instructios for a while as they are all Packed up for moving. But I am sure that there is a warning that the Cleaner should only be cleaning DOWN the grades. Perhaps someone could confirm this. We always use it like this on the Ruschbahn.


JonD
Click to expand...

The instructions do mention gradients but only in the 'back-emf' section where it states that the 'back-emf' will allow the cleaner to negotiate changes in load (such as inclines) and keep a set speed as long as the motor is not running at full speed already. The'back-emf' works in DCC and in analogues modes

Also it says that new wheels 'may' cause vibration. Obviously there are those of us who have been lucky with our new wheels. Of course one small spot of oil on a grinding wheel, or a small spot of damp will cause even new wheels to have uneven friction and then vibrate or cause the cleaning section to bounce. That is why the loco must not be used on any track that is wet or has dew etc.
 
beavercreek said:
That is why the loco must not be used on any track that is wet or has dew etc.
Click to expand...
Also it will produce a really sticky nasty paste that gunges around the wheels, along the railhead and sprayed around the inside of the body.
 
The cleaning wheels sometimes are not round


I clean mine
wheels, axles, plastic threads, dust and reverse the tires -this is critical

And i have reversed the motor
This all helps
 
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