How to clean Aristocraft power pickup wheels

nico

nico

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Hi all my Aristo craft rs3 is not runing so good ,the wheels look like they need a good cleaning ,what you use to clean them i have smoke fluid on hand but i think they need more than it:bigsmile:
 
Hi Nico - I use Meths on a cotton bud on my Rogers loco and tender and on the couple of power blocks in scratchbuilds. Its surprising how much dirt comes off.

Mick
 
Nico ,

I bought some of the track cleaning material same as the LGB track cleaning loco wheels

http://www.massoth.com/index.en.html
Product reference Cleaning Pads for LGB 50050
Put power to the wheels through a spare peace of track or wires and let it rub against the wheels .

Or i have seen people with the OO brush cleaners .
 
I just wonder if the LGB cleaner is abrasive - if so it will take a micro layer away of that plating on your wheels. I use meths because it is alcohol and evaporates - it really does disolve the crud - I only use abrasive methods as a last resort. The brushes seem a better idea.
 
I second the methylated spirits approach.  Avoid anything abrasive on wheels and track.  Very fine scoring can result when abrading metals which, in turn, generally promotes a quicker build up of 'crud'. 

That was another disadvantage of curtailing National Service: subsequent generations have never learned the art of cleaning metals - particularly brass.   :rolf: 
 
This will be one of those posts...
I switched from brass track to nickel silver... no need to clean anything, and no need for skates either.

That said, ethanol on cotton.
 
I agree with not using abrasives if possible - the thin chrome layer will wear off soon enough anyway but abrasives will speed the process. I have succesfully used meths and a j cloth for the last few years.

My meths has just run out and now I'm going to use isopropylalcohol. This has been recommended to me by a guy who repairs 00 locos for a living. He also uses it to remove transfers. Sounds like pretty useful stuff.

How do you get it? From your local chemists but they will probably have to order it for you.
 
Hello
I have found that the Kadee wheel cleaner is a good starting point. I have hooked it up to a power supply to get the wheels revolving and then use a cleaning pad supplied by Martins Models to actually clean the wheels. Works every time with no real abrasive effect on the wheels.

Bill
 
trammayo said:
I just wonder if the LGB cleaner is abrasive - if so it will take a micro layer away of that plating on your wheels. I use meths because it is alcohol and evaporates - it really does disolve the crud - I only use abrasive methods as a last resort. The brushes seem a better idea.
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Where do you get your Meths Mick
 
Chris M said:
My meths has just run out and now I'm going to use isopropylalcohol. This has been recommended to me by a guy who repairs 00 locos for a living. He also uses it to remove transfers. Sounds like pretty useful stuff.

How do you get it? From your local chemists but they will probably have to order it for you.
Click to expand...

Yes , Isopropynol is good too - I used to procure it for a council department that used it in an ultrasonic tank fior cleaning smoke alarms.

Mick
 
Hi Nico - i got it from the local builders supplies but I think you can still get it from the pharmacy.

Mick
 
No - its too oily (if you mean turps substitite or the white spirit which is sharper). I've tried poteen but you need a high alcohol content really. Steve mention brushes which would loosen any stuborn dirt. I just soak the cotton bed well, and as soon as it gets dark, use the other end and get another until it remains clean.

I've often thought that dirty wheels can cause pitting on the wheel tread as the current might arc to make contact and so errode the surface. But then I'm as guilty as the next man - only cleaning wheels when the loco behaves as it shouldn't.

Mick

PS - the idea od powering the loco as Steve mentioned is a good one. As most of mine are steam outline I just lay the loco on its back and put a couple of crocodile clips (with wires of course) to the pony truck from an old OO gauge transformer/controller.
 
nico said:
, Isopropynol
Click to expand...

Did you ever try paint spirits
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I think paint spirits can leave a residue so I wouldn't suggest using them (this from my OO experience).

I used 'Lighter fluid' (available from most newsagents) to clean the crud off my Bachy 0-4-0 gas engine wheels. No residue, very economical and available on the High Street.
 
trammayo said:
No - its too oily (if you mean turps substitite or the white spirit which is sharper). I've tried poteen but you need a high alcohol content really. Steve mention brushes which would loosen any stuborn dirt. I just soak the cotton bed well, and as soon as it gets dark, use the other end and get another until it remains clean.

I've often thought that dirty wheels can cause pitting on the wheel tread as the current might arc to make contact and so errode the surface. But then I'm as guilty as the next man - only cleaning wheels when the loco behaves as it shouldn't.

Mick

PS - the idea od powering the loco as Steve mentioned is a good one. As most of mine are steam outline I just lay the loco on its back and put a couple of crocodile clips (with wires of course) to the pony truck from an old OO gauge transformer/controller.
Click to expand...

Thanks mick,will have a look around town for some meths,ill keep the poteen for other uses;)
 
Isopropyly alcohol = Isopropanol = ethanol I think? from your pharmacy, at least you can get it from them here!
 
New Haven Neil said:
Isopropyly alcohol = Isopropanol = ethanol I think? from your pharmacy, at least you can get it from them here!
Click to expand...

There's always cheap (no flavour added) vodka or even moonshine :party:
 
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