lgb track cleaning loco.

delivery of oblivion

delivery of oblivion

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Hello Folks,
For me the biggest downside to this great hobby,is track cleaning.On my layout it is a pain in the neck,and as time goes on,i can see the only way forward is an LGB Track cleaning loco.Are they still available brand new ? Are they any good ? I understand there were different versions ? Interesting to see the thread about changing the wheels,on this loco.Does that mean that LGB no longer make them ?
Any thoughts,viewpoints on these engines please ?
It amazes me that no other company seems to make these type of locos,a bit cheaper than LGB.I know that Aristo have the track cleaning caboose.I have one,but find they are only any good to "Top up" the cleanliness of track,which needs to be quite clean in the first place.I have added xtra weight to mine as well.Anyhow,just enquiring about this loco.
Cheers
Ade
 
Hi Ade
I bought one from e-bay and it's been great what a difference in the track and the cleaning wheels are very easy to change.
Great bit of kit recommended. :D
 
I'm with Nico on this - got one of the red ones on ebay at quite a decent price. Works great.
 
Many thanks Folks......I thought they were a lot more than £475.Do LGB Still make them new ?
Ade
 
If you are really lucky - under £300 on ebay for a good one. Pay by paypal and if its no good send it back - paypal are very good at refunds.
 
Thanks Alan,thats interesting to know what a good price would be.Is there much difference between the Orange and Yellow versions ? I`m definitely getting one.I figure the price is worth it,in terms of years ahead of no hassle cleaning.

Ade
 
and yes. They are still available new.
If you do a forum search (top right of page) for 'track cleaner' or 'cleaning wheels', you will find loads of information on these machines.
 
Ade, do you need a DCC fitted one or just analogue DC? I get the impression that the ones available brand new are all DCC fitted, whereas in the past you could get DC ones so you'd expect a 2nd hand DC model to be cheaper than 2nd hand DCC version on ebay etc.

I bought a DCC fitted one from a GSC member. I must admit I'm impressed with its capabilities, though you should still be prepared to do some manual cleaning first on really grotty track.
 
Hi Nick,
Just an analogue one,but its an interesting thought,when looking out on e bay.Will need to ask the seller,if they have not specified.There`s a yellow loco finishing on e bay tonight for £400 ,provided no one bids higher.(No bids last time i looked)Its 26 quid postage on top.May as well go for the brand new one at that price.
Thanks
Ade
 
Yeah, I saw that one. I agree, might as well buy brand new.
When I was looking I set a limit of around £350 for a 2nd hand DCC fitted one.
 
the track cleaning loco is superb, period-they really work -out of the box
even if you have to pay full freight-
i would mention however that you want to avoid one that has been abused-certain internal parts are hard to come by

they seem rather pricey until you get one

its a revelation, like sliced bread or a dishwasher-'how did i ever not have this?'

read the threads here-they will educate you a great deal based on other's use

never leave it unwatched
make sure it never suffers a voltage spike
keep it clean
thats about it

do NOT add weight the floating cleaning section-loco maybe, but not the section with the cleaning wheels-
you will ruin the grinding transmission
 
Thanks for the added info.Oh by the way,what sort of power plant is required for these.Will they run off 1 Amp,or would it need 5 amp or more,analogue controller ?
Thanks
Ade
 
delivery of oblivion said:
Thanks for the added info.Oh by the way,what sort of power plant is required for these.Will they run off 1 Amp,or would it need 5 amp or more,analogue controller ?
Thanks
Ade
Click to expand...
They need lost of amps & plenty of volts. More than a 1 amp controller is capable of dishing out.
//
 
dutchelm said:
delivery of oblivion said:
Thanks for the added info.Oh by the way,what sort of power plant is required for these.Will they run off 1 Amp,or would it need 5 amp or more,analogue controller ?
Thanks
Ade
Click to expand...
They need lost of amps & plenty of volts. More than a 1 amp controller is capable of dishing out.


//
Click to expand...
I thought it would probably need some power.I tend to use 1 amp controllers,but have a Helmsman 5 amp one as well,which i use for some of my "USA Trains" locomotives,that draw more power.Would this be ample for the LGB Track cleaner ?
Cheers
Ade
 
delivery of oblivion said:
dutchelm said:
delivery of oblivion said:
Thanks for the added info.Oh by the way,what sort of power plant is required for these.Will they run off 1 Amp,or would it need 5 amp or more,analogue controller ?
Thanks
Ade
Click to expand...
They need lost of amps & plenty of volts. More than a 1 amp controller is capable of dishing out.


//
Click to expand...
I thought it would probably need some power.I tend to use 1 amp controllers,but have a Helmsman 5 amp one as well,which i use for some of my "USA Trains" locomotives,that draw more power.Would this be ample for the LGB Track cleaner ?
Cheers
Ade
Click to expand...
I think mine takes about 3.5 amps when cleaning so a 5 A unit should be OK. The previous owner of my cleaner couldn't get satisfactory cleaning from it as he didn't supply enough power.
 
Here's my 2p worth. Around 1999 I purchased one of the early yellow 2067s and didn't rate it. This year, I bought one of the red versions brand new and I find it very helpful.
The difference? My back and legs are 13 years older and I have more track to clean, plus perhaps I have a better expectation of what the track cleaning loco can & can't do.

First of all, I would definitely recommend that you buy a new item rather than second hand. The logic is simple. This is a piece of kit which is used in a rough way by design and needs careful attention and maintenance. Stockers' excellent tutorial on cleaning plastic swarf away from the cleaning units bearings is 100% on message. See here: http://www.gscalecentral.net/tm?m=229251&mpage=1#229298 . Trouble is, you can't know whether a previous owner has been careful about cleaning and general attention to detail. Worse, if the critical bearings and/or bevel gears in the cleaning unit fail, spares appear to be extremely difficult to source.

Whatever you buy, it will do a reasonable job of cleaning averagely dirty track and - importantly for me - save your back. The loco isn't an instant solution to gunge or heavy contamination. Nor will it shift the sap from trees overhanging my line. For that LGB/Massoth track cleaning pad plus elbow grease is required. The same goes for the first clean at the start of the season. For that, the old LGB pad comes out first. On the other hand, the cleaning loco is a much safer and effective way of cleaning in tight spaces with scenic items close by - one of the other factors which made be think about buying one again.

The track cleaning loco can't really be left to its own devices in my experience: rough track & R1 curves may cause the cleaning wheel to jump the rails (as may leaves and twigs); dead spots which it hasn't cleaned adequately may stop it dead (it's only a 4-wheel loco remember!) and you will need to monitor how it has cleaned each rail. I usually find it needs a minimum of two passes - one in each direction - to "balance" the cleaning effect on a length of track. It's also phenomenally noisy in use (I tend to use mine when I'm mowing the grass to minimise any potential for complaints from neighbours) BUT, it does work if used every so often on lightly contaminated rail and maintained appropriately. Even with all those warnings, I'm still pleased I bought a track cleaning loco this year.
 
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