Cleaning wheels?

TheThing · Cleaning wheels?

Despite over use of a track rubber, I've noticed that some of my locos are running a bit stop/start. A closer look at the wheels makes me think they're getting a bit grubby.

Whats the best (and cheapest!) way of cleaning them up? The track rubber is a bit too big and clumsy.

poliss

Fibreglass pencil. There's a link elsewhere on the forum of where to buy one.

upnick

Hi Hugh,

Dave brought this up in the thread recently .... i replied and i suggested IPA if you read through the thread posts i took some picture to illustrate it as well.

http://thecentralstation.myfreeforum.org/about1811.html&highlight=

Poliss is correct with the fibreglass pencil but the wheels need to rotate while you cleaning them ideally therefore the method i use saves time.

poliss

Cleaning the rolling stock wheels is just as important too. Replace plastic with metal wherever possible.

upnick

TheThing

Quick chat with my local shop has found me just the thing - Peco Wheel scraper and brush (PL-40, I think!)

Turn the loco upside down, connect the scraper and brush to your controller, touch the wheels and they spin and clean themselves!

Ever so clever and ever so good! Plus, many hours of fun to be had at the same time.

And the final good thing is that you can use the brush to clean the wheels of wagons/carriages/diesels by hand.

Even older tom

And looks good value as well Hugh.

http://www.kato-unitrack.co.uk/pe...-wheel-cleaning-brush-3465-0.html

poliss

I've heard of the electric brushes, but do the metal bristles scratch the surface of the wheels making them get dirtier faster?

Teleman

I have one of them , Iwas thinking of buying a second so i could mount one each side of a piece of wood , then just put the loco wheels on both brushies . It tells you in the instructions that come with itthe size of block you need

TheThing

Doesn't seem to have scratched them at all. Although it's a wire brush it's not that stiff.

My Crab was running really badly and wouldn't go over some parts of the track without a push. Quick clean of the (by now, filthy) wheels and it flies round!