Best way to clean wheels

[g-pa1]

I am wondering what is the best way to clean freight and passenger car wheels. Loco's can use power to clean their wheels in a variety of ways. After many times of running my passenger and freight cars I have seen a build up of black film on many of the wheels. I usually scratch it off using a wire brush, a screw driver or some such device but there must be a better way. Using track cleaner to soften the film up dosen't seem to make it any easier to get off. Am I just wasting my time to do this or how do you do this if you do it at all? Gene

[ginzokid]

Gene, It is a time consuming task but you should clean the wheels every so often. Beside the ways you mentioned, metal wheels can be run back and forth over a paper towel soaked in track cleaner laid over the rails. This gets some of the stuff off. But, the best way still is to take the wheels out of the trucks and clean them individually. This is the best way with plastic wheels. Set up a maintenance schedule and try to do the cars a little at a time over a period of say one month. Dirty wheels will lay down dirt on the rails and the clean wheels will only get dirty again faster. My suggestion is to not run any dirty cars until all have been cleaned. Keep your track clean too. It's a time consuming task no matter how you do it. B-) & :x

[flaretired]

Gene. Check this auction number 160026625551 Another idea that I use is a re-railer and put a paper towel over it and soak the towel with your wheel cleaner and hand run your cars over it. As Pete says if you do it on a regular basics you wont get that build up on the wheels. Chuck PS: Be sure track power is off if you soak the whole piece towel. LOL

[ginzokid]

Chuck, That electric cleaner is a bit over sized for N scale. A better choice is the Trix N scale model that sits on the tracks. Of course these only work with a powered loco. Your rerailer idea is a good one for the cars. And if you clean the wheels often enough, the heavy crud does not build up. B-)

[nascarpetlover]

The rerailer idea does sound good. As most of us have an old power pack we use on a test track, you can just put the rerailer next to or at the end of the test track and not worry about the power or shorting out the layout. Just a thought. Lou

[2005fjohn]

Hello One and All. For plastic wheels the previous methods are the best. But for metal wheels I have my own way. Set your wagon in a cradle upside down. Then with a modellers drill with a wire brush attachment,start the machine and apply gently to each wheel,the wheel will rotate,apply a little pressure,and you will find your metal wheels become clean. Warning,use safety glasses as parts of the brush attachment fly off. Also do not overdo it as you will wear the wheel down. I hope this will help. Regards to all with greetings from Holland. John (Chips).

[ginzokid]

Hi John, I have done this also, but I use a variable speed Dremel tool on slow speed with a cloth polishing wheel and a little track cleaner. It does less wear and tear to the metal wheels. The wire wheel is good for stubborn andvery dirty wheels, but I would use it sparingly and follow up with the softer wheel to polish and finish the job. B-) & :x

[2005fjohn]

Hi kid. I stand corrected, you are correct. It was the initial dirt removal that was my concern. I did mention about not over doing this. Regards as always. John (Chips).