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What to purchase for cleaning?


danbyization

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Hi All

So I have a locomotive which has recently been getting to the stage of stopping/starting while going around my track and sometimes needing a push to get it going.

Im guessing that it's because I need to give the locomotive a clean which I guess is no surprise as I have had it for many years but I've never done this before so I don't know what I need but or how to do it?

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Hi danby, I would start off with giving the track a good clean, do you have a track cleaning rubber ?  hornby and peco do them . if not the reverse side of a piece of hardboard ( the fibre side ). give them a good polish up. do not use anything abrasive . once done you will, I hope find an improvement. for the loco wheels  I use " Track Magic" applied with a cotton bud (sparingly) to the wheel rim and the inside (rear) face of the wheel flange. No doubt others will suggest other cleaning agents, and they will also do the job. your loco would also benefit with lubrication, I use " Singer" sewing machine oil , again you can buy loco lubricating oil from your dealer or on ebay ( model rail). Use Very Very Sparingly, let us know how it goes.

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Isopropyl alcohol IPA is what you want. Cleans without leaving a residue and doesn't damage metal and plastic. eBay is a good source. Make sure it is pure. Cleans track as well.

Here is an example. Others are available  

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SHL-1-Litre-1000ml-Isopropanol-Isopropyl-Alcohol-99-9-IPA-CHILD-PROOF-CAP-/370553401624?hash=item5646b43118:g:IgsAAOSwyjBW20gP

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Dan, follow the link in the post made by 'Walkingthedog' for Isopropyl Alcohol. His link is for 1 litre of fluid at less cost than the measly 118 grams of the Deluxe Materials product.

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Is IPA (Isopropyl alcohol)  is not to be confused with the IPA (India Pale Ale) I get in my local pub!

But joking aside is Isopropyl alcohol age restricted since I wonder if all members on this forum are over 18.

Regards

Steve

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Dan, if you have'nt already ordered the track cleaner , I suggest you follow onto WTD's link ,at that price it's a better buy. I am going with it. I use a piece of  quite  firm foam, I think a piece of lint free cloth would do just as well. lightly moisten with IPA cleaner and rub onto rails and obtain a nice shine. As to lubrication , if you have the service sheet that came with the loco, it will show you where to apply.   tiniest drop to wheel bearings, motion linkage pivot points & motor bearings. Chrisaff posted a link on a reply to another query, a couple of days ago, as to finding service sheets for loco's   ( Hornby).  Lube points are basicaly the same for most loco's.  yes to your question ( if it comes with the oil) above.

PS  :  Dan: You might consider putting in details of your operating setup. It helps the big boys to help you out if they know what you are running.

 

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Dan, go onto YouTube and put a search in lubricating model train  or service model loco and it will throw up really good short videos of servicing your locos, and far better than I can do on here. Use the  Menu  at top of home page , go to help and advice, service sheets . using the Hornby R number for your loco, search for that particular service sheet. Remember : only a very tiny drop of oil. Too much is only asking for a mess and trouble. also on youtube you will see videos of wheel cleaning techniques.

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Also when using IPA (not the beer) keep the room well ventilated. The fumes, I am pretty sure, are slightly toxic, hence the warning symbol on the container. In my case a can, from Maplins.

Don't let this put you off at all. Not a forecast of doom. I've been using IPA for 18 months now but always promptly replace the cap on the small bottle I decant it into from the larger, less convenient,can which I keep outside in the garage.

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The only fumes are a very minute smell of alcohol if you put a soaked cotton bud up your nose. So don't. 

WTD, did you actually try that. I,m surprised at you. Good advice though, I bet that could burn your lungs if you got a bang of it. I worked in a factory that made chipboard and mdf. The mdf has formaldahide in it , and if you passed through into press / forming line and got a kick with that you never cosidered repeating it. They actually had to make it a no-go area, but that was after many years with free access.

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I can recommend the use of sewing machine oil for lubrication , works out cheaper than other products too .

Last bottle I bought was 6 years ago , maybe more and I have over 30 locos to oil , I do them once a year and the 100ml bottle I paid a couple of quid for will last me another few years yet before I need to buy another bottle.

Also works well on sticky faders on audio mixing desks too ;-) 

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