How to best clean wheels?

MinnMonkey

New Member
What is the best way to clean wheels on rolling stock?

Also what are the benefits to using metal wheels versus plastic ones?
 

pjb

New Member
Simple wheel cleaning

:thumb: Metal Wheels
They roll better when conditions are equal.
They get the weight down low and help with
center of gravity issues, thereby. Given the fact
that most common kitcars or RTR, are too
light out of the box, the metal bogie and wheels
help with the whole issue of car weight and,
as previously noted get it down low.

The easiest way to clean car wheels is to
take some light absorbent cloth or a heavy
weight paper towel and wet with a volatile
solvent of mild variety. That would be alcohol,
although Varsol and similar on a porch or
park bench setting would do. Do not use any
that would be absorbable through your skin
or would cause a plastic wheel to distort
secondary to it breaking down the hydrocarbon
bond.
So use the rubber/plastic gloves you can buy
in your local supermarket or hardware store.
Place the cloth over a length of track and run
the truck with wheels (preferably attached to
car for ease of accomplishing cleaning) back
and forth over the matter. The dirt will appear
and use the item as much as you can until
it wears out.

Dipping a toothbrush in your
ETOH (100% , or woodETOH - NOT medical
70% antiseptic work best), or whatever cleaner
used ... can be used on hard to clean
wheels. Be careful that you do not damage
valve gear or other appearance related
artifacts on locos when using your scrubbing
toothbrush. Or for that matter,be careful
to not knock springs or brake cylinders
off your trucks, either.

Wheelsets are only half the matter, as other
discussions appearing on this site indicate.
You have to clean track as well, and the same
cautionary note applies to wheels as to track
cleaning.
Even more so than rail, - LEAVE OUT out abrasive
cleaning materials such as: emery or sanding
cloths; abrasive erasers; files; and any other
grit using stuff when wheel cleaning. Especially
if, as your question would indicate, there
are nylon or other plastic wheels involved.
Obviously, cleaning your rail will reduce the
buildup of dirt on wheel flanges. This also
means less of the more tedious work of
cleaning wheels , as opposed to cleaning
rails , will be needed.
Good-luck, Peter Boylan
 
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