woodenhead Posted December 9, 2019 Share Posted December 9, 2019 (edited) Can anyone advise how I clean these wheels. The loco is about 50 years old, I've a few of this age and showing similar issues with the wheels and no response from the motor - the locos have been unused for about 30 years. It looks like the contacts are not picking up any current due to the coating on the wheels. It may be that they are beyond rescue, but if I can breathe some life into them it would be nice to put them onto Ebay. Edited December 9, 2019 by woodenhead Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Neil Posted December 9, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 9, 2019 I clean badly corroded or filthy wheels by putting leads directly to the motor and cleaning the spinning wheels with a Peco track rubber sharpened to a chisel tip. Take care not to put too much pressure on the track rubber to avoid motor burn out or disturbing the quartering of the wheels. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TT-Pete Posted December 10, 2019 Share Posted December 10, 2019 I remove ancient gunk/corrosion from wheel treads by rubbing with the blunt end of a matchstick dipped in methylated spririts. Liliput mechanisms of that era are a bit notorious (like Rivarossi) and do not age well, I agree that it's worth oiling and then putting power across the motor contacts first to see if it even works at all. If you need replacement parts then there is this guy in Germany who specialises in original Liliput spares: https://www.lokomobile.com/ersatzteile/liliput-original-ft/alle-artikel.html 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodenhead Posted December 10, 2019 Author Share Posted December 10, 2019 All but one of the 009 locos I own were received second hand in the mid 1970s when I got my first model railway. I ran them into the mid 80s then railways took a back seat for a few years. So they've spent a long time in their boxes as I couldn't bear to sell them. But these are very old models now, if I can get them running it is only to sell them - I am trying to clear down what I have not create more stress for myself. One of the other originals - a quarry shunter (you'll know the one) did come back to life as did a Roco IOW loco (but that was bought new in the 80s), Some of the Lilliput locos were ropy when I had them - you know stop or fast and nothing in between. The Zillertahn coaches and wagons are all good though so at the very least I can sell them, not sure of the demand now, there is a chap with some on Ebay and it's not attracting much interest. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerard van de Weijer Posted December 10, 2019 Share Posted December 10, 2019 I mostly clean with brake fluid cleanser. Alcohol 70% should also do the trick. Deluxe has superb cleanser http://www.gaugemaster.com/item_details.asp?code=DLAC-13 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodenhead Posted December 10, 2019 Author Share Posted December 10, 2019 6 minutes ago, Gerard van de Weijer said: I mostly clean with brake fluid cleanser. Alcohol 70% should also do the trick. Deluxe has superb cleanser http://www.gaugemaster.com/item_details.asp?code=DLAC-13 Brake fluid sounds a bit risky - is that really ok? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted December 10, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 10, 2019 9 minutes ago, woodenhead said: Brake fluid sounds a bit risky - is that really ok? It famously takes paint off quite nicely, but the effect on elderly plastics could be unpredictable. As said, the plastic rod and valve-gear is very vulnerable - mine snapped when new 50 years ago! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodenhead Posted December 10, 2019 Author Share Posted December 10, 2019 I was surprised last night when an N gauge Life-Like SD7 that had been sat on my late father's layout with it's body off for quite a few years actually worked - I presumed it was broken, when he disposed of the rest of the stock in the summer it remained along with some wagons. It and the 11 wagons went onto Ebay last night. The narrow gauge models were the first models I got from him and I think I kept them whilst he was alive because there was some connection with childhood, but since his passing I have realised I have been keeping stuff that will never be used and needs to go. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerard van de Weijer Posted December 10, 2019 Share Posted December 10, 2019 Just put brake fluid on a piece of cloth and just rub it on metal! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodenhead Posted December 10, 2019 Author Share Posted December 10, 2019 1 hour ago, Gerard van de Weijer said: Just put brake fluid on a piece of cloth and just rub it on metal! The last time I saw brake fluid Wham were the latest band. I'll bear it in mind, don't suppose the wife will mind if I borrow some from her car Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Roy Langridge Posted December 13, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 13, 2019 On 10/12/2019 at 22:06, woodenhead said: The last time I saw brake fluid Wham were the latest band. I'll bear it in mind, don't suppose the wife will mind if I borrow some from her car I can see it now, headline in the news, “Railway Modeller arrested on suspicion of murder after tampering with wife’s brakes.” Don’t do it Woodenhead! Well, not unless they let you take all your modelling kit inside for some quite time. Roy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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