Hello, I’m getting some postwar Lionel engines ready to run. I’d like to clean the old hard grease out of the trucks. What is the safest solvent I can use to soak them in without harming anything?
Thank you,
Joe
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As long as they don't have traction tires, the all metal trucks are pretty hard to damage with any common solvent. In the past, I've cleaned some of them with carburetor cleaner, it's like dynamite for old grease. 
One of the few uses for WD-40 that I've found is also dissolving old grease. I don't make the mistake of thinking WD-40 is a lubricant like some folks. 
Thank you, so lacquer thinner or mineral spirits will be ok?
Joe
I'd pick lacquer thinner, I find that mineral spirits doesn't work as well. I keep Acetone around for stuff like this, and it's a major component of lacquer thinner.
I use Goo Gone. Sprayed on a Q Tip to clean out gearboxes and gears. And a toothpick to clean crud out of the gears.
@gunrunnerjohn posted:I'd pick lacquer thinner, I find that mineral spirits doesn't work as well. I keep Acetone around for stuff like this, and it's a major component of lacquer thinner.
Lacquer Thinner
67-56-1 Methanol {Methyl alcohol; Carbinol; Wood alcohol} 25.0 -35.0 %
67-64-1 Acetone {2-Propanone} 20.0 -30.0 %
NA Petroleum Hydrocarbon Mixture (Alkanes and Cycloalkanes) 20.0 -30.0 %
141-78-6 Acetic acid, ethyl ester {Ethyl acetate} <15.0 %
108-88-3 Toluene {Benzene, Methyl-; Toluol} < 5.0 %
111-76-2 Ethanol, 2-Butoxy- {Ethylene glycol n-butyl ether, (a glycol ether)} < 5.0 %
