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When you enjoy obtaining yet another good old Lionel or Marx locomotive from bygone years (as I certainly do! ;>}), what do you find works best for you for cleaning gunk from it's wheels and rollers?
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PS-{ Luv my oldies, I do! -No recorded artificial sound, no complicated electronics, good prices, sometimes requiring interesting and challenging restorative work, and the sweet smell of ozone adrift in the air... -Wonderful!}
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A screwdriver blade if thick.  It would take forever soaking with solvent only.

Mild gunk- alcohol or Naptha (Zippo fluid)and Qtips or a rag.

(Keep alcohol off white rims, plastic, paint. It can stain plastic(whiter) or remove paints. Naptha won't stain most plastics, but will pull some paints)

Sometimes I wire brush with a stainless or brass wheel& dremel. But loose brush wires flying off have ended up in fingers, toes and motors recently, so I'll be avoiding that now.

(Never steel wool or regular steel brush as the magnetism of an engine might easily pick up stray wires while running.

 

If rust scale is not pitted, then Scotchbrite Dremel tool will get you a sharp, clean edge at the flange on the wheels almost all the time. Just be patient and persistent. It does broadcast particles of the Scotchbrite and  grime, so I often sit outside and clean wheels while enjoying a cigar. For tough spots I use an orange Scotchbrite  pad and a lot of elbow grease. For deeply pitted rust, there is no simple solution. The metal is gone. As for the rollers, they're easy. Just look mean at them and they clean up right away.

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OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Ste 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

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