Lionel 3927 Track Cleaner

It was not water based. Other than that, I would guess it was some light petrol or alcohol based solvent with a very high flash point.

In 1956 the track cleaning fluid changed. The first version is solvent based and cannot be used with the track cleaning car. Besides as it would be very dangerous from the large surface area from the sponge and a spark from the roller pick up would set the whole bottom of the car on fire! And it discolors the orange to white. How many cars have you seen with a discolored center section meant for fresh wiping cylinders?

  When the track cleaning car came out in 1956 the cleaning fluid was given a new number of 3927-50. that was the fluid in the cars' canisters and in new colored metal cans, later plastic bottles. This is basically 409 or Fantastic cleaners. They are plastic compatible with the orange plastic. But it doesn't do as good a job cleaning as the old solvent based fluid.

  Take care replacing the sponge as when you pull out the arbor to replace the plastic is some what brittle and could snap the prongs on the wash head gear that grabs the top ball part of the arbor. Best to take the body off and push down with a slim object from the top to release the arbor for sponge replacement.   

Great tip about the washer head gear and the ball part of the arbor. It seems that the majority of track cleaning cars I have seen have one of those parts damaged.

At one time I used Fantastic with my track cleaning car. I didn't bother with the well on the top of the car. I just wet the sponge directly.

Thanks for the tips.  The Cleaning Car I had as a kid still works, just needs a drop of oil on the wheels and the armature of the motor.  The original foam on the cleaning wheel gave up long ago, and has been replaced at least twice, if memory serves.  I was not aware that the wheel was removable, so that part has not been damaged.  Yet.

Any ideas as to whether those discs are still available, either NOS or equivalent?

I never tried flammable liquids, always figured that was a bad idea.  Simple Green was used once, but that changes the color of the foam.    Dish soaps like Dawn gave off bubbles, the kids and grandkids seemed to enjoy that.  I'll get some Fantastik and give that a try.

My dentist is as crazy about trains as I am, and is my supplier for those white cotton pledgets that wipe up the mess.  I get a hand full every 6 months or so.

Chuck,

Thank you for your valuable information to help us properly clean the track, but also to avoid damaging the Track Cleaning car.

Ralph

The metal disk to which the sponge is attached is available. The arbor (removable part that holds the metal disk) has been reproduced. As far as I know, the washer head gear (part the arbor snaps into) has not been reproduced, and is difficult to find.

By the way, don't forget to lubricate the lower armature bearing, and the shafts on which the intermediary gears turn.
I have had track cleaning cars pass through my hands with extreme wear in these spots. The armature and first gear spin pretty fast.

Here is a link to the Lionel service manual pages, posted on the Olsens web site.

I modified my cleaning car to use ScotchBrite and run at command voltages.  I inserted a 3A diode in series with the motor as it was really screaming at 18 volts, it runs plenty fast with the diode.  The ScotchBrite pad spinning as it goes along really cleans well.