Metal Wheel Cleaning

Just place the wire wheel on an angle to the train wheel, let them both spin until the wheel is clean....it works great for me.

It only takes a few seconds to clean the heavy buildup off with a blade of your choosing.  After that, whatever makes you the happiest.  If you happen to have a bench grinder with a wire wheel and are careful that also takes very little time.

I am with Bill above and use an old pocket knife.

Charlie

I agree with Bill. Use a razor blade knife laid flat on the wheel tread. With your thumb spin the other wheel. This scrapes the crud away. Follow up with goo gone on a rag and you’ll have a perfectly clean wheel. Wipe the goo gone off with a dry rag.

@John Fuller posted:

If elbow grease is the only solution, is there a method with the dremel that someone uses that actually gets the wheel clean?

I use a wire wheel with the Dremel, works great.  However, the advice to scrape any built-up crud on the wheels first is solid.  I do it with a small screwdriver with a blade that has sharp edges, peels the junk right off.  Then I hit it with the wire wheel.  I also hold some tension on the opposite wheel so the wheel doesn't just spin up to the speed of the wire brush.

@John Fuller posted:

The wheels are filthy with layered black gunk

1) Dremel with a wire wheel (safety glasses always) to start to take off the build up.  Works great on build up, but doesn't clean the wheel from my experience.

2) 91% alcohol with a cleaning cloth / paper towel to get the majority of the dirt/grease

3) 91% alcohol with a q-tip to finish it off - easier to see when its clean

would an ultrasonic cleaner work?  I've been doing some clock cleaning and been toying with buying one.  If I could just put the wheels in the cleaner, hit the timer, and get the same results... i would be extremely happy.

If elbow grease is the only solution, is there a method with the dremel that someone uses that actually gets the wheel clean?

Any other tips would be greatly appreciated!  Happy New Year!

I don't see why you're having a problem with a Dremel, how clean do you want them to be? They don't need to be highly polished! I get mine clean with just a wire type toothbrush and elbow grease. Ammonia is stronger and more of a degreaser than alcohol, I would think you'd get better/faster results?  I do clock repair too, but don't have an ultrasonic, I never thought of using clock cleaner. I don't see why a soak in clock cleaner for a few hours followed up by a Dremel wouldn't clean them up good? You won't know until you try it! Good Luck

No problem with the Demel.  I'm probably trying to get it too clean     I noticed some black on the Qtip after hitting it with the dremel wire wheel.  I guess I was worried I was just transferring the grease/dirt from one wheel to another.

@John Fuller posted:

Been working on some projects acquired from a sale during the holidays.  The wheels are filthy with layered black gunk

I've read multiple posts on this and other forums and have typically used a combination of methods:

1) Dremel with a wire wheel (safety glasses always) to start to take off the build up.  Works great on build up, but doesn't clean the wheel from my experience.

2) 91% alcohol with a cleaning cloth / paper towel to get the majority of the dirt/grease

3) 91% alcohol with a q-tip to finish it off - easier to see when its clean

My sore arms and patience got me thinking... would an ultrasonic cleaner work?  I've been doing some clock cleaning and been toying with buying one.  If I could just put the wheels in the cleaner, hit the timer, and get the same results... i would be extremely happy.  After cleaning mutliple cars this week, I would love a "sit and forget" solution - ie: dishwasher approach

If elbow grease is the only solution, is there a method with the dremel that someone uses that actually gets the wheel clean?

Any other tips would be greatly appreciated!  Happy New Year!

The ultrasonic cleaner would work fine only just like we do in Clock repair. The clock would have to be totally disassembled and placed in the tank to be properly cleaned, and the wheel sets have to be completely disassembled and placed in the tank to also be properly cleaned.  There are no shortcuts using an ultrasonic cleaner

@John Fuller posted:

No problem with the Demel.  I'm probably trying to get it too clean     I guess I was worried I was just transferring the grease/dirt from one wheel to another.

I wouldn't over think or worry about it that much. The fact that you're making an effort to clean them is more than what others have or haven't done cleaning them in the past 100 years of trains! Let alone even oiling the axles at all during that time!!!!

I am likely nuts, but I try to do "maintenance" on every car and loco about every 24 months.

LaBelle # 107 Medium for axles, LaBelle #106 for gears (applied w/ a cut off Q Tip)

Cleaning  wheels, I dip a Q tip into denatured alcohol (no water- like in isopropyl alcohol, 91% OR 70%), clean a wheel with one end then switch ends on the Q tip and repeat for the next wheel.  For engines, I turn them over in a foam cradle, hook them up to a bench transformer (1033), and run the loco slowly to use the Q tip the same way.   BUT I use a DRY Q-tip on traction tires- no fluid.

Dremel tool with "Scotch Brite" type abrasive wheels are all you need. Truck wheels shine in seconds.

I clean each wheel, with a car on its back in a cradle, with Goo Gone on a soft cloth. Then go back over each wheel with a dry soft cloth to remove the residual fluid. Works great for me.

I have been regularly using an ultrasonic with mineral spirits when disassembling and deep cleaning trucks and gears and all that. And while it is not a miracle worker - it gets all the light stuff off and out, moves tiny crud particles and old grease funk out of the way of moving parts, and it really loosens/softens the heavy crud & gunk. after 15-20 in the cleaner the hard/heavy moves off with little effort. All of my Lionel has been stored for more than 30 years and the crud hardened up TIGHT. I purchased a big bag of nylon and stainless wire dremel brushes and if the Q-tips don't get it off... the plastic and wire wheels WILL. I recommend the nylon wheels because the wire ones throw bristles around (wear safety goggles)

EDIT: after reading more of this thread I remembered using a sacrificial section of track and old t-shirts/rags and running them back & forth with mineral spirits and/or goo-gone. I like mineral spirits because it's inexpensive

I use a screwdriver to strip off the gunk buildup.  Then I spray a paper towel (2 thicknesses) with Goo Gone, put it on the track, and roll the car over the towel.  That gets all the dirt.

I'll use a Dremel wire wheel for brass wheels.

Why hasn't someone come up with a wheel cleaner track accessory?

I scrape the the heavy crud and then use Goo gone like a few of the other subscribers here. Just don't use it on traction tires, it attacks rubber.

Dull flat blade screwdriver to get off the thick layer, then a brass wire wheel in a Dremel-branded rotary tool. Brass so as to not scratch the wheel as much. Wear safety googles, and do it in a place you can sweep up the floor, unless you like stepping on wire strands in your bare feet.

@illinoiscentral posted:

... Wear safety googles, and do it in a place you can sweep up the floor, unless you like stepping on wire strands in your bare feet.

I love the way that the little wire wheels clean the crud. I do NOT love the way the little wires from the Dremel wheels shed wires bits and they seem to hide around the house and fabrics. I've gotten those teeny tiny little wire shreds stuck in my feet & hands, it's not as much fun as you'd think it is👍. Once after being laundered, I got one in my shoulder from a short I was wearing weeks prior while cleaning choo-choo wheels 🙄🤪

I use a flat blade screwdriver and a mini pick to remove hardened gunk, followed with cleaning with alcohol / q-tips to remove what’s left. I also use a little bit of CLP if needed.

I agree with the knife blade guys, a small pocket knife will take it off like peeling an apple.  Keep in mind, especially with used cars, you are peeling decades of history, and thousands of laps around somebodies beloved layout, or loop of track in their bedroom as a kid.