Sparking Rollers

Probably both. 

I clean the rollers with one of my Dremel Scotchbrite wheels.

I use the same thing on wheels.  If I can turn them without power, I just do that.  If they require power to rotate, I set it in the foam cradle and run it while cleaning the wheels.

Good idea! I'm going to make some of those. I take it you think that the arcing is due to dirty rollers...

Rollers, wheels, and track are the common issues.  It can usually be laid at one of those doorsteps.

That little Scotchbrite wheel will quickly beat itself into a round one, I just nip the corners to make it a bit easier for it.  For caked stuff on the wheels, I normally use a flat blade to clean the gross stuff off, Alcohol to clean, and then I use this to finish up.

Yes, sparking rollers is due to dirty track.  I have a carpet loop in my living room, and a couple active kids that play all over it.  If I haven't run the trains for a few days, the 1st few times around the loop I get sparks from the rollers as it burns things off, then I'm good to go.

I figured as such. The building process with all the plaster dust, scenic adhesive, etc. makes a mess out of the rail and the trains. I will have to make a project of this. The problem is definitely most acute on the trains that remained on tracks throughout the process and were occasionally moved to expose different parts of the layout.

I use nail polish remover on aQ tip to clean wheels and rollers also. Be sure to spray with force some WD 40 between rollers and axles,also you can clean rails with 'paint thinner,not lacquer thinner'. I also tie a weighted damp sponge behind a train a drag it along the track

Um, never use WD-40 on your trains, it will cause rust among other things!

Hey Sinclair, the WD in WD-40 stands for "water displacement". We pre-clean with a mini vac, then WD-40 cloths, finishing off with 93% alcohol, and I got that suggestion from you form members, and it works great for our 2 big club layouts. Now and then we have to use medium grit scotch bright pads.

John,

I've been using the Deoxit product you recommended. Apply to the rails then wipe dry. Track is spotless and continuity is great.

I hadn't heard of Deoxit, but after reading their material I wonder why it hasn't been a common subject of conversation in the model railroad world. I'm getting some tomorrow. It seems especially useful for the rollers and wheel cleaning since our wheels are contacts also.

I didn't mention Deoxit D5 here, but I use it as well.  I had a locomotive that the rollers were getting hot enough to start the oil smoking, a little drop of that on each roller axle, and they run cool and happy.  I've used this on connectors, and if you're restoring old PW transformers, some of the contact surfaces on the control arms cry out for this stuff, works great!

John,

Can you tell us where you purchase the Deoxit D5 from ?

Thanks in advance.

I believe I got it at Amazon, I just did a search and found the cheapest price.

Thank You John..

I ordered and received both the Deoxit Gold and D5 from Amazon. The Gold and D5 came from two different sources so the Gold came first. The D5 just arrived. I used the Gold today and it's GREAT! I just used a couple of drops on the rollers of several of my engines and instantly, they stopped arching, stopped stalling and ran perfectly. I'm going to use it on all my engines and then use the D5 to clean the track. I'm very happy with the results. The trains were really starting to bug me.

Amazing stuff, no?  I was impressed when I first used it.  It's great for all sorts of uses, I use it on suspect connectors as well.