General loco care

[CallySleeperKid]

Hi,

I have a few locos I want to run a general clean up on, some new that have been stored for a few months and a job lot I got from an auction, mostly tank engines, and a few diesels, mostly Hornby but some Lima and Bachmann.

When doing a general clean of the motor, what am I looking to clean and what should I be using to do the job? And what else should i be checking and cleaning?

Sorry this is a bit of a general ask, but although over the years I have had a few train sets, I was always too young to bother looking after them in any great detail, but now I want to keep what I have got in good running order.

Cheers for any tips.

 

[90019]

A couple of things you should check other than the motor, are the cogs, to make sure they're lubricated, the tyres (which may need replaced if the rubber has gone brittle), and the contacts, which may need cleaned or reattached.

If they haven't been done for a while, then it's generally a good idea to lubricate the cogs and clean the contacts.

 

[ungreat]

Check the carbon brushes,and commutator slots in the motor

 

[37401]

Also when cleaning always use a small very fine brush

 

[37798]

I tend to use thinners on a rag, cotton buds, and sometimes a track rubber.

I have heard of the use of toothpaste on Lima pancakes and Hornby Ringfield motors.

I always lightly oil locos after a long tome out of use.