I had the same problem but approached it a different way. I used the Kadee #236 “Speedi”Drive Wheel Cleaner (on the Kadee website). I purchased one from Doug Peck at Portlines Hobbies and would highly recommend it. It's, in effect, a set of (separated) metal brushes that power the wheels using power from a transformer while at the same time scraping and cleaning them. I put the AM diesel in a foam rubber cradle (inside a piece of waxed paper to protect the details) dipped a Q-tip in isopropyl alcohol and held it against the turning wheel. I then kept changing Q-tips until they stayed clean when held against the wheel. The combination of the Q-tips, alcohol and the Cleaner was very effective. My diesels now run great again!
Paul Schilling -----Original Message----- From: shabbona_rr <[email protected]> To: S-Scale <[email protected]> Sent: Mon, Feb 18, 2013 9:03 pm Subject: {S-Scale List} Cleaning wheels on AM diesels I have devised (out of necessity) a way to clean AM wheels. My locomotives were getting quite erratic, and when I saw the gunk built up on the wheels, the reason was obvious. However, my shoulders dropped at the thought of carving the gunk off by hand, and I don't have a Kadee wheel cleaning brush. What I fianlly did was put the locomotives upside down in the cradle I have built for them, and remove the wheel covers. Then I remove the wheels and leave them to soak in a concentrated mix of Simple Green and water. The next morning, an old toothbrush makes short work of the gunk, after which I dry the wheelsets thoroughly, relube and reinstall them. Works like a charm bob Nicholson ___________________________________________________
