Build an HO Slot Track Cleaner From a Tyco Turbo Train: With all due
respects to Oscar the Track Cleaner, there really isn't an effective slot track cleaner that will automate the task of cleaning the rails. Oscar had the right stuff, but without traction
magnets, it really didn't do much for cleaning. For years I used a rail stone and a dry cloth for regular maintanence, and it can be a pain trying to reach all of the way around our track. Not to
mention taking a good 20 minutes to do it. I eventually moved up to a 3M scuff pad on a swivel head used for wall sanding. It works good for getting up into the banked turn areas that are hard
to reach. But I still wanted to automate something to do the job.... After looking at the Tyco Turbo Train, I realized you could put the
necessary cleaning components inside the bodies of the empty cars of the 'train'. Like Oscar, I figured the best way to get the rails clean was
with a stone(Walthers) and a wiper cloth. The cars themselves have bar magnets that are somewhat effective for downforce and they have front
and rear pins. The odd chassis is perfect for fitting a cleaning stone and wiper cloth inside of each unit.
If you look closely at the pictures, you can see where you need to cut out the traction magnet support for the cleaning stone.
(I didn't take pictures as I built this model. :-/ ) The first car has the drive chassis. It's an odd chassis, with tall tires and taller pick-up shoes, like the quad
hopper. You could go to lower tires, but you'd have to change to stock pick-up shoes also. The only real mod that would help is to get better traction, so if you can, find shorter silicone tires, or
sand the tall ones. I just let mine burnout the whole way around as it drags the cleaner cars, and it keeps a good even pace. (You only need to go around the track a few times.)
The second car will receive the most modifications. This car contains the cleaning stone which is spring loaded. The plastic chassis needs slight modifications done to fit  the cleaning pad plate and
spring assembly, but it is minor. You will need to remove the snap-in traction magnet. Then carefully saw or trim out the magnet support from
the chassis. The cleaner pad will be lightly spring loaded. I used a very light spring from a Holley carburetor spring kit. You can try to match this,
or go to a speed shop and ask for Holley Vacuum Operated Diaphram Spring Kit. It's about ten bucks for about ten springs. It works and fits
PERFECTLY. Make sure you use a spring with very light tension. You only need a little tension on the cleaner pad.
 The Walther track eraser was cut to fit the car chassis and attached to
the spring with a hot glue gun. Make sure the stone moves freely inside the chassis cavity. Test fit the body. Use a spare piece of track to
check everything at rail level with the chassis/wheels on the track. You can try to install new traction magnets to the chassis. There is just enough space underneath! You can use SG+ traction magnets, or
Marchon type traction magnets. These are cobalt and are very strong for their size, so you may only need one. If the chassis still doesn't pull
down to the rails, your pad spring is too strong. (NOTE: Don't cut a spring to decrease it's tension- It will make it stiffer.) I have found that mine works pretty well without a traction
magnet on the rail stone car.
The third car will be the wiper car. You can avoid this step, and just go around your track with a
dry rag, but why not let the rail cleaner train do it for you? The tricky part is finding the right material for wiping the track. Felt seems to be the best, lint free solution. (I used an old piece
from an 'Oscar' track cleaner.) There are lint free wipes out there for cleaning tape drives and stuff, but they are pricey, and only come in stacks. If you do it right, you can still use just the
bar magnet, and the chassis will still ride correctly while the wiper pad cleans after the "stone car". You can carefully tuck the excess cloth inside the body. Cut your felt to the width of the
axle mounts on the chassis. You need a little side-to-side 'overhang' for the rails. You'll be able web the pad around the front axle, and then under the traction magnet. Roll up the ends of the
felt inside of the car body. There's a lot of room. Try to keep the felt away from the wheels. Just 'wind' it a little after it gets dirty. I was thinking maybe you could put something on the pad
to help the clean the rails, but most stuff people have tried leaves a film, which would require more cleaning. Make sure your felt is thin enough so that it doesn't raise the chassis, or it may
de-slot a lot, and not be effective. |
