How to Clean N Scale Locomotives

Cleaning the Wheels

• 1

  Examine the wheels of the N scale locomotives for dust and dirt. Clean gently with a dry cotton swab.

• 2

  Dip a new swab in rubbing alcohol and run it around the surface of the wheels where the wheels meet the track; this will remove grease and dirt the eye cannot see. Apply fresh rubbing alcohol to the swab for each wheel as it will evaporate quickly, and change to a fresh swab as soon as one becomes dirty.

• 3

  Rub a track eraser very lightly around the powered wheels of the locomotive and then wipe clean with a cloth.

Cleaning the Gears

• 4

  Remove the body of the train from the chassis to access the gears. Check each one to be certain it has all its teeth; if any teeth are missing, replace the gear as failure to do so can result in a periodic loss of traction for the train.

• 5

  Tip a little of the plastic-compatible lubricant into the cap of the bottle. Dip a toothpick into it and apply oil sparingly to all the moving parts, especially where the gears are held in place, but be careful to keep the lubricant away from the teeth of the gears. Clean any excess oil away with a cloth (after application you should not be able to see any oil on the surfaces).

• 6

  Clean the wheels again to ensure no oil has touched them; oil on the wheels will result in loss of traction.

Cleaning the Motor

• 7

  Apply a little lubricant to the carbon brushes in the motor. Check the brushes for wear first; periodically they will need to be replaced, due to friction and wear as the motor runs.

• 8

  Remove the small screws that hold the brushes in place when replacing them, taking great care that the tension spring on the brushes doesn̵7;t fly off. Replace the spring, then add the new brush and screw back into place.

• 9

  Clean the commutator (the slot that transfers the current from the brushes to the armature) with a small, dry cotton swab. Remove all the dirt that the carbon brushes will have deposited on the commutator.