Repairing a LGB track cleaner and making an Aristocraft Cleaner more effective.... |
LGB makes a pretty good track cleaner that goes on most of their two axle rolling stock. The fact is, it can be made better. And when the cleaning pads wear out - you can easily save yourself a lot of money by fixing the the track cleaner yourself with readily available parts. You will need: 3M sanding sponge [or equivalent], some glue [I prefer Goop or Marine Goop], some drywal sanding screen [I use 120 grit] and a sharp hobby blade. I useally get stuff like this at Home Depot or Lowes. |
On the right, you can see a close up of the "feet". This unit easily attaches to the bottom of LGB rolling stock. You merely take out the existing structure that is held in place with 2 screws and attach the track cleaning feet. The part number is LGB #50050. It costs about $13.00. After awhile, the pads wear out. You can see where one of mine fell off [I used a pola glue]. So I went to Home Depot [or Lowes or any hardware store] and bought a 3 M Sanding sponge. I bought the medium grit, item # 918NA. |
On the left, you can see a LGB 2 axle hopper with the track cleaning attachment. After a lot of use, the cleaning pads [which originally need to be glued on] wear out or come off. The pads themselves do an ok job of cleaning the track, but I learned from George Schreyer that adding drywall sanding screen to any track cleaner makes it a lot more effecient. |
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On the left, you can see how I cut a small rectangular square of the 3M pad. This pad is virtually the same thickness of the LGB pad. The LGB replacement pads [part # 67005] cost $4.99 for a pair. Well, the 3M pad costs about $2.00 and you will get about 20 pads per 4/1/2 " by 5 1/2" square which brings the cost down from $2.50 per pad to about 10 cents per pad. The pad itself is abrasive and you can use it without adding the sanding screen. Again, drywall sanding screen is fine for use on brass track. I suppose you could use it on Aluminum track but it will wear the track down faster than a non-abrassive. |
After you cut the pad and screen to size as shown above, I merely fold the drywall sanding screen over the pad [sponge side down] and the "Goop" it to the foot. I then clamp it down as shown on the right. It will stay! Eventually, I will have to replace them but they will last for months. I have noted that the LGB track cleaner cleaner needs additional weight in the cars to work efficiently. |
I have two track cleaners on the line. The other is an Aristocraft with Sanding screen [see below] added to the pad. The LGB car, on the left, has some rock ballast in so it tracks better. The "feet" compress with the additional weight. This track cleaner is more susceptible to derailments unless it is weighed down. |
On the right, you see the drywall sanding screen cut to fit and in place on the bottom of the Aristocraft Track Cleaner. I do not glue this pad in place. I merely curl the ends under the pad. This screen will last for months. Eventually it wears out on the leading edges. |
This page was last updated on: March 2, 2003
