| Here are a few guidelines for performing cleaning and | | | | only needed about once a year with normal use. A |
| routine maintenance of your model trains. Regardless | | | | technique for cleaning the commutators is to have the |
| of whether you have a Lionel set or any other brand, | | | | locomotive run slowly without the body. Then apply |
| performing maintenance helps avoid trouble later on. | | | | Rail-Zip cleaner to a rag and use that to clean the |
| For Lionel set locomotives, maintenance checks can | | | | commutator as it spins. The brushes also need |
| be performed by removing the cover to see the inside. | | | | cleaning. These can be cleaned by spraying them with |
| To remove the cover on steam engines, you must | | | | television tuner cleaner, which can be purchased from |
| first remove the screw located underneath the | | | | electronics stores. Allow the cleaning solution to drip of |
| smokestack. For diesel engines, remove the body by | | | | and wipe the area dry. After cleaning you are ready |
| spreading at the sides so that the pins will be released | | | | to put the body back on. |
| then pull upward. Then flip the locomotive upside down | | | | The wheels of freight cars also require routine |
| to clean the wheels. You can use an X-acto blade to | | | | maintenance. Even with shining rails and running |
| peel off the layers of grime. You can use an eraser | | | | locomotives, every Lionel set still needs clean wheels |
| pad to finish removing dirt and debris from the wheels | | | | to run smoothly. An easy way to get the wheels |
| of your model trains. | | | | cleaned is by mounting a straight section of track onto |
| In addition to clean wheels, locomotives need oil applied | | | | an 18-inch, 2x4 board. Then put a paper towel or rag |
| to the moving parts to keep them lubricated and | | | | and place it over the heads of the rails and drip rubbing |
| working properly. It is recommended to refer to your | | | | alcohol onto the rag. Next, trickle a few drops of |
| owner's manual for instructions on applying oil. When | | | | Goo-Gone onto rails before running the cars on the |
| applying the oil, keep a close watch to prevent | | | | rails a few times. Continue running the locomotive back |
| over-oiling since excess oil has the tendency to drip | | | | and forth over the rails until the wheel look clean and |
| out and can disrupt the electrical conductivity if it drips | | | | shiny. |
| on your rails. Thin oil is recommended, such as 3-in-1. | | | | Lionel train sets are built to last. Customer satisfaction |
| Another part of the locomotive that requires cleaning is | | | | levels are among the highest of any brand of model |
| the commutator and the brushes. If these parts are | | | | trains. Nevertheless, even the best train sets and |
| not cleaned, dirt and dust can build up preventing the | | | | locomotives require maintenance and cleaning to |
| motor from picking up electrical power. Eventually, the | | | | continue to operate smoothly. Following these |
| locomotive will fail to operate. However, this cleaning is | | | | procedures can ensure years of happy railroading. |