Motive-power maintenance

[superduperchief]

After reading a post on the railwire forum about locomotive maintenace and their procedure of sonic cleaning, i decided to try this out. Thought it was a good idea. I ran the engine for about 15 minutes after reassembly I smelled something and saw a flash. I feel this was a bad idea. Thank god i did a cheap engine not a Santa Fe loco.



John

[Philip H]

whoa!  That looks like solvent that didn't evaporate properly!  I think the sonic cleaning idea was strictly for the shell, not the whole loco!

[wazzou]

I think I have heard that you can immerse the mechanisms in a Sonic Tank.  I haven't gone that far, however I have put truck assemblies in one from time to time.

[superduperchief]

I took the engine apart. Did not do the shell. Also, i waited 24hr to reassemble and lube.

[pennsyfan1361]

I'm Sorry your loco is damaged  . But the side that is black looks like a cool looking prototype wreck loco.     Rich

[Bendtracker1]

That suxs!
What did you use for a cleaning solution?

[superduperchief]

I used a product I bought at a train show. Guy made himself and was selling. Bottle has no name on it. Hope i never see that guy again. Maybe I should not have put the comutator in the solution?

[victor miranda]

wow.

whe can assume the commutator was the place the fire started...
what was the fuel?

a sonic cleaning solution and you let it dry for a day.
gotta have some kind of oil in it...

the armature spins and slings the solution out
and whips air in as well .... foosh!

does the bottle have a label?

victor

[C855B]

I used a product I bought at a train show. Guy made himself and was selling. Bottle has no name on it. ...

 

[havingfuntoo]

That looks a mess but I agree it looks good as a wreck ...... you could not make it look like that if you tried.

I am surprised every time I read that some one immerses or recommends that a motor should be placed into an ultra sonic cleaning device.  They are not designed for cleaning that type of equipment even though they will work well. The selection of solution you use is very important, some of the common solvents employed by modelers are not suitable and are flammable risking fire when used in cheap ultra sonic cleaners.  If a product contains a water softener or certain types of surfactants then you might as well be using a coffee cup for all the good it will do. When motors are cleaned in industry, after the washing process regardless of what is used be it water or a solvent,  the parts are placed into large drying cabinets to ensure all the moisture and, or solvent  is removed before they are rebuilt.  The varnish on the windings can also be damaged during ultra sonic cleaning.

I don't think I would blame the person who sold you the cleaning product unless you quizzed him about your intentions and he specifically told you that you could safely use it to immerse the motor.  Needless to say your experience stands as a clear warning to all about the hazards associated with ultra sonic cleaning, and puts many of us higher on the learning curve.

[MichaelWinicki]

Wow!


Great weathering job! 

[MichaelWinicki]

That made me laugh-out-loud.

[u18b]

I agree with a previous post.

So sorry.  But.... Wow, that looks great.

http://csx-sucks.com/images/pic/fire2.jpg

[John]

Doesn't look like a wreck to me .. looks like melted plastic .. 

[davefoxx]

Doesn't look like a wreck to me .. looks like melted plastic .. 

+1.