Opinion: What brand loco wheels gunk up the fastest?

[OldEastRR]

Seems like I have to clean the wheels on some of my n scale locos every time I want to run them. I've got some LL DL109s that are bad, tho the PCM(BLI) E7 may be worse. Atlas seems fine, KATOs soldier on even with dirt on them, the Bachmann 44T is iffy but it's only 8 wheels on a short wheelbase. I try to clean my track regularly --= at least every time I want to run -- but somehow certain locos seem to find any speck of gunk anywhere on the rails.
Hmm... thought there was a way to add a poll here but ...???

[dem34]

Seems like I have to clean the wheels on some of my n scale locos every time I want to run them. I've got some LL DL109s that are bad, tho the PCM(BLI) E7 may be worse. Atlas seems fine, KATOs soldier on even with dirt on them, the Bachmann 44T is iffy but it's only 8 wheels on a short wheelbase. I try to clean my track regularly --= at least every time I want to run -- but somehow certain locos seem to find any speck of gunk anywhere on the rails.
Hmm... thought there was a way to add a poll here but ...???

I think LL used some kind of lubricant on all their locomotives that always worked its way onto the wheels over time. It does seem that no matter if its HO from the 80s or N from the 00s they seem to get dirty quick. Not like they're bad products, it just seems like a quirk of the mfg.

[tehachapifan]

My experience is that wheels with a dull, brassy appearance will collect gunk WAY faster than wheels wheel a bright, silvery finish.

[JanesCustomTrain]

KATOs soldier on even with dirt on them

Only the Best is good enough...

UP Modeller    (sorry, Jane)

[CRL]

Those old pizza cutters were terrible... tomato sauce all over them!

Bada bing...

[mark dance]

My experience

• Life Like
• Bachmann
• Atlas
• Intermountain
• Rapido
• Kato

in that order

md

[carlso]

I would pretty much agree with md's list above as far as which brand. But as I think about it there may be a correlation between the amount of lubes the manufacturers put into the gear towers, trucks etc.. I have seen some "brands" that had enough white grease on moving parts that it takes them some time to warm up and run well. In these cases, IMHO, there may be some oil migrating down and getting on the wheel treads, picking up gunk, thus causing electrical pick up problems. I have taken many KATO's apart and can not remember finding excess, if any, lubes. Delrin gears are naturally slippery and again IMHO, do not need added lubes. Perhaps that is why KATO is listed as best by all above.

The saw dust has all burned up so as always have fun,
Carl

[John]

My experience

• Life Like
• Bachmann
• Atlas
• Intermountain
• Rapido
• Kato

in that order

md

My list as well

[John]

Only the Best is good enough...

UP Modeller    (sorry, Jane)

Hah .. haven't heard anything from him since Britney had her meltdown

[mark dance]

I would pretty much agree with md's list above as far as which brand. But as I think about it there may be a correlation between the amount of lubes the manufacturers put into the gear towers, trucks etc.. I have seen some "brands" that had enough white grease on moving parts that it takes them some time to warm up and run well. In these cases, IMHO, there may be some oil migrating down and getting on the wheel treads, picking up gunk, thus causing electrical pick up problems. I have taken many KATO's apart and can not remember finding excess, if any, lubes. Delrin gears are naturally slippery and again IMHO, do not need added lubes. Perhaps that is why KATO is listed as best by all above.

The saw dust has all burned up so as always have fun,
Carl

Perhaps but I clean out the excess lube (especially on the LL units).  After cleaning wheels and observing gunk build up over 11 years of ops, basically with the same locos on the same rails in the same environment, I am leaning towards there being different quality metal in the wheel sets.

md

[MK]

My experience is that wheels with a dull, brassy appearance will collect gunk WAY faster than wheels wheel a bright, silvery finish.

My experience as well.  I have an Atlas SD50 that was given to me and it had a LOT of run time.  To the point of the "chrome" plating wearing off to reveal what looks like brass base metal.  That thing needs a cleaning after every session!

[peteski]

Yes, the silver-colored treads (nickel silver?) seem to remain cleanest the longest.

Kato's older wheels were pretty decent, but the new narrow and low-profile wheels are even better.  I also think that unlike most other manufacturers, Kato makes their wheels from solid nickel-silver (or some other silver-color alloy). They do use some darkening chemical on the wheelsets, but it does not seem to affect conductivity, and it wears off to a shiny silver metal.  I should cut one of their wheels in half to see if it is really solid nickel-silver or maybe just very thick plating.

Other manufacturers use regular brass, plated (with nickle silver, or some other silver-colored metal, or chemical blackener). Eventually those wear off exposing the golden-colored brass.  I have seen some heavily used Kato wheels and the tread remains silver color.

[Boilerman]

During the time I had my layout up and running I only cleaned my track one time a year and never had an issue with gunk build up on any of me locos or car wheels, this was over a 5 year period on Atlas code 55 track and running MT low profile and some other manufacture's cars with their factory low profile wheels on the cars which I ran weekly.
I always control climate and humidity.

[rrjim1]

I have never had gunk build up on any non-traction tire loco wheels????????????????????     

[robert3985]

I don't have any "gunking" problems with my engines' tires, and I run most brands plus quite a few brass engines also.

I also don't use any liquid cleaner or oil or anti-oxidizing goop on my rails...just a good old flexible Brite-Boy track cleaner, four weighted Masonite pad 50' MOW boxcars that run fairly randomly with my through freights, and a reducing attachment for my big Ridgid shop vac to suck up the dust and detritus.

I do periodically clean my loco's driving wheels with my old Kadee wheel cleaner, but not so much now that I've gone full DCC...I mean like once every two, three (?) years....maybe.

I think I can perceive (if I wrinkle my forehead and think hard about it) that my track seems to be cleaner since I'm running mostly metal low-pro wheelsets nowadays.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore