Wheel Cleaning

As with both DCC and DC controlled layouts and locos wheel cleaning is very important, I've tried a few different ways of cleaning loco wheels in the past but the best way I have found is to use the Peco PL40 loco wheel cleaner.
The wheel cleaner (pictured) is very easy and effective to use especially when used with Peco PL70 loco servicing cradle, this cradle holds the loco securely while you concentrate on cleaning the wheels.

The wheel cleaner comprises of a wire brush and a scraper which simply connect to the track with small crocodile clips, it doesen't matter which way round the crocodile clips are connected to the track.

To clean your loco's wheels place the loco in the cradle, select your loco address with your controller and set the loco speed to full speed, the direction can be either way.

Place the wire brush on one side of the wheels and the scraper on the other, the wheels should start to rotate allowing you to get the wheel flanges and the back of the wheels nice and clean, when you are happy simply swap over to the other set of wheels and repeat....dead easy!

While cleaning the wheels don't allow the wire brush and scraper to touch because a short circuit will occur and you will need to reset your control system.

How to use video

Above, Peco wheel cleaner and Peco servicing cradle.