I find older track faster, it would depend on what your running. I see that Isopropyl alcohol does leach oil from plastic and could be why it made the track slippery. So if your are a little sloppy I wouldn't use it to clean track, because if you get any on the plastic ties, it will make them hard and brittle. I also see that Denatured Alcohol does contain a small amount of mineral naphtha (petroleum oil)?
I've used 93% Isoprpyl and Denatured Alcohol for stripping shells,cleaning all kinds of stuff,guns,train & slotcar track,ETC,for 50 years,if there was oil in it,it would ruin the paint job,or leave residue...There is NO oil in alcohol,denatured or otherwise..Anybody who is experiencing symptoms of slippage or any other kind of result from using alcohol that makes you think it's leaving residue,you are just experiencing unexpected results or observations,and attributing it to the alcohol...
If there is, as John noted yesterday, it is surely in such insignificant trace amounts as to never be noticed. Otherwise, a lot of us would have troubles as Lou notes, with cleaning, painting, etc. Definitely it is not leaving enough on rails to be any cause of the problem under discussion here. However, if there is any residual alcohol on rails, it will quickly cause junk to be dropped from even the best maintained rolling stock wheels.
For a encyclopedia. Completely denatured alcohol must be made in accordance with the following formulation: with every 90 parts by volume of alcohol mix 9.5 parts by volume of wood naphtha or a substitute and 0.5 parts by volume of crude pyridine, and to the resulting mixture add mineral naphtha (petroleum oil) in the proportion of 3.75 litres to every 1000 litres of the mixture and synthetic organic dyestuff (methyl violet) in the proportion of 1.5 grams to every 1000 litres of the mixture.
Looks like we stirred up the hornets nest. I'ma not into slot cars and consider them the scourge of model railroading. But...that's another story for another time and place. This may have already been said. Allow me to say this another way. You have to remove the alcohol and the dirt it picked up. Alcohol basiclally acts as a surfactant and solvent to reduce the surface tension to loosen, lift and suspend the gunk off the track or object being cleaned. If you just wipe with a alcohol wipe and let it stand you can bet on their being a sticky residual...NOT from the alcohol but the gunk it loosened and picked up. Follow up with a clean dry towel and remove the gunk, you will have a clean track. Now quit prodding this bear. LOL
George, Where are we on this otherwise quest for non-slip wheels? Do you have your sanders on? LOL I don't think it has anything to do with the metal composition of the wheels. Ususally, once the blackening agent has worn off the wheels, you end up with better traction. Clean the grease out of the trucks, off the wheels and the track. Allow all to dry. One more go around with a dry clean cloth. Now... fingers crossed, it's time to pull some freight cars.
Well....good news and bad.... Good news: Its a new day Bad news: SOSDD. :-( Cleaned everything again. Started the train...with the FVM ES44AC and 12 cars...in Lucky Penny Yard. Down and around the turntable area...along 6 feet of flat straight track. Started up the hill...about 6 feet up and there she sat...spinning her wheels !! :-( Took every locomotive that I have with DCC in it and started back in the yard with the same 12 cars. All made it to the top. The smaller 4 axle ones struggled a small bit but still made it to the top. Its like the odds of me winning the lottery...just aint gonna happen...with this locomotive. :-( Maybe I'll use it for switching operations. It should be able to handle a cut of 3 or 4 cars ! I appreciate everyones input and suggestions. Probably time to put this one to rest...bummer.
Don't shoot it and put old yeller to rest. Now that everything is clean consider... there may be some residual still on the wheels. Give her some run time to wear it off. Stick a track cleaning car in front and on the rear of her and let her run.
I really thought once I cleaned all the 'Brylcreem' outta the trucks that it would fix the problem...guess not....LOL
If all your other locos work great, then it sure can't be a problem with something on the rails. It has to be a problem with the loco. I would check all the wheels to make sure they are all making contact with the rail. You might also have a loose universal joint, make sure all the wheels are spinning.
Yup...when it stops on the hill...I took a small jewelers screwdriver and touched all 6 wheels at the rails...they are all spinning fine ;-)
There are two ways a locomotive can stall out on a grade assuming it is getting sufficient current. One is wheel slip; the motor has plenty of power but not enough traction. The other is a dead stall wherein the wheels have plenty of traction but the motor doesn’t have enough power/torque to move the wheels. You’re describing the first and the motor getting warmer won’t cause this. Somehow something is accumulating on the wheel/track interface and danged if I can figure out what it could be. You say that cleaning the track with alcohol and a rag WON’T alleviate the problem that in fact it gets worse. This would leave me to believe that perhaps the rag and or the alcohol are contaminated with something or else whatever is on the track isn’t being removed by the alcohol but instead is just being made thinner ie. slicker. I’d start by cleaning all of the wheels on all of the rolling stock you are using as well as the loco. Check to see if the loco is over lubed with oil dripping onto the wheels. Try another locomotive and see if the same phenomenon occurs. After that you’re getting into exorcism territory and I won’t go there.
Even the Brylcream took several washings to get it out of my hair. Darn stuff was sticky enough to use under the HO figurines I had. Greasy spot in the road took on a whole different meaning, I said not grinning. Give her time, ...uhh...I'ma talking about the loco.
Big problem is that it is probably something very minor. Heck just for snickers and giggles turn the engine around and let it pull that consist up that same grade in reverse. If it runs flawlessly in that orientation then I begin to suspect and issue with a truck or possibly a gear tower that is shifting position just enough on the uphill to affect performance. When all that fails choose a suitable locomotive and send it to me to offer as a sacrifice to the Train Gods. Steam preferred and a 2-8-2 would be great.
Yup...did all that for 4 days...and again this morning. Every other locomotive climbs the hill with the same 12 cars just fine ;-) For now I have my Atlas Trainmaster pulling them cars...never breaking a sweat or a wheel slip on the rails.
Think I figured out a solution... Maybe some day I will remember I parked it in there and try to fix it...again !
1. I would let it run some more. (by itself) 2. We sure it's 2%? 3. "Alcohol Makes Everything Oily" guy...wow.
1. I'm afraid it will slip wheels even if its by itself !! ;-) 2. 2 inch rise in a little over 10 feet...yup...actually a tick under 2 percent ;-) 3. Thinkin I need some alcohol at this point ;-)
