Model Forum / General / Railroads / October 2006

Correction. It is a SK800 4-6-4

No, and I wouldn't do it if I were you. Too many li'l bits to get lost,
and it's a PITA to reassemble these locos with motors integrated into
the chassis. You should be able to remove the body shell, so that you
have the chassis and power train accessible. That is often enough: put
AeroCar's contact cleaner + lubricant on every bearing, and run the
loco. That usually does the trick. Relube with oils and greases on wheel
bearings and gears - but as little lube as possible, a pinhead's worth
is usually enough.

If that's not enough, clean the chassis in methyl and isopropyl
alcohols. That's the method I use. Use a mixing bowl big enough to
immerse the engine, pour in the methyl, clip leads to the motor and/or
chassis and/or pickups, immerse the engine, and turn on the power. Let
it run a while. You should see muck and guck emerging from the engine.
Turn off the motor, and remove. Let air dry, and repeat with isopropyl.
After air drying, oil and grease using Labelle or AeroCar lubricants
(they come in bottles with hypo-style tubes attached.)

This method is quite safe, as the alcohol cannot ignite while the engine
is immersed: there is no available oxygen. The brief run after removal
from the bowl won't ignite the alcohols either, as they are evaporating,
which makes them cold and won't reach ignition temperature. But just to
feel safe, do the cleaning in the open, or somewhere far removed from
combustibles.

Good luck. It's not easy cleaning old locos. Often, the cleaning reveals
other problems, too. Sigh.