The other day, a club member was having trouble with another member's old, but never-run Lionel T1. It ran fine upside-down on the test bench, but was dead in the water when placed on the track. Investigation revealed the pickup roller axles were seized up with corrosion and would neither turn or conduct electricity. When he tested it on the bench, he used alligator clips on the roller bracket, and it ran fine, but when the clips were put on the rollers, it was dead. After working the rollers with cigarette lighter fluid (naphtha) and pliers, they were made able to turn, and then a few drops of Caig's DeOxit was applied on the roller axles, and the loco soon was running like a champ! DeOxit is great for removing oxide and corrosion, and also lubricates as well. A small bottle of liquid is about $15, but will last a long time. It is also available in a spray can as well, but in spray form it is harder to control and tends to go everywhere.
Bill in FtL
