Fastrack Corrosion?

It is corrosion or oxidation from moisture in the air. Do not use Simple Green to clean the track as it will end up eating it, another person on here did that and that is what happened. 

Try using a scouring pad or some rubbing alcohol on a paper towel to clean the track. If that don't work maybe a light sand paper around 450 grit may take the surface corrosion off.

Lee Fritz

600 grit sandpaper to remove any corrosion then I wipe the track down with wd40 on a rag.

Then take a clean rag and wipe down the track until it is clean and smooth.

I did this with a ton of fastrack that was a bit to close to my reef tank's exposed sump. Saltwater corrosion was no fun at all.

Haven't had any issues with corrosion since I started using wd40.

Eric thats what i use WD40 and i don't have my lionel fastrak doing that anymore.

do they make pine-scented WD-40?

Wow, I read another post about Fast Track corrosion issues. I remember the post about SIMPLE GREEN, it's really bad news for track, or any electrical device.

MTH always suggested Denatured Alcohol to clean their track, I have been using that on my Gargrave track and it seems to do a good job.

But, I'm sorry to say when track gets that bad there is little we  can do to save it. Without the nickel coating it is just going to keep getting worse.

Is your sons room damp, or has some cleaning agent gotten onto his track?

I have a lot of Fast Track that is a number of years old and there is nothing like that on it. My son and I used it many times for a carpet central but it never stayed down for longer then a day or two.

I'm thinking that there is something in the environment, or you simply got a bad batch of track.

Good Luck.

chessie1971 posted:

Eric thats what i use WD40 and i don't have my lionel fastrak doing that anymore.

That makes sense if it is a dampness problem. WD 40 stands for Water Displacement # 40, it was designed to keep water off of components, not as lubricant.

gg1man posted:

But, I'm sorry to say when track gets that bad there is little we  can do to save it. Without the nickel coating it is just going to keep getting worse.

Is your sons room damp, or has some cleaning agent gotten onto his track?

My son's room is on the 2nd floor of a 2 story house.  I don't think it's damp or otherwise has a humidity problem.  All the bedrooms in the house, including that of me and my wife, are on that level.  

I was a little annoyed to find those spots but is the consensus that the track is really TOAST???????

I have high humidity here and i have been using WD40 for 2 years on lionel fastrak and  keeps the rust from coming back . 

MOPAC: I certainly wouldn't call that track "toast" by any means. I'd take some Scotchbrite pad and "lightly" scour the corrosion off to the best of your ability. The track should last many years even if it has evidence of the spots afterwards. Just keep an eye on it over time and clean as necessary.

Having had two kids myself, who knows whether something was accidentally splashed on it while it was on the floor?

While many here extol the virtues of WD-40, you should be aware that it is banned at many aerospace facilities for causing other corrosion issues over time....

I use this for general track cleaning:

https://www.amazon.com/Klingsp...-Block/dp/B005JSSWDU

Does a real number on spotted Fastrack. 

Mitch

Purchae a Bright Boy track cleaning eraser from Walthers.

I think it is better than sandpaper.

yep, anything can start that corrosion. The important thing now is to wipe it with something to stop the corrosion. The track is fine and can still be used.

I bought some used track that was little rough with that look. I still keep a tube of Happich Semi_Chrome Polish that I used in my motorcycle days. It has something in it to prevent corrosion and gently polishes off any rough spots. Motorcycle shops carry it.

Wiping the track with denatured alcohol every month or two takes this kind of stuff off of the track. 

I always found using a light grade sand paper then afterwards wiping the track down with a microfiber cloth with goo gone really helped also. 

Never Dull and Mothers mag wheel polish works well.

mopac01 posted:

gg1man posted:

But, I'm sorry to say when track gets that bad there is little we  can do to save it. Without the nickel coating it is just going to keep getting worse.

Is your sons room damp, or has some cleaning agent gotten onto his track?

My son's room is on the 2nd floor of a 2 story house.  I don't think it's damp or otherwise has a humidity problem.  All the bedrooms in the house, including that of me and my wife, are on that level.  

I was a little annoyed to find those spots but is the consensus that the track is really TOAST???????

ONLY in my experience is the track toast, but I have been wrong on a number of issues. There are some good post about WD40 and using a buffer to clean it up.

I would try just about anything before you take my nuclear advice.

I use these to get the corrosion and gunk off.  It's less abrasive than sandpaper.

gg1man posted:

mopac01 posted:

gg1man posted:

But, I'm sorry to say when track gets that bad there is little we  can do to save it. Without the nickel coating it is just going to keep getting worse.

Is your sons room damp, or has some cleaning agent gotten onto his track?

My son's room is on the 2nd floor of a 2 story house.  I don't think it's damp or otherwise has a humidity problem.  All the bedrooms in the house, including that of me and my wife, are on that level.  

I was a little annoyed to find those spots but is the consensus that the track is really TOAST???????

ONLY in my experience is the track toast, but I have been wrong on a number of issues. There are some good post about WD40 and using a buffer to clean it up.

I would try just about anything before you take my nuclear advice.

Another idea, that I never used myself is to remove the rails from the offending track sections and have them recoated. Like I said I never did that myself, but it worth a thought. If you can find someone who dose that. I know there is a person who sells refurbished tubular track, so it can be done.

I'm sorry but it has been my experience over a half century of tubular track cleaning that once you have to start cleaning off corrosion the finish is doomed.   Hopefully, this time I'm wrong! 

As for Scotch Brite, I love it. No metal filings like steel wool to worry about.

Moonman posted:

I bought some used track that was little rough with that look. I still keep a tube of Happich Semi_Chrome Polish that I used in my motorcycle days. It has something in it to prevent corrosion and gently polishes off any rough spots. Motorcycle shops carry it.

It's actually "Simichrome," Moonman.  Great stuff, and I've been using it for years on everything from trains to jewelry:

http://www.simichromepolish.com/

Has your son been dropping acid in his bedroom?  Wait, that didn't come out right.  Does he have a chemistry set from which he may have spilled contents on the FasTrack?

What, me worry?