No more constant track cleaning?!!🤨

There is a thread that discusses this but I can't find it. I have not used it on O gauge, but I used it on my N gauge layout and it made a huge difference.

Drew

Great video, thanks for sharing.  In Dec 2021, I cleaned my track and engine wheels with mineral spirits and applied NO OX, but left it on 24 hours as many others have recommended.  Other references show ways to allow the use of NO OX with traction tired locos.  NO OX has improved my 027 conventional controlled layout operation greatly, now allowing very slow train running and switching for the first time ever.  I have even applied NO OX to my Marx 1590 switch track connections to improve conduction.

I have read and studied most of his recommended articles and others and believe this treatment will eliminate track cleaning forever.  Even is it is not that good, the better train operation is well worth the effort of using NO OX.

My application experience is in the following OGR link below, post 79.

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...3#159096765317812943

NO-OX Charlie

Currently I have not cleaned my track in a long time, probably too long but I am not having any issues. That being said I have read every thread on this forum about track cleaning and never heard of this product. GRJ has many times talked about Polar and Non Polar products and has posted a chart sikmalier to the one flashed on the screen during the Video.

I watched this video about 2 months ago.  Immediately ordered the Sanchem NO-OX-ID A special from Amazon, then cleaned all my track with Low Odor Mineral spirits. 

Since there was a warning that NO-OX may not be compatible with "traction tire" applications, I ONLY USED it to treat the Center Blackened rail of my Ross Switches and Gargraves track.   I also treated the center pick up rollers of some engines and passenger cars that would notoriously flicker. 

The results have been remarkable, all my engines are running more smoothly, and passenger cars and cabooses that used to flicker don't anymore.   I ran over the some sections of the main line this past weekend with a block of wood with the mineral spirits and it came back almost completely clean.   When I used to do this after 2 months with 91% isopropyl alcohol, I'd pick up  quite a bit of "black residue".   

I am totally sold that this isn't "black magic", no pun intended.   

@NJCJOE posted:

There is a thread that discusses this but I can't find it. I have not used it on O gauge, but I used it on my N gauge layout and it made a huge difference.

Info you seek may be contained here: https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...6#159237711782797556

My wife has her own N gauge layout, I'm the one one that does most of the building of it,which I really enjoy by the way,

Anyway early on while searching for various info Ron's trains and things came to the top of the pile, he has a lot of helpful info on a lot of different subjects from bench work to scenery

@Choo Choo Charlie posted:

……Other references show ways to allow the use of NO OX with traction tired locos.  NO OX has improved my 027 conventional controlled layout operation greatly, ….

Charlie

Do you have engines with traction tires that you have run on treated tract?  The post in your link said you had one but had not run it yet.  Have you and how are they holding up?

UPDATED to reflect Charlie's earlier post.

@SURFLINER posted:

Info you seek may be contained here: https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...6#159237711782797556

the links you seek:

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws...ne/index.html?page=9

https://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/5733

https://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/146

the No-Ox thread and how to apply it:

https://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/7519?page=2

https://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/7169

Tom Stoltz

in Maine

Went through all the links above, and while traction tires were addressed in some posts, no one actually stated they ran engines with traction tires after applying No-Ox.  Basically: apply, wait 24+ hours, wipe dry, and you should be okay.

Tom, you post in the 2-rail and S forums.  What has been your experience with No-Ox and traction tires.  Any problems?

It is hard enough to change the traction tires on some engines, don't need to do it because of this as an experiment.  I may try it on the center rail, as mentioned before, but only on one loop.  Maybe.

I’ve used no-ox and all of my trains have traction tires. I applied the no-ox with printer swabs, waited 24 hours and wiped clean. The tires are fine, no slippage and no swelling of the tires. Plus now everything runs smoothly with little need to clean the tracks.

@chris a posted:

I watched this video about 2 months ago.  Immediately ordered the Sanchem NO-OX-ID A special from Amazon, then cleaned all my track with Low Odor Mineral spirits.

Since there was a warning that NO-OX may not be compatible with "traction tire" applications, I ONLY USED it to treat the Center Blackened rail of my Ross Switches and Gargraves track.   I also treated the center pick up rollers of some engines and passenger cars that would notoriously flicker.

The results have been remarkable, all my engines are running more smoothly, and passenger cars and cabooses that used to flicker don't anymore.   I ran over the some sections of the main line this past weekend with a block of wood with the mineral spirits and it came back almost completely clean.   When I used to do this after 2 months with 91% isopropyl alcohol, I'd pick up  quite a bit of "black residue".   

I am totally sold that this isn't "black magic", no pun intended.   

Chris, great information. but I do have a question, how do you apply it to places you cannot reach on the layout? I am asking as I cannot reach the track in the tunnels without taking the mountain top off.

Mike

The YouTube video on the first post says to run all your locos right after applying the NO OX.  At this time run them on all the tracks including the unreachable sections.  This should spread the NO OX to all tracks as well as on all loco wheels.  That is how I applied the NO OX to my loco wheels.  They did a lot of slipping but got better with slow running.

Others have recommended applying NO OX to the loco wheels with cottton swaps or corner of a rag, let set 24 hours and then wipe off wheels with a rag.  Locos with traction tires can be treated this way but skipping application to the traction tires.

Here is another source of info on NO OX and application.

https://dfarq.homeip.net/how-t...eaning-lionel-track/

NO-OX Charlie

@Choo Choo Charlie posted:

Mike

The YouTube video on the first post says to run all your locos right after applying the NO OX.  At this time run them on all the tracks including the unreachable sections.  This should spread the NO OX to all tracks as well as on all loco wheels.  That is how I applied the NO OX to my loco wheels.  They did a lot of slipping but got better with slow running.

Others have recommended applying NO OX to the loco wheels with cottton swaps or corner of a rag, let set 24 hours and then wipe off wheels with a rag.  Locos with traction tires can be treated this way but skipping application to the traction tires.

Here is another source of info on NO OX and application.

https://dfarq.homeip.net/how-t...eaning-lionel-track/

Charlie

Thanks for the information, Charlie! I will have to watch the video!

@Keith Crook 020419 posted:

I’ve used no-ox and all of my trains have traction tires. I applied the no-ox with printer swabs, waited 24 hours and wiped clean. The tires are fine, no slippage and no swelling of the tires. Plus now everything runs smoothly with little need to clean the tracks.

Thank you!

I have been using Goo Gone on a NE Trains track cleaning car front pad and leave the rear pad dry. It works great on my layout.

@Gene H posted:

I have been using Goo Gone on a NE Trains track cleaning car front pad and leave the rear pad dry. It works great on my layout.

May I suggest you read this whole thread?

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/topic/cleaning-wheels

Goo Gone is something to leave behind, unless you like to clean wheels and track a lot.  Also, GG will eat traction tires -- ask me how I know...

Tom Stoltz

in Maine

Mike G:   I did the finger tip application, for the NO-OX-ID, wiped it off with the Blue Paper Shop towels as they don't shed lint.   Yes it was a pain in the butt to go under the table and reach up and do the tunnel tracks, but it was working so well and making such a difference I figured, I'd do the contortionist thing.     Had to get under there to do clean with the Low Odor Mineral spirits anyway.   Fortunately based on the fact that virtually no dirt has re-appeared it's not like I am going to be down there doing this every other month.   Also, since I am only using it for now on the blackened center rail, I am not particularly concerned if there is a slight residue left, it will get picked up and spread around by the carbon pick up rollers. 

Ron / CAPPilot

I have run the traction tire engines and they run fine on my NO OX treated track.  No traction issues and great slow running.

Charlie

Well. at least there are six or so NO OX believers, on OGR forum, for keeping train wheels and track clean and improving train slow speed operation.  That is not many for a proven track cleaning reduction technology that is over 50 years old.  The numbers of NO OX believers on the HO and N forums are much higher.

NO-OX Charlie