Is there any quick fix to cleaning engine or car wheels, other than the "Old Tried and True", just turning them upside down, and cleaning them with a solvent Q Tip, lint free rag, etc,etc....................................Brandy!
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I remember a while back some ( I think it was Lee Willis or GunRunner John) mentioned that they use a dremel tool with a soft buffer wheel, held at 45 degree angle to the wheel. I have not tried this myself yet.
Try doing a forum search on your subject - Worry I don't have time to find it right now.
John Z.
Here's what I use, it's Scotchbrite on a Dremel mandrel.
Originally Posted by Brandy:
Is there any quick fix to cleaning engine or car wheels, other than the "Old Tried and True", just turning them upside down, and cleaning them with a solvent Q Tip, lint free rag, etc,etc....................................Brandy!
Use Googone on paper towel, lay on track and run car over it several times than to a clean towel to remove dirt and Googone
Cheap alcohol and a Q-tip cleans metal wheels real good too.
The Dremel tool with Scotchbrite pad shines them up but you have to be careful the brush doesn't scrape the paint on other parts of your engine.
Some of the gunk on wheels has to be scraped off with an XActo blade. I will have to try the Sctochbright pad on a mandrel.
Art
Be careful with Goo Gone - it can leave a residue that will attract more dirt. It does clean nasty gunk faster than alcohol. If you use Goo Gone, I'd advise a quick wipe with alcohol at the end to take care of any residue.
My bad, I always forget about the "search engine" on this forum, as most of the questions have already been answered, that I ask!
Thanks to you guys for responding to my question, and not giving me the finger, or as some of my NY buddies called it, the "Buffalo Salute".....................Brandy 
Gunrunners Scotchbrite on a Dremel mandrel method works great.
GRJ: How about the abrasive pads that Dremel markets, and look like Scotchbrite? I suspoect one must be careful using a Moto-Tool. They can spin the wheels faster than they were intended to be spun.
RJR, they'll probably work, but you'll spend 10-20 times what I spend for the same functionality. 
An EXACTO knife is the only thing that has worked best for me.
Originally Posted by JAMES STACK:
Cheap alcohol and a Q-tip cleans metal wheels real good too.
Same here. It's not the fastest method, but it has the least impact on trucks.
Your powered units the wheels won't turn...i use my test track with jumpers to my upside down engine in a cradle use scotch brite for the heavy deposits and an edge machinist file for light refinishing. My 5 engine scale MU MTH"s pulling 40+ cars tells me when service is needed as the wheels will slip on the rails and i have to "back bunch" and then go forward[ i do a lot of SMPH1 to 3 SMPH]. After the wheel service no more wheel slip.I should probably check my sand bins.."jk"
When all is said and done I have had the BEST success with a product called BALLISTOL.
It is a lubricating, penetrating, cleaner, preservative for firearms, tools, locks, metal, rubber.
I have used it to clean my train wheels, as well as lubricate the mechanisms of the steamers. It is awesome, non-toxic does not gum up.
I have used it on my expensive bicycles to clean and lubricate as well as my firearms many of which are World War 2 vintage.
I can't say enough about this product
Check them out at www.ballistol.com
Oh and yes it cleans up the track nicely too
For powered wheels JAK makes a set of rollers that a cleaning pad can be inserted into between rollers. So place the engine on roller sets and go. One thing do NOT use on traction tires.
Ron
