Model Railway Forum

I bought the Dapol track cleaner from another forum member a few years ago for use on my DCC layout where it performed well. My current layout is a mixture of DC and DCC powered track so I decided (finally) to convert it so the internal motor is driven from on board power rather than the track supply in order to easily use it on the whole layout.

The job was simple enough and required the DCC decoder removing and the track pickups and motor outputs disconnecting from the electronics PCB. I left the PCB in place so I could use the on-board switch to control the power, now supplied by a PP3 9v battery. I would rather have installed the battery internally but the only room for it was inside the area where the vac deposits anything collected eg loose ballast, scatter material etc. So I opted for external fitting which means it doesn't fit under my low bridge but that portion of track can be cleaned fully by accessing from both ends. I've left the coupling on at one end so it can be pulled or pushed by a loco or just pushed by hand.

Not the most elegant piece of rolling stock I own but it is after all just a tool (that only comes out the cupboard as needed) and works incredibly well.

I do not have one. (Will they turn incredibly tight curves? ).

But I do know that those who have them, that either one fits a DCC decoder and powers the motor directly from the decoder, or one uses 12V DC track power and sets it to full power, and one pulls the thing with a cheap battery driven locomotive as another way of doing it.
These things work well when the motor gets to turn fast enough to work. Most people use them as vaccuum cleaners which is the job they seem to do the best!
A large layout with tunnels and these devices really do a much needed job.

I have been tempted, but my layout is very small and my curves are very sharp. Besides. Two or three minutes with a track cleaning rubber and all is clean with my layout and dust? I just tip my layout upsidown! Haha! Small portable layouts do have this advantage!

Terry, i have loads of spare parts for the cleaners FOC.

brian1951 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 10, 2022 3:03 pm Terry, i have loads of spare parts for the cleaners FOC.

Thanks Brian, it was you that sold me the cleaner LOL. I'll PM you later with a wish list.

If you are using it as a vacuum suggest you apply some sealent ((or tape to seal the joint) to the body joint in the dust compartment; mine ended up with a burnt out motor caked in dust which drew enough current to destroy the pick up connections

Mike Parkes wrote: ↑Thu Feb 10, 2022 8:49 pm If you are using it as a vacuum suggest you apply some sealent ((or tape to seal the joint) to the body joint in the dust compartment; mine ended up with a burnt out motor caked in dust which drew enough current to destroy the pick up connections

Not sure which joint you mean Mike or how it could destroy a motor?

teedoubleudee wrote: ↑Thu Feb 10, 2022 9:51 pm
Not sure which joint you mean Mike or how it could destroy a motor?

Their was body moulding joint around the dust compartment in mine, Over time dust passed through the joint and built up on the motor casuing eventaully for it draw motor current to overcome the build of dust. Obviosuly i did not known until it stopped working and on dismantling I found the motor completely caked in dust.

Ah. Knowing this one can avoid such a disaster by sealing the gap. Good to know for those who have one. Make them last longer.

Thanks Mike I'll check it out.