Rev.

Sep/2006

CMX Clean Machine

The Best Rail Cleaning System for HO, N, O, S, and G Scales

THE CMX CHALLENGE

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“This is a real quality product When used as directed CMX Clean Machine will clean your track better than any other method

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and you guys are to be available or your money back. Clean your track by any method then perform the “white glove”

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congratulated.” test. Notice black lines. Then use CMX and perform test - no black lines.

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“I’ve been in model railroad- ○

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ing for most of my 56 years
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and cleaning track has always Fill Port Assembly
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been a pain in the @#$. Last
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week I purchased one of your
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CMX Clean Machines, I’ve
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N scale
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tried most of the others. No
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question about that product. It
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Control Valve Assembly
really works very well!”
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Tank Assembly
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“Thanks for coming up with
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your CMX Clean Machine. I
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bought one for my railroad
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and was extremely impressed.
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I then took my cleaner to our Coupler Box (2)
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club layout, and bingo - our Assembly with
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dirty track problem was 2-56 Screw

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Kadee Couplers
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solved. We tried several other or Micro Trains
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brands with limited success.” Frame
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Skid Pad Assembly
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“The other
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members
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were
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estatic
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HO scale above,
about
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O scale on the left,
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G scale below.
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the performance of the CMX
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Clean Machine! Everyone is
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pleased that we’ve found a car
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that works!”
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“What a great product, it

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stays on the track, does a Reviewed by Model Railroader Magazine, February 2000.
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fantastic job especially when

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• Precision Machined Parts. • Drag pads won’t catch on switch

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you have tunnels or covered

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passages.” • Solid Brass Construction. points, frogs, and any other pieces of
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• Non-unraveling pads. trackwork.

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“One of the better investments • Body mount Kadee couplers. • Spill resistant design.
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that I have made on my layout, • Easy Fill Design. • Solvent proof design.
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very impressed with its • Leak proof valve and fill port. • Both solvent/abrasive options.
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performance.” • Heavy weight does the job. • Large Reservoir.

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• Quick Change Pads. • Multi-directional (push or pull)

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• Controllable dispensing rate.

CMX furnished complete, ready-to-run with 10 pads..

CMX Products, 57 River Road, Suite 1023, Essex Jct, Vermont 05452, Tel. 800-671-0641

MADE IN THE USA 1

 Track and Wheel Cleaning
Clean track, and wheels are absolutely necessary for reliable Liquid Dispensing Cars:
Command Control operations. Tank type with pad dispenser (see Pads). IHC, International Hobby
Company, sells one for about $20.00. The car is a plastic caboose
Track Cleaning with metal; pad mount, needle valve and reservoir. The reservoir is
Semi-Abrasive Pads: Brite Boys, Masonite Pads, Ink Type Erasers, small; it will often require refills on large layouts. Because the car
are just a few of the inexpensive semi-abrasive cleaning pads that body is plastic, it will not be compatible with some of the slow
are available. These pads all remove oxidation and maybe some solvents or any of the fast solvents.
contaminants but have one serious drawback. As soon as you start Rolling Pad Cars:
using them, the pads begin to load up with organic contaminants This type of car retails for about $60.00. The cleaning pad is in the
and eventually will spread a thin layer of these contaminants on form of a roll that rotates while the car is moving. This type of car
your track. You know the rest! can only use slow solvents because the roll pad is the reservoir and
There is an inexpensive non-loading alternate. Your local paint fast solvents would evaporate. Also, the rolling pad does not scrub
supply or hardware store should have a special sanding mesh used the track because the pad is rolling. While this product is in
for sheetrock. This sheetrock sanding mesh is like fiberglass widespread use and is effective, it will fail the white glove test when
window screen with a #250 grit bonded to the mesh. Due to the fact compared to a pad type car.
it’s a mesh, it will not load up. You can staple it to an appropriate The Clean Machine +:
block of wood and you are all set. It’s easy to replace and one sheet After struggling through all of the cleaning options stated above,
will last years. Use gently applying light pressure. CMX Products is now manufacturing Clean Machine +, tank type/
Chemical Deoxidants and Conductivity Enhancers: pad cleaning cars. See Picture on mailer. All brass, except trucks,
A product like Zip and others fit this category. These compounds HO weighs about 1 pound, N weighs 8 oz. CMX+ is guaranteed to
are generally applied to sections of track and then locos are run clean your track safely and effectively when used as directed.
around the layout to disperse the compound until a uniform Cleaning Pad Material:
condition is achieved. My understanding is that traction is poor for We have found all cloth type cleaning pads, supplied by hobby stores,
awhile but then improves. I have no personal experience with these to be inferior. Your best bet is a corduroy type of upholstery fabric
materials and personally have reservations about adding organic with backing. This will not unravel and the ribs can be oriented
material on the rails. perpendicular to rails to assist scrubbing action while minimizing pad
Solvent Cleaners: loading. NOTE: The liquid pad type cleaning cars described above
Water Soluble Type: Most track cleaning liquids sold are water can be converted to abrasive type cleaners by changing pads to the
soluble degreasers and similar to Fantastic* or 409*. While safe to same mesh described above or fine 600+ Emmory cloth.
use and environmentally friendly, these cleaners are weak
degreasers and can leave a residue. You will have to use these often Wheel Cleaning
to maintain a clean track. All Wheel Drive Diesels: Use strong paper towel or light cloth, soak
Alcohols and Slow Solvents: Alcohols are often used in common with any commercial alcohol, lay flat on straight section of track
liquid track cleaners as described above. Alcohols are also weak with power on. Place one truck set at a time on cloth. Power up loco
degreasers and will leave residues and are flammable. Paint thinner, to spin wheels on cloth. Repeat for other truck set. When complete,
Naphtha, Goo Gone, etc. These solvents have a moderate evapora- place loco on clean towel to let surfaces dry. Caution alcohols are
tion rate, are moderate degreasers, flammable and environmentally flammable.
restricted. They work better than solvents listed above. Slow All Other Steam/Diesel Locos And All Rolling Stock: Use cotton
solvents are not very effective in removing silicone or rubber swab dipped in acetone or preferred solvent, apply to wheels and
residues from loco tires. rotate until visibly clean. Caution: Metal and Nylon/Delrin (most
Fast Solvents: Nail Polish Remover, Lacquer thinner, Acetone, and plastic wheels) are not affected by acetone, but plastic car body/
MEK. parts (usually acetate) will be dissolved, etched or bonded by
CAUTION: These solvents are volatile and flammable. Read label acetone. Observe cautions stated herein.
carefully and follow all instructions for use. Fast solvents, when Crusted Wheels: Some wheels accumulate a thick crust of gunk
properly used, are superior for track cleaning. These solvents are usually after many hours use without cleaning. This crust is best
aggressive and virtually vaporize all organic matter, leaving no removed by using an appropriate X-acto type knife, followed by
residue. swab and acetone. Notes: Wire and nylon brushes used on roto
tools may be used with caution. Plastic wheels can be melted and
nickel plating may be removed.

CMX Products, 57 River Road, Suite 1023, Essex Jct, Vermont 05452, Tel. 800-671-0641

2
 Operating Instructions
CAUTION: CMX is not a toy, NOT to be used by children under 12 years of age.

Getting Started 4) Keep fill port cap on during use, but do not tighten
completely or vent will be closed preventing proper drip rate.
Please read and follow all recommendations and
instructions stated herein for CMX+ 5) Crack open control valve, observe drip rate by holding
CMX+ above surface and viewing nozzle.
Clean the Clean Machine
6) Adjust drip rate to about 10-15 drops per minute or less.
Contaminants from the machining and assembly processes CW reduces drip rate, CCW increases.
may remain in the tank of your CMX+. To clean, fill the tank
as stated per Sect B. Use an aggressive solvent. Insure that 7) NOTES
both fill cap & control valve are tightened securely. Shake
well to agitate to clean. Empty contents in suitable container 7.1) No drip, drip not adjustable or drip migrates
by draining & removing control valve completely. up nozzle exterior.

(A) SKID PAD ADJUSTMENT, CLEANING PAD Check fill port................Plug should be loose.
INSTALLATIONS Nozzle blocked..............Use wire or needle to clear.
Solvent level too low......Min. 3CC needed. Add
1) The skid pad is designed to snap on/off via skid pad more solvent.
spring clips.
7.2) When drip is adjusted as described above CMX+
2) The cleaning pad is installed by rotating spring clip will not harm plastic ties or painted areas even when
appropriately and wrapping cleaning pad, velvet side down, standing still. Cleaning pad allows solvents to
around skid pad, so that cleaning pad is centered and the evaporate. It is a good practice to tighten fill plug and
pad ends do not protrude into large hole on skid pad. close valve completely when CMX+ is not in use.

3) CMX+ may be used as abrasive type cleaner by installing 7.3) In some instances droplet from nozzle may
abrasive type pads. Sheet rock sanding mesh (Fine) is good migrate up exterior of nozzle and to other surfaces
or 600+ Emory paper of the CMX. This may happen sometime with
certain solvents because of the fluid viscosity. This
(B) SOLVENT HANDLING AND FILLING can be corrected by adding 5 to 10% portion of
water to the cleaning solvent.
Solvents are most easily and safely dispensed by using a 5 -
10 cc syringe which is available at pharmacies for Warning: Proceed at your own risk. Failure to
dispensing children’s liquid medicines, and cost about read, understand, and follow all instructions
$1.50. Handling and filling should be performed on stated herein and furthermore stated on labels,
suitable surface in suitable area. and by the manufacturers of solvents, will result
in damage and harm to you, the environment, or
1) Close control valve, turn screw knob clockwise until your equipment.
valve seats.
(C) OPERATING
2) Remove fill port cover. Screw.
1) CMX+ comes to you ready to run.
3) Use syringe and draw 3CC solvent. Transfer solvent
slowly to CMX+ through fill port, use from 4CC to 9CC. 2) CMX+ may be pushed or pulled by any locomotive with

CMX Products, 57 River Road, Suite 1023, Essex Jct, Vermont 05452, Tel. 800-671-0641

3
sufficient traction. Short, 8 wheel drive, four axle diesels are Most aggressive group
ideal. For highly contaminated track place CMX+ before (Observe precautions stated on container and herein)
power unit. (2 Loco’s may be needed) Nail Polish Remover, Laquer Thinner, Acetone, MEK,
Toluene & Xylene.
3) Cleaning pad should be sufficiently wetted with solvent
to clean properly. This can be usually seen as wetness on This group of solvents are the most effective but
pad or cool feeling of skid pad. This is about 10 drops a the most dangerous. You will probably need to use
minute. Cleaning pad should be centered on skid pad fore these to start and then once a year thereafter.
to aft and right to left. Plastic from wheels and other organic matter is the
most significant contaminant on your track. Since
4) Cleaning pad may be cleaned while in use by using a you need to follow the same precautions for all the
solvent wetted rag and rubbing cleaning pad until dirt is solvents in this group, use Nail Polish Remover or
removed. Pads may also be washed in detergent and be reused. Acetone, which are readily available.

(D) MISCELLANEOUS NOTES Moderately aggressive group

(Observe precautions stated on container and herein)
1) CMX+ meets NMRA gauge dimensions (HO). Alcohols, Paint thinner & Water based solvents (Fantastic or 409)

2) CMX+ is designed so nozzle receives solvent about 1/8" This group of solvents will not remove plastic but
above bottom of tank. This leaves sediments at bottom of are satisfactory for routine maintenance.
tank and protects nozzle from clogging. This is about 3CC
volume and gives false impression of being usable solvent.

3) CMX+ has limited spill fill port design. The fill port
protrudes about 1/8" into tank creating inside lip to impede
spills. Held inverted about 1-2 CC of solvent will still
remain in CMX+.

4) Truck mounting screws, #2-56 style, should not be P. S.

overtightened or thread damage to screws or bolster may result. 1. CMX+ is designed to work efficiently at
normal speeds (1-2 ft/sec). If you run too slow
5) Standard Athearn delrin trucks have been supplied to
the pads may pick up dirt & debris that has
minimize short circuits. The mounting is good for many
settled on your layout.
other truck types if you choose.
2. If you have trouble inserting pads, try adjust-
ing the spring clips.
6) CAUTION: When removing plug, or valve stem from
3. The skid pad furnished with your CMX+ has
CMX+, be sure “O” rings and packing washers remain in
place. been chosen to work for most layouts. Since all
layouts are somewhat unique, you may want to
7) Initially, your layout may require several passes with choose a pad material to suit your needs.
CMX+ to clean properly. Once clean, you will only need to 4. The CMX pad material is cut from corduroy
use CMX+ once or twice a year. upholstery fabric. Upholstery fabric has a
backing which minimizes the unraveling of
(E) Solvent Options: the fabric. Most fabric stores have corduroy
upholstery fabric.
The following solvents may be used with CMX+: Updated 04/10/2001.

CMX Products, 57 River Road, Suite 1023, Essex Jct, Vermont 05452, Tel. 800-671-0641

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Chemist Reviews CMX Clean Machine
The following review of the CMX “Clean Machine” was performed by Charlie Miller, a retired chemist. I asked Charlie to
do this review because as a chemist he would have a better technical basis to do so.

brushes. Any of these might contribute to the formation of a

Track Cleaning - A Chemist’s coating on the track, too thin to see, but thick enough to
Perspective inhibit electrical contact.

Because of this array of potential sources for what we

Few aspects of model railroading evoke as much contro- broadly refer to as “dirt” on model railroading track, it is
versy as track cleaning. Opinions on how to clean our rails difficult, if not impossible, to define what we might call a
are as varied as the ages of model railroaders. The one thing “standard dirty track”. Lacking such a standard, we are left
about this subject that we seem to agree on is that dirty with a rather subjective approach for measuring the effect of
track interferes with engine performance and reduces the our cleaning efforts. For most model railroaders, the
level of enjoyment of our hobby. From a model railroader ultimate proof of a clean track lies in our ability to operate
who is also a chemist, the following opinion is presented: our locomotives in a consistent and trouble-free manner.
When we say we have dirty track, we are really saying we The removal of dirt from our rails seems to be best accom-
have failed to achieve good electrical contact between the plished through a combination of physical scrubbing and
rails and the motive power pick-up wheels. This condition chemical softening of the rail dirt. Both of these techniques
is obviously not the only cause of poor locomotive perfor- can be employed when using the “Clean Machine”.
mance, but it may be the most common one. Unfortunately,
most forms of “rail dirt” are very poor conductors of For inorganic contamination (primarily metal oxides), the
electricity. As I see it, dirty rails are the result of contamina- physical scrubbing method is probably the best choice, in
tion from three sources. Each of these has its own set of the form of some type of abrasion. As CMX Products has
characteristics, which are described briefly below. already discussed, the non-clogging sheet-rock sanding
mesh pads work well for this. The CMX has adequate
Oxidation - primarily an inorganic form of track contamina- weight (even when the tank is empty) to provide constant
tion. Oxidative degradation occurs, over time, with most abrasive force against the rails.
materials that are exposed to air. In many cases, this
happens too slowly for us to notice, as with plastics and Organic contaminants tend to be softer and more cohesive
painted surfaces. With metal surfaces, however, oxidation is than inorganic oxides. These properties make them less
generally more rapid, and metal oxides are usually poor likely to be removed by abrasion alone, and the assistance
electrical conductors. Track manufacturers have minimized of chemical agents is usually needed. This means using
this oxidation tendency by using nickel/silver plating. solvents or liquid cleaning preparations which dissolve
Metal wheels on engines and on some brands of rolling and/or dislodge the contaminating coating on the track
stock are sometimes more susceptible to oxidation than the surface. Since the CMX is designed to allow adjustable
track itself. Friction between wheel and track can cause rates of solvent application, it is also ideally suited to this
transfers of wheel oxidation to the track surface. technique.
Organic contamination - Organic material (by the chemist’s The question remaining, then, is: What chemical, or
definition) is composed of chemical compounds containing combination of chemicals, will provide acceptable all-
carbon. This covers a wide variety of both natural and around results in the efficient removal of foreign organic
synthetic materials. Sources of organic contamination material from the rail surfaces? To help us answer this
include residual material from plastic wheel sets, non- question, let’s consider the properties of organic contamina-
volatile residues from various cleaning preparations, tion in more detail. Residual material from plastic wheels
fingerprints, and other oily substances. on rolling stock is a chief source of organic contamination.
(I believe this has been analyzed and documented by the
External contamination - This category covers all other NMRA.) The plastic itself is subjected to friction as the
forms of contamination, which may be organic or inorganic. wheels roll along the track. Think of how many revolutions
Single filament lint strands and other airborne particulates each wheel makes in a complete circuit of your layout.
fall into this category. Other examples include smoke from When multiplied by the contact of the many wheels on
tobacco products, hair spray aerosols, dust from various even a short train, the gradual degradation occurring at a
plaster-type modeling compounds, and overspray from air molecular level begins to build up.

CMX Products, 57 River Road, Suite 1023, Essex Jct, Vermont 05452, Tel. 800-671-0641

5
Please be aware also that the plastic wheels have “addi- general public in their pure form. (Further reading will also
tives”. To give the wheels their authentic color, carbon inform you that this mixture “cannot be made non-poison-
black or other dark pigment is usually added to the poly- ous” and that it is highly flammable. These properties of
meric resin before it is used to form the wheels in the lacquer thinner mean that it must be used with utmost
injection molding process. Thus, over time, tiny amounts of caution.) Because of the array of solvent strengths repre-
these pigments will accumulate at the wheel surfaces and sented here, lacquer thinner is well suited for track cleaning,
transfer onto the track. Although some forms of elemental and in conjunction with the CMX, it is probably more
carbon can be good electrical conductors, when mixed with effective than any single-component solvent.
other residues, carbon is probably only a contributor to the
overall dirty condition. Perhaps the issue of volatility should be addressed here.
Many organic solvents, such as the lower molecular weight
Also, the injection molding process usually requires alcohols (methanol, ethanol, propanol) and ketones
something called a “mold release agent”, without which the (acetone, methyl ethyl ketone) have boiling points well
manufacturer would have difficulty removing the cast below that of water. The lower the boiling point, the more
wheels from the mold. Unless this release agent is removed readily a solvent will evaporate. Very volatile solvents are
from the wheel surfaces in some later step of the process, it sometimes referred to as “fast” solvents. With the exception
too can transfer to the track. of toluene and xylene, all the listed ingredients of lacquer
thinner are fast solvents. This is why the adjustable flow
Organic chemical solvents are available in a bewildering control on the CMX unit comes in handy. The user can
assortment. Solvents vary in strength according to their adjust the flow to compensate for evaporative loses, thereby
chemical nature, characterized by a chemist’s term called keeping the pad wet during the entire cleaning operation.
“polarity”. Unfortunately, “stronger” is not always better,
since it depends on what type of contamination we are So here (finally) is the bottom line: To me, from the
attacking. A simple rule of thumb to remember when chemist’s perspective, the CMX, when used with lacquer
dissolving a solid is “like dissolves like”. This approach thinner on the sorptive pad, is the best method of mecha-
can be quite effective in a chemical laboratory, where we nized track cleaning presently available. It allows you to
often know what material we are trying to dissolve. Two apply constant and consistent wiping pressure against the
practical examples of solvent polarity effects come to mind: track surfaces, even in places (like tunnels) where you can’t
Sugar is freely soluble in water (water and sugar both being easily reach by hand. It allows you to dispense a continuous
highly polarized chemicals) but totally insoluble in stream of fresh solvent onto the pad, replacing the solvent
something like lighter fluid or mineral spirits. On the other lost to evaporation and keeping the pad at a suitable
hand, ordinary paraffin wax is fully soluble in relatively “wetness”. The large reservoir assures long operation
non-polar solvents like lighter fluid or mineral spirits, but between refills. Finally, using the Clean Machine is much
virtually insoluble in water. more enjoyable than going along the track with a finger
wrapped in a cloth. It’s also safer, because you would not
Since we, as model railroaders, have no means of identify- want prolonged skin contact with lacquer thinner. And after
ing the individual track contaminants, we may as well all, isn’t “having fun safely” what this hobby is all about?
proceed in a “worst case” orientation. In doing so, we can
simply assume that there could be some of all three catego- Having said all this, it is obvious to me (and hopefully to
ries of contamination present on our rails. Because we are you) that it makes very little sense to clean the track so
usually dealing with such a “hodgepodge” of contaminants, thoroughly unless you also clean your locomotive wheels
we need something that covers a wide range of solvent and your rolling stock wheels. During my evaluation of the
strengths. The best we can hope for is to partially dissolve CMX, I looked closely (under 3X magnification) at some of
and loosen most of the foreign matter and have it transfer my n-scale plastic wheel sets. I was appalled at the visual
onto the cleaning pad. As one of my fellow model railroad- difference between freshly cleaned and "uncleaned" wheels.
ers is quick to point out, if we soften the foreign matter on
the rails without removing it, we are simply “making mud”, For cleaning black plastic wheels, I recommend only
which will dry out and remain on the rails after the solvent methanol (methyl alcohol). Some of the solvents contained
evaporates. in lacquer thinner are strong enough to soften and distort
some types of plastics. (If you don’t believe this, try
My recommendation for this broad utility cleaning agent is pouring a little lacquer thinner into an ordinary Styrofoam
lacquer thinner. Read the label. Lacquer thinner usually coffee cup, but make sure you have a more suitable catch
contains a mixture of petroleum distillates, methanol, basin under it.) Just to test this, I soaked a discarded black
toluene, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, propylene glycol plastic wheelset in lacquer thinner for about one half hour.
monomethyl ether acetate, ethyl acetate and xylene. Some When removed from the solvent, it was a gooey mass, with
of these chemicals are not even available to the no resemblance to its original shape. Although better

CMX Products, 57 River Road, Suite 1023, Essex Jct, Vermont 05452, Tel. 800-671-0641

6
quality rolling stock wheels are usually either Nylon or Two additional comments on the “Track and Wheel
Delrin, some cheaper brands appear to use polystyrene. Cleaning” write-up that comes just prior to the “Operat-
Nylon and Delrin are relatively impervious to most sol- ing Instructions”:
vents; polystyrene is not. So, to be on the safe side, I
believe it’s best to use methanol. I agree with your assessment of chemical deoxidants and
conductivity enhancers and have similar “reservations
Charlie Miller 9/6/2001 about adding organic material to the rails”. To me, any
addition of non-volatiles to the track surface is going to
Comments and Suggestions cause subsequent problems, sooner or later. Since the Clean
Machine works so well, there should be no need for such
I spent several days trying to make the CMX fail by doing materials.
things I thought others might attempt to do. (Well, only some
of the things they might do... I didn’t try dropping the unit or You were being kind in your comments about rolling pad
throwing it against the wall. And I didn’t eat the spare set of cleaning cars. As you said, they offer no scrubbing action,
o-rings.) I did not experience any "failure" that I could especially when used with something such as “Goo-Gone”,
expressly attribute to the machine itself. Comments follow: where these rollers do a fantastic job of coating the track
without removing anything.
My layout is n-scale and consists of two interconnecting
loops, a switching yard, and various sidings. I have prob- Charlie Miller 9/6/2001
ably 50 - 55 feet of track in all. I had better luck pushing the
unit ahead of the loco, because my track was so dirty from
neglect and lack of use for the past three months. (Model
railroad operation is mainly a “cold weather sport” for me.)
Since I was mostly using lacquer thinner in the machine, I
was a little concerned that I might have a fire, if a spark
from my engine armature happened to contact the trailing
solvent vapors. Apparently most modern engines are pretty
well shielded, for this never happened.

I didn’t have any trouble with the lacquer thinner “crawl-

ing” along the metal surfaces of the machine. As you
mention in para. 7.3 of the instructions, this “migration”
can occur with some solvents. It is a function of surface
tension as well as viscosity. I suspect that the mixed
solvents within lacquer thinner tend to minimize this effect.

I found that a cleaning pad length of about 1.25" was ideal.

It may help some users to suggest this length for them in
para. 2), under “cleaning pad installation”.

You may want to add a precautionary statement somewhere

in the instructions about not placing the machine on a
“live” track without a pad installed, as this could lead to a
short circuit.

CMX Products, 57 River Road, Suite 1023, Essex Jct, Vermont 05452, Tel. 800-671-0641

7
User Reviews Cleaning Cars
The following review of some popular cleaning cars was fowarded to us, unsolicited, and is used herein with permission.

This is one of our FAVORITE topics

here. (grin)

I have a track cleaning car fetish. I own them all. Anyone I EASE OF USE
can find from the crumby Roco tank with a dragging pad to Well, anything you don’t have to put anything in or tie
the newest CMX. I have even built some of my own design anything to comes in tops.
with varying results. I have tried them all and they all have
plusses and minuses that have mostly been touched on 1st Bright boy drag pad. Does not seem to ever need
here. I will try not to repeat the ones I agree with. The fun cleaning itself.
thing about this subject is peoples cleaning situations can 2nd Masonite drag pad. Sometimes needs cleaning or
be very different. Some have lots of dust or humidity or replace the pad
spiders... Your mileage will vary!! 3rd Aztec dry. Have to clean the roller from time to time.
4th CMX Easy to fill and regulate flow
ONE PASS CLEANING. 5th Monsoon. Flow is harder to set and harder to fill.
How well does the track act with regular locos after I have 6th Centerline. Have to replace the wipes and they dry out
run my cleaner around once. For this I like to use Alcohol in fast in use.
the wetable cleaners.
NOTES: One thing about the Aztec cleaners that sometimes
1st CMX bothers me is the magnet. True, it does pick stuff up, but
2nd Monsoon what usually happens to me is it derails in a tunnel because
3rd 2 Centerlines (one wet one dry) of a spike on the magnet gets hung up on something. I like
4th Aztec Dry the fact it got it of the track for me, but I hate fishing the
5th Masonite drag pad derailed car out of the tunnel.
6th Bright boy drag pad.
All in all, I use them all at different times for different
MULTI PASS CLEANING. reasons....cleaning spurs I use the Centerlines cause I can
How well do my regular locos do after the cleaning car has add lots of cleaning fluid to them on really dirty track very
been looping for about 30 minutes on my layout. (about 10 easily... Over all, right now I like the CMX the best, until
laps) I find the ones with bright boy like characteristics fair someone comes out with a newer better one...and I will
much better and almost match the we tables. I still find the HAVE to have that one too!!!
CMX to be a little better.
Sean B. McCaskey
1st CMX Owner - TBA Railway
2nd Aztec Dry http://www.pegnsean.net/tba/
3rd Monsoon
4th Masonite drag pad
5th Bright boy drag pad
6th 2 Centerlines (one wet one dry)

CMX Products, 57 River Road, Suite 1023, Essex Jct, Vermont 05452, Tel. 800-671-0641