I've had these for several years now. Here's some tips for best results: 1. Instead of clipping them on to the inside axle, clip it to the OUTSIDE axle. Push up the coupler's metal magnetic "air hose" enough so the Dust Monkey and the truck it's attached to can lay flat on the track, yet, make sure it's low enough *so it can apply adequate downward pressure on the Dust Monkey* to ensure it can pick up any dust and gunk properly. You'll see a pair of 9mm-wide streaks. 2. Assign a dedicated piece of rolling stock for this purpose. I found a Micro-Trains 25' ore car for cheap at a train show for this very purpose, pushed by one of my 4-axle locos. I put metal wheels on it and added lead weights inside the hopper (hidden by the removable ore load insert). The additional weight ensures good tracking for the car. 3. Also remember, they're washable and reusable! After they get dirty, wash them by hand in warm/hot water with dishwashing detergent. The black streaks will be cleaned off and after drying you can use them again! After several uses once the padding has fully worn off, they can be disposed of.
The best way to keep track clean is to just run trains often. It obviously doesn’t eliminate the need for maintenance completely, but you won’t get that annoying stalling either.
For dust specifically, the tomix cleaning car is pretty amazing. The vacuum works well enough to let me run trains with 3 crazy cats, with my layout 9” off the ground.
I use these under my N scale cabeese, running them dry. It is good maintenance. When I go a while without running trains, then I use a pair I have under a 50ft gon with extra weight in it. I wet the lead monkey with CRC6-26 and push it around the layout with a loco. I am impressed with them.
I have used them on my layout just one per car. I try to use one of my heavier cars. Also run them dry. They do pick up dust and they do help . But I clean my track with mineral spirits. I do like seeing your videos, they’re a big help. I get some good ideas from you. I really like your 3D printing. I’m planning to get some of the guard rails. Thanks for sharing. Have a good day.
I use them and they work great. I have some places which I can Hardly reach which Is great. I actually removed the pad from the holder and used double sided tape to add microfiber cloth to it in yellow color which works better. when finished they are almost black after running a few loops on the track
I have them on a couple of my cars, and they seem to work. Mine have picked up quite a bit from the track. I'm going to have to get more of them. I think they are meant to be run all the time to pick up any debris before the debris sticks to the tracks.
Hi Stephen. Even before you started your conclusions, including that you wished the pads were heavier, I was thinking it would be good to add weight (beneath a load - e.g. coal, ore, etc.) to the wagon. As you say, cleaning wagons are good for inaccessible areas of the layout.
As a fellow N scaler, I have a couple thoughts. 1. They are called dust monkeys. They aren’t called “I neglected cleaning my track properly and was really hoping for a magic wand type solution” 🤣 2. I tried NO OX ID and did run into some traction issues with some locomotives. Be VERY stingy with it on any grades. In N scale in particular, NO OX was very effective in the yard as the tiny N scale switchers don’t have the weight to maintain good downward pressure on the rails so anything you can do in the yard to increase electrical pickup is a bonus. 3. If you use IPA to clean but I would strongly suggest (and can recommend - especially in N scale) is to then “condition” the track with odourless mineral spirits. I could not believe the difference this made! Again like the NO OX, just a light application after your IPA soaked cloth is coming away clean from the rails.
You must love relaying track using IPA??? No ox extremely lightly applied to the track followed by a light going over with a towel and your track will stay clean a hell of a lot longer. For grades I run the towel over it a few time to prevent slipping. Bright boys were the thing in the 1950-80s but No ox is a massive improvement in cleaning and improving electrical contact.
I clean my track with INOX and use them all the time when running Trains. Help keep the track maintain. With INOX I can go weeks, come in the train room....Turn it on and run Trains. Bob
I've had these for several years now. Here's some tips for best results:
1. Instead of clipping them on to the inside axle, clip it to the OUTSIDE axle. Push up the coupler's metal magnetic "air hose" enough so the Dust Monkey and the truck it's attached to can lay flat on the track, yet, make sure it's low enough *so it can apply adequate downward pressure on the Dust Monkey* to ensure it can pick up any dust and gunk properly. You'll see a pair of 9mm-wide streaks.
2. Assign a dedicated piece of rolling stock for this purpose. I found a Micro-Trains 25' ore car for cheap at a train show for this very purpose, pushed by one of my 4-axle locos. I put metal wheels on it and added lead weights inside the hopper (hidden by the removable ore load insert). The additional weight ensures good tracking for the car.
3. Also remember, they're washable and reusable! After they get dirty, wash them by hand in warm/hot water with dishwashing detergent. The black streaks will be cleaned off and after drying you can use them again! After several uses once the padding has fully worn off, they can be disposed of.
I have some permanently under some of my rolling stock. Works very well.
The best way to keep track clean is to just run trains often. It obviously doesn’t eliminate the need for maintenance completely, but you won’t get that annoying stalling either.
For dust specifically, the tomix cleaning car is pretty amazing. The vacuum works well enough to let me run trains with 3 crazy cats, with my layout 9” off the ground.
No way this is awesome, I seen these but had no idea what they were for? I’m going to give them a shot 👍 thanks
Great video nice share layout looking good 👍🏻🚂TSM
They work even better with a little rectangle of thin sheet lead glued on top. I use mine with CRC 2-26 to clean the track.
I use these under my N scale cabeese, running them dry. It is good maintenance. When I go a while without running trains, then I use a pair I have under a 50ft gon with extra weight in it. I wet the lead monkey with CRC6-26 and push it around the layout with a loco. I am impressed with them.
I have used them on my layout just one per car. I try to use one of my heavier cars. Also run them dry. They do pick up dust and they do help . But I clean my track with mineral spirits. I do like seeing your videos, they’re a big help. I get some good ideas from you. I really like your 3D printing. I’m planning to get some of the guard rails. Thanks for sharing. Have a good day.
I use them and they work great. I have some places which I can Hardly reach which Is great. I actually removed the pad from the holder and used double sided tape to add microfiber cloth to it in yellow color which works better. when finished they are almost black after running a few loops on the track
I have them on a couple of my cars, and they seem to work. Mine have picked up quite a bit from the track. I'm going to have to get more of them. I think they are meant to be run all the time to pick up any debris before the debris sticks to the tracks.
I think they would be most useful just rollin around as you run trains.
Hi Stephen. Even before you started your conclusions, including that you wished the pads were heavier, I was thinking it would be good to add weight (beneath a load - e.g. coal, ore, etc.) to the wagon. As you say, cleaning wagons are good for inaccessible areas of the layout.
Apologies for the name - yet another senior moment!
I’ve run these on my HO layout. I run they “dry”. Seems to do a good job picking up dust.
As a fellow N scaler, I have a couple thoughts.
1. They are called dust monkeys. They aren’t called “I neglected cleaning my track properly and was really hoping for a magic wand type solution” 🤣
2. I tried NO OX ID and did run into some traction issues with some locomotives. Be VERY stingy with it on any grades. In N scale in particular, NO OX was very effective in the yard as the tiny N scale switchers don’t have the weight to maintain good downward pressure on the rails so anything you can do in the yard to increase electrical pickup is a bonus.
3. If you use IPA to clean but I would strongly suggest (and can recommend - especially in N scale) is to then “condition” the track with odourless mineral spirits. I could not believe the difference this made! Again like the NO OX, just a light application after your IPA soaked cloth is coming away clean from the rails.
Tony’s train has a “real” cleaner. These look good for light work.
You must love relaying track using IPA??? No ox extremely lightly applied to the track followed by a light going over with a towel and your track will stay clean a hell of a lot longer. For grades I run the towel over it a few time to prevent slipping. Bright boys were the thing in the 1950-80s but No ox is a massive improvement in cleaning and improving electrical contact.
what's wrong with IPA? It's not corrosive to metal.
I only used one per car on lead truck,was afraid of snagging on turnouts,kept them on all the time but normally dry
I was worried about the turnouts, and was pleased they didn't cause any obvious issues.
I have used these dry and in conjunction with other types of track cleaning cars. I think they work well but are a little pricey.
They're pricey but they're also washable so you can re-use them over and over again. Wash them by hand with detergent and warm water.
@@metroredline Never thought of that. I will give it a try. Thanks.
I clean my track with INOX and use them all the time when running Trains. Help keep the track maintain. With INOX I can go weeks, come in the train room....Turn it on and run Trains. Bob
That sounds amazing. I will need to look into it. Thanks
Why would you put beer on the pads?
hello nscaler454 its is randy and i like yours cool video thanks friends randy
thanks randy