How to clean Lego 12v electric rails and motor contacts

A tutorial on how to clean the contacts on your 12v train motors and metal conducting rails on the tracks. This is an important step in the maintenance of your collection, since the rails and contacts often collect black dust. The materials used aren't hard to find, and work fairly well. Enjoy the video!

[@DuartJansen]

I've actually used sandpaper to clean my guide rails, did wet sanding with a fine grid, this removed most of the rust and the black stuff too.

[@Reker1million]

Yeah I've heard that some people use sandpaper, there seems to be a divide about whether it is detrimental to the metal (since it probably does wear away some metal).

[@ubervocal8777]

For the 12V inner rails or 9v out rails, you can use the same tools/solutions as used in the model train hobby for their rail maintenance. I picked up a rubber cleaning cylinder 1 inch long that is attached to a 12" aluminum tube/handle. Without disassembling anything, you just run the rubber cylinder back and forth on the conducting rails to clean.

[@Reker1million]

Oh, does it do a good job of cleaning the track? I've been using the cloth with alcohol because it gets a LOT of the black dust off...

[@ubervocal8777]

@@Reker1million Alcohol works so there is no need to switch. If you have a permanent setup with buildings and tunnels on either side of the track, then you may want an alternative. It's from Micro Mark and it's a "track cleaner on a stick". "The 3/4 inch diameter rubberized cleaning rod won't harm delicate track components, and is impregnated with silicon carbide particles that scrub track clean and bright in just a few passes."

[@Abandoned_Sydney_Exploration]

Thanks for the explination as I wanted to know how to do this for my 12V motor.

[@Reker1million]

Thanks for the comment, glad I could help!

[@destinvole3188]

Good explanation. Have been suffering from difficulty cleaning dust around wheels😅

[@Reker1million]

Thanks! Glad I can help you maintain your trains! If you have regular dust around the wheels, a toothbrush can take care of that. I usually use that to clean bricks that are dusty, as it can get in between the studs.

[@JacobPanda]

Nice to see how you clean the innertrack.
You can clean the innertrack more easily. I will show that in mine video how I take care of the dust of 12v-problem. Only need time to make the video :P .

[@Reker1million]

I saw your video, nice layout and way of cleaning! Although, I prefer to clean by hand since I believe it cleans the rails more thoroughly... unfortunately I think it's harder to get proper metal cleaner here in the US than it is in Europe so I have to use alcohol, but pressing hard on the rails cleans them pretty well.

[@olariuvlad9499]

What you use to clean the rails and the motor contacts?

[@Reker1million]

I use rubbing alcohol, which I explain in the video. If you need more information please watch the full video...

[@olariuvlad9499]

@reker1million when the next video will be?

[@Reker1million]

Not sure yet, it will be sometime in the next week. Currently in the process of receiving all of my orders, then I'll do more major content (new big review, layouts...)

[@privateagent]

@@Reker1million what about brass contacts replacement?