Posted May 7, 2024May 7 Hi, Total newbie here as I just recently unpacked my old 7715 and 7722 12V trains to introduce them to our kids. However, the tracks and the metal connectors beneath the motors could be in better shape. Both have some black coating, probably from dust and dirt. So far I have understood that isopropyl alcohol (IPA 99%) is the way to go right? Pictures: https://share.icloud.com/photos/0e0KhpZO6K2Ht-oOAj5eOP26A
May 7, 2024May 7 Hi @MSF, and welcome to EB! Nice that you unpacked your vintage (they are not "old", they are "nicely aged" !) 12V LEGO trains and tracks for your kids! That must be so much fun for you all! Yes, IPA won't do any harm at all. It gets rid of grease. Not so much of corrosion, that needs more attention. I'd say, first try IPA. I also recommend to use very fine sandpaper on the 12V train motor contacts, but not on the rails. On the rails: Should IPA not do the trick, apply some WD40 (or the like) on a piece of cloth and then give the conducting rails a good go. I'd never use WD40 inside any electronic device, but these 12V conducting rails can take it. When the WD40 worked, I'd clean the remains off with another IPA cleansing in the same way, but that is somewhat optional and just keeping it on the very safe side. Best regards, Thorsten
June 13, 2024Jun 13 Author On 5/7/2024 at 9:31 PM, Toastie said: Hi @MSF, and welcome to EB! Nice that you unpacked your vintage (they are not "old", they are "nicely aged" !) 12V LEGO trains and tracks for your kids! That must be so much fun for you all! Yes, IPA won't do any harm at all. It gets rid of grease. Not so much of corrosion, that needs more attention. I'd say, first try IPA. I also recommend to use very fine sandpaper on the 12V train motor contacts, but not on the rails. On the rails: Should IPA not do the trick, apply some WD40 (or the like) on a piece of cloth and then give the conducting rails a good go. I'd never use WD40 inside any electronic device, but these 12V conducting rails can take it. When the WD40 worked, I'd clean the remains off with another IPA cleansing in the same way, but that is somewhat optional and just keeping it on the very safe side. Best regards, Thorsten Hi Thorsten, Sorry for the hugely delayed answer! You are so right about "nicely aged" I actually managed to take off the 6 wheels on the motors without breaking anything...and found what's probably 30 year old hairs tightly filtered around the axles. Removing the hairs did some good for the power of the motors and now I have ordered some IPA and will give the rails a careful treatment. Depending on the result I will bring in WD40 as you say. I'm a bit surprised how well the two trains run. When not having used them for a couple of days they need to do 1 or 2 laps where they might stop and need a small nudge, but after that they have "cleaned" the rails and after 10-15 laps they are up to pretty much max speed from what I can remember. Even my stop signal works and can stop the train and also the railway crossing works and can lift and lower the boom. The only parts that haven't really survived 30 years in plastic bags are the "motors" for my two track switches (or what they are called in English). They send out a constant electrical humming which isn't nice to listen to. It would be very nice if I could somehow replace the 12V train motor contacts, as they are somewhat worn, but from what I gather that's not really an option without it becoming are very DIY project. Best, Morten Edited June 13, 2024Jun 13 by MSF
June 13, 2024Jun 13 Hi Morten, nice! 12V trains last forever ... With regard to the motor contacts: Do you refer to these? https://www.ebay.de/itm/276082740838?itmmeta=01J08PKTHXCKXQ3AK03XZV58P2&hash=item4047d04e66:g:9G0AAOSwmv5laFgs It is an eBay link, in bloody German, but has nice pictures showing what to do ... Best, Thorsten
June 13, 2024Jun 13 Author 8 hours ago, Toastie said: Hi Morten, nice! 12V trains last forever ... With regard to the motor contacts: Do you refer to these? https://www.ebay.de/itm/276082740838?itmmeta=01J08PKTHXCKXQ3AK03XZV58P2&hash=item4047d04e66:g:9G0AAOSwmv5laFgs It is an eBay link, in bloody German, but has nice pictures showing what to do ... Best, Thorsten Hi Thorsten, I hadn't seen the ones you link to. I had only seen something where you basically have to make the contacts yourself. I'm strongly considering buying two sets. I guess they will also fit my 7715 and 7722 even though the lowest mentioned number is 7725? And opening the motor is that reasonably straight forward? No soldering required right? ....to be completely honest your Ebay link may have opened pandoras box for me. I just stumbled upon 3 articles selling the 7745 set. The 7745 was maybe my biggest childhood Lego dream. I never got it, as it was expensive. I have so much unfinished business with that set
June 13, 2024Jun 13 1 hour ago, MSF said: No soldering required right? Nope, no soldering It will work. If not, just post here, and many, many people will be willing to help out! Best, Thorsten
June 14, 2024Jun 14 Here's a handy article by Michael Gale about cleaning and restoring 12V track. Might be helpful!
June 15, 2024Jun 15 On 6/14/2024 at 3:02 AM, Narissis said: Here's a handy article by Michael Gale about cleaning and restoring 12V track. Might be helpful! Great tutorial indeed!
June 18, 2024Jun 18 Author On 6/13/2024 at 11:45 PM, Toastie said: Nope, no soldering It will work. If not, just post here, and many, many people will be willing to help out! Best, Thorsten Thx Thorsten, I have ordered the contacts now. ....and I also ended up ordering a complete 7745 set (no box though) even though that really wasn't the plan!
June 18, 2024Jun 18 Author On 6/14/2024 at 3:02 AM, Narissis said: Here's a handy article by Michael Gale about cleaning and restoring 12V track. Might be helpful! Thx @Narissis
June 18, 2024Jun 18 10 hours ago, MSF said: complete 7745 set (no box though) Heehee - the box won't add anything other than having a ... box - you possibly wouldn't know where to put it - happened to me: I am now a proud owner of a TI99/4A box. And now what? The >content< of the box, a TI99/4A along with power supply and speech synthesizer, makes all the difference. The box is ... worn down. I'll put it into the recycle bin (and yes, I'll say a few words, when doing that, sure) - and then have fun with the real thing, a dream came true!!! So, I guess your wallet has suffered a bit, huh - but: As Donald Duck Dunn says in the Blues Brothers movie: "If the sh*t fits, wear it!" That's what I do, and I don't care much about what others think (about my sh*t). Have fun with all your 12V trains!!! All the best, Thorsten
June 19, 2024Jun 19 Author 11 hours ago, Toastie said: Heehee - the box won't add anything other than having a ... box - you possibly wouldn't know where to put it - happened to me: I am now a proud owner of a TI99/4A box. And now what? The >content< of the box, a TI99/4A along with power supply and speech synthesizer, makes all the difference. The box is ... worn down. I'll put it into the recycle bin (and yes, I'll say a few words, when doing that, sure) - and then have fun with the real thing, a dream came true!!! So, I guess your wallet has suffered a bit, huh - but: As Donald Duck Dunn says in the Blues Brothers movie: "If the sh*t fits, wear it!" That's what I do, and I don't care much about what others think (about my sh*t). Have fun with all your 12V trains!!! All the best, Thorsten Haha will do Thorsten, looking forward to build the train and make peace with the 7745. Thought the same about the box, it would just end up in the cellar. Enjoy the TI99/4A Edited June 19, 2024Jun 19 by MSF
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