Piko R/C Battery Powered track cleaner

[River Roly]

Anyone got any experience of this little beastie?

 

[PhilP]

Anyone got any experience of this little beastie?

In what respect?
Do you want a review, or do you need help with one?

PhilP.

 

[dunnyrail]

I think you will find that Gizzy has one and waxed lyrical about it somewhere in here.

 

[River Roly]

In what respect?
Do you want a review, or do you need help with one?

PhilP.

Just wondered if they were any good for the price. The second hand LGB ones are so expensive.

 

[PhilP]

Just wondered if they were any good for the price. The second hand LGB ones are so expensive.

I would class them as a track polisher, rather than a track cleaner..
Not enough weight, onto tiny little pads. - You can't really compare, with the LGB track cleaning loco.

PhilP.

 

[casey jones snr]

Anyone got any experience of this little beastie?

I have one and I must say that as a locomotive it performs well. As a track cleaning locomotive it is mediocre. It is good for polishing the rails but not much else.

 

[Paul M]

I would class them as a track polisher, rather than a track cleaner..
Not enough weight, onto tiny little pads. - You can't really compare, with the LGB track cleaning loco.

PhilP.

But if it were used frequently, would the crud build up too much for it to cope with?

 

[dunnyrail]

But if it were used frequently, would the crud build up too much for it to cope with?

Only way to really clean crud is with the LGB track block ref 50040, yes the LGB track cleaner loco does a pretty good job but for real tarnish needs 4-5 passes to get true clean reliability with DCC sound locomotives. The Piko thing as mentioned perhaps a bit Ok but as the MAIN track cleaner I imagine of little use.

 

[JimmyB]

I would class them as a track polisher, rather than a track cleaner..
Not enough weight, onto tiny little pads. - You can't really compare, with the LGB track cleaning loco.

PhilP.

I would imagine it is not much better than the attachment for wagons

 

[PhilP]

I would imagine it is not much better than the attachment for wagons

View attachment 347248

The pads under wagons, are usually a lot bigger, and you can stick a brick on the wagon!

The Piko offering does not have the mass, and the pads replace the pickup skates, so are very small.

PhilP.

 

[brokenwing]

Thank you River Roly for posing the question and to everyone that has contributed. I was tentatively thinking about making a purchase but don't think it would be powerful enough to take the guano and other crap off my track. I'll stick to elbow grease with the LGB cleaning block and the cleaning pads under my wagon. I was going to say money saved but we all know that is not the case as it will just be spent on something else.

 

[dunnyrail]

Thank you River Roly for posing the question and to everyone that has contributed. I was tentatively thinking about making a purchase but don't think it would be powerful enough to take the guano and other crap off my track. I'll stick to elbow grease with the LGB cleaning block and the cleaning pads under my wagon. I was going to say money saved but we all know that is not the case as it will just be spent on something else.

Yes that guano does go off like concrete.

 

[Gizzy]

Only way to really clean crud is with the LGB track block ref 50040, yes the LGB track cleaner loco does a pretty good job but for real tarnish needs 4-5 passes to get true clean reliability with DCC sound locomotives. The Piko thing as mentioned perhaps a bit Ok but as the MAIN track cleaner I imagine of little use.

I agree with JD et al.

As someone who runs infrequently, with tree sap and bird dropping issues, the best thing is the LGB track rubber or a GaryFlex block with some elbow grease.

LGB Track Clening Loco is good for keeping the track clean after the block.

The PIKO one might help keep the track clean if left running for several passes. I use mine on the continuous loop at the end of my layout, where there is not so much crud. Really about as effective as the track pads under wagons. They help a little once the track has been cleaned with a block....

 

[River Roly]

Thanks to all for your replies. Only one question remains, why are some of them priced at £sub 300 and others at £over400?? Oh, and as track cleaning could be a major problem, I've bought a 2/H LGB
monster from a respected retailer. Cant wait to see all those flashing lights!!!!!

 

[PhilP]

The cheaper option is a plain RC lico (or the track cleaner) the more expensive option has sound. - Though do look carefully at the descriptions, and model numbers, if buying from certain sites.

PhilP.