Why would i buy a 40 Gal drum of molasses ?

[David Dunlop]

And here I thought you were going to be making some Rum, Robert.

David

[Lew Skelton]

I too have had track in Molasses, almost a year now with good results. The track was brand new however had been garden edging for 60 years at a guess. It is due to be taken out and waterblasted again soon as it builds up a black slime whilst soaking. I am unsure of the ratio however two 20kg containers of molasses is all I could afford at the time. soaking in a mix all up at approx 700 litres.
I did smell sweet for a while now it is something un human. I have it at work well ventelated next to a golf course and often see golfers checking there shoes for dog shit😂.

[Phil Waterman]

Hi

Interesting thread, but what do you do with the residue afterward? I've only had to deal with small amounts which I let evaporate and then throw out with the trash. But 55 gallons plus the dissolved rust think my trash guy would object.

Cheers Phil

[Robert Bergeron]

Thanks Charlie ( nice pictures ) , David ( Rum , now that’s a good idea but cookies are more socialy acceptable) Lew ( your daughter i presume , nice ) & Phil ( yes, what happens with the waste ? ) for your posts guys.

I don’t know how this is going to turn out . Charlie i will check one of the tracks in about a week as you suggest .

Today i added hot water in equal amount to the molasses volume ( 50-50 ) to the track bath.

The mixture turned a greenish colour within hours .


When this adventure is over i intended to spread the mixture over part of my hay field as fertilizer ? Will i kill all life for the next 100 years ?


When does the terrible smell begin ?

I have the bath inside my truck & Carrier hangar . I regularly work in there ! It is heated at 15 degrees Centigrads .

Anyway , can anyone tell me in simple terms and explain what the heck i am doing and if it will work to free up the links and pins please ? Thanks .

[Robert Bergeron]

One more shot .I am not dreaming , the mixture of molasses and hot water turned green ! I used hot water from the faucet to make sure it mixed well with the molasses and it did .

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Robert Bergeron

When this adventure is over i intended to spread the mixture over part of my hay field as fertilizer ? Will i kill all life for the next 100 years ?

You will have an excellent spring crop of NOS Carrier Track next year!

[RichardT10829]

Also used molasses to do my tracks, you are best working the links back and forth whilst they are wet during the jet wash phase.

As for flash rust issues, I sprayed my track with POR metal ready, they didn't rust after that.


Left mine in fermented molasses for two weeks and they had been seized solid prior to that.

[Robert Bergeron]

Thanks Tony and Richard . Two weeks ? Now that’s fast ! I will let the whole thing rest for two weeks then i will give it an inspection . Thanks for the suggestions Richard. Rocking the pins & links to free them up is also a very good idea . My tracks are a barn find . All the links are present and there is barely any wear at all except for the fact that the pins and links are frozen . Someone at some point thought it was a good idea to put a torch to the track to free up one link on each track to take them off a Carrier instead of pulling a pin in the conventional way ! Very strange . Anyway , i look forward to the results of this experience . From what you are saying Richard it is a sure thing ! Thanks all. Keep you posted.