Motor brush failure

[skiprat]

Check this out....
For years my little mill has sounded rough....I always put it down to the gears just being noisy...
I have been doing loads of milling the last few days, making a 72 inch belt grinder
Well today it went snap crackle pop and even blew the house power
I figured the speed controller at least would be fried but look what I found...

The motor brush had failed. But check the difference in length....

Anyway, it wouldn't solder so I just tinned the wire and jammed it in the hole. I then secured it with CA...

Hey it works !! The machine runs almost silently !!

I've ordered new brushes...but hey..It works !!:biggrin:

 

[SteveG]

I thought that this type of thing would immediately default to repair by duct tape, but I could be wrong. (Perhaps that is a redneck answer, and does not apply on your side of the pond. )

 

[Dieseldoc]

Steve : Looks like there is more that one way to skin a cat!!!

charliie

 

[Charlie_W]

Great work around till the new brushes arrive.....CA....who knew?

 

[PenPal]

Where there is a will there is a way or a family. Never seen a situation like that. It must be a relief to have a silent working mill again.

Kind regards Peter and Wilma.

 

[Curly]

How does the commutator look?

 

[skiprat]

Pete, it looks ok. There was no burnt segments and the brush was still long enough to stay in the housing.:wink:

 

[randyrls]

Good work skip!

Challenge question: Why does one brush wear faster than the other?

Bonus Question: Why are they called "brushes" (they aren't)?

PS: I know both answers (I think).

 

[skiprat]

Ok Randy...I'll try..

In this instance I think one is substantially longer because it hasn't been used.
I also reckon that the spring tension is/was different, thus one getting ground down more.

Brushes?? Didn't they once use metallic bristle brushes before the advent of carbon types??

 

[frank123]

Only luck I've ever had soldering a brush was using high temp silver solder.

If you're lucky, that brush will be the same size as one of the ones you can find in a local hardware store or motor repair shop.

Only uneven brush wear I've had was from a brush sticking in the brush holder because it wouldn't move freely. IIRC, I think the spring getting hung up was the problem, but it's been a long time and I really don't remember for certain.