The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Fresh Air 6v blower motor repair or replace?

Guess I should have been paying attention to this subject in the past, but never thought much about it. I’m restoring the fresh air heater in my ’50 truck and pulled the motor apart to clean it up, lube it properly and take a look at the brushes. The brushes are only about 1/4” long and I’d like to replace them but can’t find anything that’s close. They are standard size, 1/4” x 1/4” but they have a lead that comes out the side of the brush at the base and slides in a slot in the brush holder. Most brushes have the lead coming out the end. All of the quarter square brushes that I have in my collection have very light leads also, they were probably meant for 110v motors. Anybody got any idea where to find brushes??? Went to Grainger and found nothing that will work, also they only list one complete 6v motor now and it’s quite different than the original.
As usual it was working fine when I pulled it apart I just wanted to freshen it up so I wouldn’t have to worry about it in the future.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Denny,
We send all our electric motors at work to Pohlers Industrial Electric in Joliet for rebuilding. Me thinks that a town as big as Aurora would also have an electric motor rebuilding outfit that might have what you're looking for.

Bob

I'm not sure of the dimension but the brushes for a internal regulator delco alternator have brushes with the leads out the side. Possible to get those and make them work?

Try Randy at www.fifthaveinternetgarage.com If he can't
help you, no one can.

I'll have to find out where I can get some of those to play with Don.
GMC_Guy, Message sent!
Never thought about looking for an electric motor rebuilder Bob, guess I just figured they are all throw away items now days.

DG

Took your advice Bob and went to an industrial motor rebuilders and he just happened to have a pair of brushes left on the shelf. So, I finally got together all that I needed to finish up the motor, here’s the brushes I found which shows that the old ones could have given trouble down the road a bit: http://www.pbase.com/dennygraham/image/114233239 . And a few shots of the rest of the resto. Tuning the commutator and such: http://www.pbase.com/dennygraham/harrison_h-02-47&page=2 .
Now I won’t have to worry about the motor for another 60 years. That would be when I’m turning 127 years old!
Tomorrow, I play with the paint for the housing.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

I'm sure you know this, be sure and clean out the gaps where the brushes ride after turning. Nice work as always.
Jeff

Yes Jeff, been turning commutators for over a half century believe it or not. Pop was an old school mechanic trained in the 20's and they had to be able to do every phase of the trade to be called a journeyman mechanic. He taught my brother and me from when we were little kids so I’ve been at it since the 40’s.
The picture is a little blurry but if you blow it up to the original size you can see that the groove has been cleaned out. I've got special little narrow tool steel scraper hoods to clean them with and not widen out the grove.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL