Commutator Maintenance
With poprer maintenance and operating conditions a motor commutator should last many years. However, many are ruined because maintenance is not performed properly. Following are a few simple procedures that can greatly increase the life of a commutator.
|
If the commutator is dirty and the film is still in good condition, a canvas cloth can be used to wipe off the dirt. This video shows how to clean the commutator while the motor is operating.
|
|
This video shows a prefered method of using a lathe to resurface the commutator.
|
|
Once the commutator has been resurfaced the mica in the grooves will need to be undercut by 1/16" or so. This can be accomplished using a hacksaw that has been shaped into a hook. If a commutator simply has dirt in the grooves, this same tool is useful for scraping the dirt out. This video shows how to make and use this tool.
|