Part 4 Sunday sidetrack Antique Automotive Generator Service

Resurfacing generator armatures commutator using Ideal Electric slip ring and commutator dressing stones in Axelson lathe and reworking to much better than the standard manufacturers fits and tolerances, also balance that can be done in a machine shop. I point out how anything here can be done with minimal lathe tooling, just a 4 jaw chuck and a steady rest.
Coming up, an easy static balance for this high-speed armature, that will increase service life of the entire generator unit.

[@swanvalleymachineshop]

Good one Don 👍

[@DonDyarprecision]

Thanks Max!

[@jimzellmer4586]

Great content Don. I just found an old 1935 6V wincharger at a antique flea market place. I will use this technique when I rebuild it. Tnx.

[@DonDyarprecision]

I found the most notable performance increase on starters and generators that are the dreaded 6 volts!

[@marcseclecticstuff9497]

Great video on a dying art Don! I presume you'll do a video on how to dress/run-in the brushes as well?

[@DonDyarprecision]

Yes, I need to chase down parts and do final assembly video, one more shop operation coming up

[@edcallahan6952]

Another excellent video series. Remember the tru cut armature lathe ? Little rotary cutter for under cutting the mica or a hacksaw blade. Flint paper or stone but never emery cloth the aluminum oxide will be imbedded in bars and between them acting as an unwanted conductor. Thanks again for the great videos ed

[@DonDyarprecision]

The Atlas uses an attachment with a Bodine motor and a tiny round saw blade, The Southbend had an attachment that you worked back and forth with a lever using a small straight saw for under cutting. The tru cut was geared for basic maintenance, where the lathes can also do bushings and whatever other machine work needed. The dressing stones doing the complete commutator reconditioning in 1/3 the time to higher accuracy and better control, used from vacuum cleaner repair to the motor generators in elevators and electric motor in industry but not in automotive. When I was doing this commercially, I would never let anyone see that. I had to be careful not to let anyone see anything not carefully controlled by me, small things getting out can be and was costly mistake.

[@graedonmunro1793]

never seen that polishing thing before! good result.

[@DonDyarprecision]

Little known item used in heavy and light industry but not automotive for some unknown reasons.

[@mudnducs]

I found one of those armature chucks many years ago in a dumpster. They come in handy on occasion.

[@DonDyarprecision]

They can be used on work when there is no center hole thanks

[@lotharfunke8749]

Awesome thank you.

[@DonDyarprecision]

You're welcome!

[@michaelboyle4553]

thank you

[@DonDyarprecision]

Welcome!

[@RustyInventions-wz6ir]

Very nice work sir

[@DonDyarprecision]

Thanks

[@Throughthebulkhead]

Just wondering why you didn’t you tighten the tailstock chuck jaws to support the armature?
Is it just there as a safety measure?

[@DonDyarprecision]

The jaws on the tail stock chuck are bronze and act like a bearing, so you tighten them, then back off enough so the armature rotates, and oil them. Sort of an unusual item not seen often these days, thanks!

[@melgross]

That tailstock chuck doesn’t rotate. If you tighten the jaws you’ll damage them. You might might note that the chuck only allows hand adjustment, no tightening key.

[@Throughthebulkhead]

@@melgross so if just acts like a fixed steady?
I thought they had ball bearings similar to a live centre do the jaws could be tightened and the whole thing rotate?

[@Throughthebulkhead]

@@DonDyarprecision got it! I thought the bronze jaws were to stop marring and that the whole thing rotated. I enjoy and appreciate that you share your knowledge and experience.

[@kooldoozer]

@@DonDyarprecision And I believe that armature chuck has a lock nut that will bind the adjusting ring. ---Doozer