Armature testing

[John Kuhnast]

Can I use a meter to test the continueity of a starter or generator armature? thanks

[Patrick L.]

yes

[Randy in Illinois]

John, The answer is yes. in the ohm range you should have infinate resistance from all commutator segments to shaft. no grounds. then from one commutator segment to the comutator segment opposit, you should read some resistance. ( winding complete) Now it still needs to be tested for shorts, for that you need a growler, it puts a magnetic field through it and by placing a hacksaw blade over the fields of the armature, if it vibrated it had a short.

[Kevin in NJ]

Here is a link to how to test armatures.

Armature link

[Russ/40]

Anyone have plans for making a growler?

[Tom Wesenberg]

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Originally Posted by Russ/40

Anyone have plans for making a growler?

I bought mine at a swap meet for less than the copper wire would cost to make one. I paid $10 about 15 years ago, but still see them fairly cheap.

[Willie Krash]

I may have some disagreement here but if you don't turn or undercut an armature you can do OK with a visual. I look for dead bars ( two@180° out). I look at the riser on the comm and it's condition. Really they are tough and the odds are very much in your favor that it will be OK. If turned and undercut you'll have to use a growler.

[MikeK]

Originally Posted by John Kuhnast

Can I use a meter to test the continuity of a starter or generator armature? thanks

To answer your question about a continuity meter as a test, in a word, NO. You have to know if you have a lap or wave wound armature. Continuity will show on many wave wound armatures even though some wires may be fractured and open because they are usually wound with more than one layer of waves. Earlier long-style generator armatures were wave wound. The wave wound jobs are much easier to build up if you are hand winding.

The other winding method, lap wind, has an advantage of more amperage with less heat buildup. If a secondary load is applied from a third brush the single common brush will see more current every other segment. You may see an alternating pattern of light/dark commutator segments on this type of armature, but that is normal so long as they are not burned. That armature could probably run 20+ amps all day.

If using a growler the hack saw blade test only works on wave wound armatures. A growler with a load test lamp is the best diagnostic for lap wound armatures.

[Kurt in NJ]

Originally Posted by Russ/40

Anyone have plans for making a growler?

http://www.scribd.com/doc/3093121/LeJay-Manual

Look at plan 22, other generator parts than "T" can be used, when this was written "T" generators were probably the cheapest to work with because there were so many

[Russ/40]

Thanks!

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by Russ/40

Anyone have plans for making a growler?

It's EASY, Russ,
If you don't treat your Dear Wife with respect, love, caring, sharing, etc, you have just made a perfect GROWLER! Bill W.