The Ford Barn

Ken MA · 10-19-2014, 08:20 PM

Looking to replace the brush springs in a 5 brush powerhouse generator. Does anyone have a source?

Tom Wesenberg · 10-19-2014, 09:19 PM

What is wrong with your's? I haven't had any that were weak, but have seen some that were too rusty to use. I wonder if Bert's would have some? 800-321-1931

John Duden · 10-19-2014, 10:10 PM

i may have one or two, i will have to look
John

Willie Krash · 10-20-2014, 12:34 AM

Are yours missing? Are they bad. Use 'em you can.

Ken MA · 10-20-2014, 04:26 PM

Piowerhouse was working fine for 12 years until a few weeks ago . Now when the engine runs at 600rpm or so it puts out 6.8 v at 5 amps, all ok, but run the engine at 1000rpm and the voltage drops to 0. Dykes Encyclopedia 1936 suggests springs may be weak. Any other ideas would be appreciated.

John Duden · 10-20-2014, 06:14 PM

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put in a new set of brushes, run some fine emery paper along the commutator, and file the points on the cutout
John

Ken MA · 10-20-2014, 06:37 PM

Brushes were replaced about 1000 miles ago. I run a nu rex regulator but take voltage readings from the generator stud no the cutout.

John Duden · 10-20-2014, 09:40 PM

Move your 5 the brush, that should increase the charging rate, tuning some emery cloth over the commentator should help to.
John

Tom Wesenberg · 10-20-2014, 11:22 PM

Here is a picture of a 5 brush holder and one of the springs removed to show it in the relaxed position. Notice the spring will uncoil about 3/8" when it's removed. This one needs to have the rust removed, then I'll reblue the springs and plate the steel parts.

Sometimes the ground brush spring post will not have a good connection to the steel frame. The fix for this is to scrape the base of the post and the steel next to it and use a good sized soldering gun to solder them together.

Ron in Quincy · 10-20-2014, 11:46 PM

If you find you have to replace any springs, I have some extra original springs and some other parts. Send me a PM and I will give you my e-mail address so we can communicate directly.

Ron

Tom Wesenberg · 10-21-2014, 06:32 AM

Take a look at the undercut between the commutator segments. If it's undercut at least .005" then it should be fine, but if the insulating material is even with the commutator bars, then it may be keeping the brushes from having good contact. Also check for sticking brushes. I've seen that problem a couple times in the past few months.

Also check each of the twisted wire connections between the 6 field coils. I use a battery charger to run 6 volts through the coils and they should use about 1 1/2 amps for the 5 brush field and about 2 amps for the 3 brush powerhouse. I recently had a problem with one where the twisted wire made connection when I tested it but sometimes didn't have output. The wire was broken at the base of the twist, and while it made connection most of the time, sometimes it didn't. There was enough wire to scrape it clean and solder it, so the fix was easy.

Joe K · 10-21-2014, 08:10 AM

And if you sand/level your commutator with emery cloth, keep in mind that emery is conductive: you'll want to undercut the commutator slightly (to clean out that dust) or at least get your toothbrush out and floss that area between bars.

Joe K

jrelliott · 10-21-2014, 10:30 AM

Where can you get new brushes?

Tom Wesenberg · 10-21-2014, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrelliott

Where can you get new brushes?

The only place I've seen lately are the brush sets on ebay.

John Duden · 10-21-2014, 11:13 AM

Little Dearborn has them, and I think macs has them

moasew · 02-02-2016, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron in Quincy

If you find you have to replace any springs, I have some extra original springs and some other parts. Send me a PM and I will give you my e-mail address so we can communicate directly.

Ron

Ron:

Do you still have the five brushes for the Powerhouse?

moasew

Ron in Quincy · 02-02-2016, 03:52 PM

moasew,

Sorry gave the last set to John LaVoy.

Ron

jthomas6 · 02-02-2016, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moasew

Ron:

Do you still have the five brushes for the Powerhouse?

moasew

Chuck has 3 & 5 brush:

http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=179529

Tom Wesenberg · 02-02-2016, 05:54 PM

I see powerhouse brushes show up at times on ebay, but the price is up to about $20.

I bought some plain brushes that I hope to cut to powerhouse size, but I'd still need the wire and terminals for them. Save your old brushes for the wires and terminals.

John Duden · 02-02-2016, 06:02 PM

call little dearborn in Minneapolis, they have NOS ones and around 15 a set 612 331 2066

10-19-2014, 08:20 PM	#1
Ken MA Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 27	Powerhouse brush springs Looking to replace the brush springs in a 5 brush powerhouse generator. Does anyone have a source?

10-19-2014, 09:19 PM	#2
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Powerhouse brush springs What is wrong with your's? I haven't had any that were weak, but have seen some that were too rusty to use. I wonder if Bert's would have some? 800-321-1931

10-19-2014, 10:10 PM	#3
John Duden Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,854	Re: Powerhouse brush springs i may have one or two, i will have to look John

10-20-2014, 12:34 AM	#4
Willie Krash Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Phoenix, Oregon Posts: 661	Re: Powerhouse brush springs Are yours missing? Are they bad. Use 'em you can. __________________ Mike Stitt "A business that make nothing but money is a poor business." -Henry Ford

10-20-2014, 04:26 PM	#5
Ken MA Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 27	Re: Powerhouse brush springs Piowerhouse was working fine for 12 years until a few weeks ago . Now when the engine runs at 600rpm or so it puts out 6.8 v at 5 amps, all ok, but run the engine at 1000rpm and the voltage drops to 0. Dykes Encyclopedia 1936 suggests springs may be weak. Any other ideas would be appreciated.

10-20-2014, 06:14 PM	#6
John Duden Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,854	Re: Powerhouse brush springs Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) put in a new set of brushes, run some fine emery paper along the commutator, and file the points on the cutout John

10-20-2014, 06:37 PM	#7
Ken MA Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 27	Re: Powerhouse brush springs Brushes were replaced about 1000 miles ago. I run a nu rex regulator but take voltage readings from the generator stud no the cutout.

10-20-2014, 09:40 PM	#8
John Duden Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,854	Re: Powerhouse brush springs Move your 5 the brush, that should increase the charging rate, tuning some emery cloth over the commentator should help to. John

10-20-2014, 11:46 PM	#10
Ron in Quincy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Quincy, CA. Posts: 1,708	Re: Powerhouse brush springs If you find you have to replace any springs, I have some extra original springs and some other parts. Send me a PM and I will give you my e-mail address so we can communicate directly. Ron

10-21-2014, 06:32 AM	#11
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Powerhouse brush springs Take a look at the undercut between the commutator segments. If it's undercut at least .005" then it should be fine, but if the insulating material is even with the commutator bars, then it may be keeping the brushes from having good contact. Also check for sticking brushes. I've seen that problem a couple times in the past few months. Also check each of the twisted wire connections between the 6 field coils. I use a battery charger to run 6 volts through the coils and they should use about 1 1/2 amps for the 5 brush field and about 2 amps for the 3 brush powerhouse. I recently had a problem with one where the twisted wire made connection when I tested it but sometimes didn't have output. The wire was broken at the base of the twist, and while it made connection most of the time, sometimes it didn't. There was enough wire to scrape it clean and solder it, so the fix was easy.

10-21-2014, 08:10 AM	#12
Joe K Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Cow Hampshire Posts: 4,188	Re: Powerhouse brush springs And if you sand/level your commutator with emery cloth, keep in mind that emery is conductive: you'll want to undercut the commutator slightly (to clean out that dust) or at least get your toothbrush out and floss that area between bars. Joe K __________________ Shudda kept the horse.

10-21-2014, 10:30 AM	#13
jrelliott Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Pine, AZ Posts: 794	Re: Powerhouse brush springs Where can you get new brushes?

10-21-2014, 11:13 AM	#15
John Duden Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,854	Re: Powerhouse brush springs Little Dearborn has them, and I think macs has them

02-02-2016, 03:52 PM	#17
Ron in Quincy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Quincy, CA. Posts: 1,708	Re: Powerhouse brush springs moasew, Sorry gave the last set to John LaVoy. Ron

02-02-2016, 05:54 PM	#19
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Powerhouse brush springs I see powerhouse brushes show up at times on ebay, but the price is up to about $20. I bought some plain brushes that I hope to cut to powerhouse size, but I'd still need the wire and terminals for them. Save your old brushes for the wires and terminals.

02-02-2016, 06:02 PM	#20
John Duden Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,854	Re: Powerhouse brush springs call little dearborn in Minneapolis, they have NOS ones and around 15 a set 612 331 2066