Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Model A (1928-31)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 10-18-2019, 03:52 PM   #1
sethkestenbaum
Senior Member
 
sethkestenbaum's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Westchester County, NY
Posts: 632
Default Making New Powerhouse Rings!!!!!

Who is interested in replacement brushholders for their powerhouse? These are for both the three bush and five brush powerhouses.

Jeff (from Brattons) and I are trying to figure out how many folks might be looking for replacements. If we can prove to ourselves that there is the demand for at least 40 of them, we are likely going to make a batch (of 50 or 100). I have committed to buying three as I have three powerhouse generators with broken holders which I would love to get working. The price will be partially a function of how many folks are interested. We just need some indication that there is an actual market for these parts besides the the three I would buy.

We are also looking for someone who might want to be the "go to guy" to refer people to when it comes to remounting of existing hardware (the metal parts) onto the newly minted brushholder rings. I've got to imagine there is someone interested.

Please post if you are interested or have any thoughts. If you have a working powerhouse, think of this as a chance to get a back up ring BEFORE the one you have inevitably cracks.
__________________
Seth Kestenbaum
www.oldcarroadtrip.com

Last edited by sethkestenbaum; 10-18-2019 at 07:06 PM.
sethkestenbaum is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-21-2019, 06:33 PM   #2
LEM
Member
 
LEM's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Everett, Wa
Posts: 83
Default Re: Making New Powerhouse Rings!!!!!

How has been the response to this?
LEM is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 11-21-2019, 10:33 PM   #3
John Duden
Senior Member
 
John Duden's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,854
Default Re: Making New Powerhouse Rings!!!!!

I would be interested in 2-4 depending on the price
John Duden is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2019, 02:39 PM   #4
sethkestenbaum
Senior Member
 
sethkestenbaum's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Westchester County, NY
Posts: 632
Default Re: Making New Powerhouse Rings!!!!!

The response was lower than was anticipated but I am getting a few emails/calls. I'm going to push until it makes sense. The big challenge is going to be getting it done in a cost effective manner.
__________________
Seth Kestenbaum
www.oldcarroadtrip.com
sethkestenbaum is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2019, 03:58 PM   #5
Synchro909
Senior Member
 
Synchro909's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 7,472
Default Re: Making New Powerhouse Rings!!!!!

I recently bought a deceased estate of Model A bits which included several generators, some of them powerhouse ones in various stages of disrepair. Two were complete, assembled and working and about three were dismantled, usually because the ring was broken. Amongst the "debris" was a ring someone had made. This ring (since sold) looked to be a real winner. It was machined out of a slab of suitable thickness of that compressed elecrical insulating material used for circuit boards etc. Maybe a good way to produce your replacements would be to do likewise, either by manually controlled machine or by computer controlled ones.
Good luck with your project.
__________________
I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood.
Synchro909 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2019, 06:55 PM   #6
sethkestenbaum
Senior Member
 
sethkestenbaum's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Westchester County, NY
Posts: 632
Default Re: Making New Powerhouse Rings!!!!!

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Syncro, Keep your hands on the brushholders and the generators. It is only a matter of time for there to be enough interest or for the manufacturing costs to be low enough to justify the production. Seth
__________________
Seth Kestenbaum
www.oldcarroadtrip.com
sethkestenbaum is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2019, 08:49 PM   #7
Kurt in NJ
Senior Member
 
Kurt in NJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: on the Littlefield
Posts: 6,140
Default Re: Making New Powerhouse Rings!!!!!

Have you ever tried to remove and save the brush holders? ---sometimes the bent over tabs break off, all the solder has to come off too

i would think you would have to make 2 versions, 3 brush, 5 brush

When i used to rebuild generators in the 70s, 80s I made a few by hand out of computer boards (tube ones)---they came out a little thinner so the broke tabs stub was just enough to bend and solder ---did some rewinding too, --cheaper to just buy another core at 3-10$
Kurt in NJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-23-2019, 09:45 AM   #8
Gary Karr
Senior Member
 
Gary Karr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 1,483
Default Re: Making New Powerhouse Rings!!!!!

They should be able to make just a 5 brush type as you can install three brushes on on it using the existing predrilled holes.
Gary Karr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-23-2019, 02:33 PM   #9
sethkestenbaum
Senior Member
 
sethkestenbaum's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Westchester County, NY
Posts: 632
Default Re: Making New Powerhouse Rings!!!!!

Gary, I did not know that. Seth

Kurt, I've never tried to remove/save, but have to assume that it is more efficient to do so than to try to remanufacture the brush holders themselves.
__________________
Seth Kestenbaum
www.oldcarroadtrip.com
sethkestenbaum is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-23-2019, 06:54 PM   #10
Kurt in NJ
Senior Member
 
Kurt in NJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: on the Littlefield
Posts: 6,140
Default Re: Making New Powerhouse Rings!!!!!

I am pretty sure that the 3 brush uses different sized brushes than the 5 brush ---i think i have both where I am going tonight, will look
Kurt in NJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-24-2019, 12:52 AM   #11
Tom Wesenberg
Senior Member
 
Tom Wesenberg's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Mpls, MN
Posts: 27,582
Default Re: Making New Powerhouse Rings!!!!!

Yes, the 3 brush and 5 brush holders do use different size brushes.
Tom Wesenberg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-24-2019, 10:16 AM   #12
Kurt in NJ
Senior Member
 
Kurt in NJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: on the Littlefield
Posts: 6,140
Default Re: Making New Powerhouse Rings!!!!!

I was looking in the parts book (1937 edition)and there it only listed the 3 brush, and that you needed brushes to fit

So to save the metal parts to reuse you need figure how to save the riveted over brush spring posts, the third brush one has to be just right to be able to move, and the brush spring slot has to be at the correct angle to have proper brush tension--- when reassembled the electric pathway has to be one that won't come loose
Attached Images
File Type: jpg IMG_2166.jpg (36.1 KB, 49 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_2167.jpg (33.7 KB, 49 views)
Kurt in NJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:00 AM.