Clean It Up

UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Carpet Dawg on January 30, 2011, 06:52:10 pm

Title: Carbon brushes question
Post by: Carpet Dawg on January 30, 2011, 06:52:10 pm
I bought these brushes a couple of months ago http://www.worldofclean.co.uk/index.php?productID=652 For my Airflex. Unfortunatly CleanSmart didn't have any in stock when i called them at the time so ordered from Solution.

Anyways, I tried changing them today with the aid of a youtube video! Only to realise they are not exactly the same type of brushes :(
They are the same size etc but the ones on my airflex have a dark brown casing (dont think this makes a differance??) and also, they dont have a brass bit sticking out the side.

So is it possible to use these ones on my lamb vac motor?
and is it ok/safe to "loop" the brass lead coming from the armature around that metal bit sticking out of the side of the carbon brush?

The video shows that the lead coming from the armature connects to casing via a little slot, but these black carbon brushes dont have a slot so I am presuming its ok to loop them around that bit sticking out?

Should really just buy another set but would like to get it sorted tonight.

The youtube vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yND5ffhfqZU

cheers
Tony

Edit: what a rant eh! lol
Title: Re: Carbon brushes question
Post by: Carpet Dawg on January 30, 2011, 09:16:32 pm
Come you cleaning up gods! :) Someone must know.
Title: Re: Carbon brushes question
Post by: Steve. Taylor on January 30, 2011, 09:43:34 pm
Tony just been in the workshop turned alarm off and lights on just for you :-*

On a steampro power max the wire is going through the brass hole if that makes sense

Also heres a good link

http://www.ametekfsm.com/Technical_reference.aspx
Title: Re: Carbon brushes question
Post by: Carpet Dawg on January 30, 2011, 10:02:11 pm
Cheers Steve!!  ;D

Yeah, thats exactly what i was after! If it was ok to thread the wire through that hole.
I'm going to try it in a sec, machine is all opened up still and tools all over the place. Finding it hard to get off the sofa! lol

That link looks good! Bookmarked it under "carpet cleaning stuff" lol :)

Cheers mate
Tony
Title: Re: Carbon brushes question
Post by: Steve. Taylor on January 30, 2011, 10:08:45 pm
Tony make sure you run both motors 30 minutes it will smell and spark a bit until the carbon takes up the shape of the armateur.

If it goes bang dont listen to me ;D :o :o :'(
Title: Re: Carbon brushes question
Post by: Carpet Dawg on January 30, 2011, 10:19:44 pm
ha ha I think i'm going to risk it anyways, I have two spare vac motors and a spare pumphead (paranoia)
Title: Re: Carbon brushes question
Post by: robert meldrum on January 30, 2011, 10:59:20 pm
I replaced brushes ( bell end unit ) recently on a shurflo but only got about 50% of the 135 psi which is useless. On looking at the packaging I noticed it stated the unit was for a 100 psi pump, but I needed the machine for a particular job and due to the postal shambles in December I took a chance thinking the brushes would be unlikely to affect the power developed by the pump.

I think I might have presumed incorrectly.......................
Title: Re: Carbon brushes question
Post by: Carpet Dawg on January 31, 2011, 12:04:45 am
Might just phone Matt tomorrow just in case.... still a quater left on the brushes anywho
Title: Re: Carbon brushes question
Post by: Ian Gourlay on January 31, 2011, 08:37:37 am
Thanks for You tube Link

When a motor dies how do you know its the brushes and not something else

My local repair man always says I need a new motor saying its the coil or the brass thing that goes round
Title: Re: Carbon brushes question
Post by: Adam Fearnley on January 31, 2011, 11:10:14 am
If it's the brass commutator then you can simply sand it down.  Just connect it to a 12-18V battery or power source to get it turning then using 600-1200 grain sandpaper sand it as it's turning, this will create a smooth polished surface, there is plenty of brass on the commutator to sand down.  If you replace the brushes at the same time you should have something of a new motor, unless it is the coils at fault, but I think most of the time its the commutator and brushes.  I have a cheap Chinese vac that has had loads of water through it and still working and bearings seem fine so IM not sure how much damage water actually does does.
Title: Re: Carbon brushes question
Post by: Ian Gourlay on January 31, 2011, 11:36:17 am
I will have to get brave repair one and test in on bench
Title: Re: Carbon brushes question
Post by: Adam Fearnley on January 31, 2011, 03:43:59 pm
Yes, to test them I screw the vac to a board, then take the handle of a sebo duo, push the vac wires into the two hole in bottom of handle then plug handle into mains using the switch on handle to turn vac on.  This may not be the safest method but it saves you fitting vac in your machine only to fins its still not working.
Title: Re: Carbon brushes question
Post by: Paul Redden Countryfresh on January 31, 2011, 06:00:36 pm
The number of times I was told you need a new vac, when I really needed a set of brushes!
Ain't falling for that one anymore  ::)
Title: Re: Carbon brushes question
Post by: Carpet Dawg on January 31, 2011, 07:18:13 pm
Thanks for You tube Link

When a motor dies how do you know its the brushes and not something else

My local repair man always says I need a new motor saying its the coil or the brass thing that goes round

Ian, apparantly when a vac motor goes it goes. Changing the brushes wont fix the problem. Well this is what i have been told over the yers anyways!  ::) According to the guys above this might not be thhe case  but I cant comment on it. But will be trying it out in the future (hopefully far far furture!! hate repairs and problems whith my gear!)

I ordered a couple of sets from Matt today, he recomended i'd get the exact one for my vac.

So I have a set of Scorpion carbon brushes going spare if anyone wants them?

Tony
Title: Re: Carbon brushes question
Post by: Adam Fearnley on January 31, 2011, 10:35:19 pm
I think alot of the time the vac isn't finished, as long as its not the bearings or the coils bust. 
Title: Re: Carbon brushes question
Post by: Paul Redden Countryfresh on February 01, 2011, 01:04:21 pm
I've had the ominous burning smell then custys fuse box tripped out  :o reason.... brushes too short, replaced brushes and then saved myself a new vac motor.  ;D