Motor Brushes

[GNRail]

I recently picked up some fixer uppers in N scale and while trying to ressurect them I found out that the brushes had been worn out removed. Any ideas for replacements? or alternate items that might serve the purpose.

Thanks

Garry

 

[Ray Marinaccio]

You may find suitable replacements at an LHS that sells replacement parts for the HO slot cars.
If they are old Atlas Or Model Power, I have noticed that in their dummy locos they include a motor frame as a nut for the weight bolt. It is complete with brushes and springs.

 

[Vic]

Down and Dirty Fix

If they are the drop in kind the lead from a hard lead pencil will work. If its too big just "size" it with a piece of sandpaper.

 

[Ho Modeler]

How about for an American Flyer Ho Scale Post War New York Huson
Any ideas for brushes for that it is a horizantal brush mount on both sides.
Eric

 

[shaygetz]

If they are the drop in kind the lead from a hard lead pencil will work. If its too big just "size" it with a piece of sandpaper.

You're kidding, right? That has got to be the coolest A Team/ McGuiver type fix I've ever heard of.

 

[Vic]

You're kidding, right? That has got to be the coolest A Team/ McGuiver type fix I've ever heard of.

No kidding on the fix Just be sure its hard lead.....not the soft kind they gave you to write with in the second grade Pencil lead and motor brushes (for the most part) are nothing but hard graphite which is electrically conductive :thumb:

 

[Vic]

BTW....be sure to shape the end that runs against the commutator of the motor.

 

[Ho Modeler]

Where could one come by some if the hard lead you speak of but in a larger diameter?
Eric

 

[jon-monon]

Mechanical pencil lead?

 

[Ho Modeler]

but it is something like 2/16" in diameter
So i would need something a little larger and still dont know what kind "hard lead" is
Eric

 

[Ray Marinaccio]

Eric,
How long do the brushes need to be?
Athearn motor brushes are 1/8" in dia. and 9/32" long.
If they are only apout 1/8" long, the brushes from the old Aroura Thunderjet-500 slot cars might work.

 

[Fred_M]

Pencil lead is graphite, and hard is like #4 or bigger number. A regular pencil is #2. Art stores have such pencils, maybe even with "lead" up to 1/8". Best is to find an old vcr motor or such and salvage the brushes. Another souce I have used are old fashion batteries that have a carbon (graphite) rod in them, a AAA would be a little bigger than 1/8 but it's easy to sand down in a drill. Just watch the gray goop in them batteries as it's poison and mildly caustic. When I was a kid we use to cut D cells open with a saw all the time to make carbon arc lights. Sharpen the rods in a pencil sharpener, put them in spring clothes pin with a piece of zip cord, plug them in, and touch them lightly together. Made one bright light it did. You could feel the heat come off them. Man, were we nuts or what? FRED

 

[Vic]

Second on what Freddy said. Also if you can find a round "lumber pencil" (not the ones with blue or red lead) they will work.

 

[Ho Modeler]

They nead to be almost a quarter of an inch long and about 1/8" in diameter it is for my American Flyer Post War New York Hudson.
Any good ideas for getting the lead out without breaking the lead?
Eric

 

[Vic]

Soak the pencil in water overnight. The wood should just crumble off. BTW see Freddy's post....a large art supply place usually has leads in various sizes and hardnesss.

 

[Fred_M]

With a big snap blade knife one quiet evening, while you are watching the grass grow, whittle away the wood. FRED