Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines

Builds, Repairs, Show Your Machines! => Technical Tips, Builds, and Help => Topic started by: SteamerJ on February 13, 2023, 02:28:41 pm

Title: Re: Fixed my noisy PM Research generator,
Post by: St Paul Steam on February 14, 2023, 07:16:35 pm

Quote from: komet163b on February 14, 2023, 10:46:34 am

Unfortunately, the play is side-to-side in the pulley-end bearing.
The play is not longitudinal.  The axle is racing around the bearing's
inner perimeter instead of just spinning in it.  Not at all speeds but
there should be no play at all at any time.

Wayne

That's exactly what one of mine does.

Title: Re: Fixed my noisy PM Research generator,
Post by: SteamerJ on February 14, 2023, 02:29:57 pm

I would email them and inquire about getting a new pair. Or getting a pair of high quality ones from McMaster Carr.

Title: Re: Fixed my noisy PM Research generator,
Post by: komet163b on February 14, 2023, 10:46:34 am

Unfortunately, the play is side-to-side in the pulley-end bearing.
The play is not longitudinal.  The axle is racing around the bearing's
inner perimeter instead of just spinning in it.  Not at all speeds but
there should be no play at all at any time.

Wayne

Title: Re: Fixed my noisy PM Research generator,
Post by: SteamerJ on February 14, 2023, 10:24:33 am

Quote from: komet163b on February 14, 2023, 09:03:34 am

  Glad to hear of your success.  No such luck
here.

  Unfortunately, my noise is (off and on) coming
from the pulley end and there is real, actual,
no doubt about, it side-to-side play at that end. 
Rather than just spinning in the bearing it is
actually rolling around in it.  Is precessing
the right word?  Should I say something to PM?

Wayne

I would see if they will send you new bearings.

Title: Re: Fixed my noisy PM Research generator,
Post by: Stoker on February 14, 2023, 09:36:51 am

Wayne, from your description it sounds like it might be possible to fit a washer (Teflon perhaps) behind the pulley to take up the slack.

Hope I'm understanding your description correctly?!?!

Title: Re: Fixed my noisy PM Research generator,
Post by: komet163b on February 14, 2023, 09:03:34 am

  Glad to hear of your success.  No such luck
here.

  Unfortunately, my noise is (off and on) coming
from the pulley end and there is real, actual,
no doubt about, it side-to-side play at that end. 
Rather than just spinning in the bearing it is
actually rolling around in it.  Is precessing
the right word?  Should I say something to PM?

Wayne

Title: Re: Fixed my noisy PM Research generator,
Post by: Stoker on February 13, 2023, 08:12:26 pm

Well Done THAT!!!

Title: Re: Fixed my noisy PM Research generator,
Post by: RedRyder on February 13, 2023, 04:55:51 pm

Nice work, John..!!

Title: Re: Fixed my noisy PM Research generator,
Post by: St Paul Steam on February 13, 2023, 04:45:12 pm

Sweet 👍

Title: Fixed my noisy PM Research generator,
Post by: SteamerJ on February 13, 2023, 02:28:41 pm

I was wondering why I only had to oil the end with the brushes. That got me thinking and I decided to check out the brushes. I noticed that there was an awful lot of pressure on them, and that  they seamed to be wearing at an angle. I grabbed the needle nose pliers and started adjusting them. I bent them slightly to lighten the contact pressure on the commutator, then a little twist to lighten the pressure on the end of the brush that was wearing more. I ran it as a motor for about 2 hrs last night and 4 today. It is purring like a kitten and I haven’t oiled it at all. I have come to the conclusion it’s the brushes and not bad machining.

And I made the adjustments without disassembling it.