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

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.

Nice work, John..!!

  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

  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.

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