Re: (ET) mower motors

["Dean A. Stuckmann" <dstuck lakefield net>]

I have seen the shaft bent up the armature a ways on 2 of the small bodied
motors.  If I remember correctly, the shaft diameter is quite a bit smaller
where the armature ends are to allow clearance for the windings.

Dean A. Stuckmann 

> 
> Anyone know the procedure for straightening bent motor shafts?
> Is the bend always limited to the outside of the motor, because of
> the lower bearing, or can the internal part of the shaft/armature
> get tweaked?
> 
> Thanks,
> Chris
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Elie, Larry (L.D.)" <lelie ford com>
> To: "'Humphrey Timothy H Contr AFRL/IFEC'" <Timothy Humphrey rl af mil>;
> <elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu>
> Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2003 10:42 AM
> Subject: RE: (ET) mower motors
> 
> 
>> I've seen this too, and you should fix it.  It should not do this.
>> 
>> On mine, it was the rivets on the thermal interlock (on top of the 
>> motor,
> under the cover) were loose.
>> The thing wasn't heat sunk well and was going off wrong.  If you have a
> spare, it's just two bolts and
>> a screw.  If you don't, you could switch with another motor.
>> 
>> A second idea; a motor with a bent shaft WILL run hotter.  You will be
> able to feel the difference with
>> your hand.  Essentially, a motor with a bent shaft is cutting twice as
> much grass.  You can bend a shaft
>> hitting one rock, so even a 'new' deck is susceptible.
>> 
>> Tight bearings?  Shouldn't be a problem on a 'new' deck, but do all the
> blades spin the same way by hand?
>> If one doesn't spin as far with the same hand push, you might have a
> problem.  Could there be anything
>> like fishing line stuck under the blade?
>> 
>> 
>> Larry Elie
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Humphrey Timothy H Contr AFRL/IFEC
>> [mailto:Timothy Humphrey rl af mil]
>> Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2003 11:26 AM
>> To: elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu
>> Subject: (ET) mower motors
>> 
>> 
>> Any thoughts on the mower motors overheating.
>> 
>> My rear discharge deck has three motors that were rebuilt by Bill. All
> have
>> new blades on them, purchased from Bill.
>> 
>> However when I mow the right most motor(view from the seat) seems to
>> overheat and cut out a lot more often than the other two. The center 
>> motor
>> cuts out occasionally. The left motor has never quit. Strangely, the 
>> right
>> motor also has a new switch/breaker assembly. Does anybody have any 
>> ideas.
>> 
>> I have pondered a few thoughts;
>> 
>> The right motor is not broke in yet...not likely.
>> 
>> The switch is not right...not likely, Bill put it on.
>> 
>> The right motor is furthest from the main cord so has the longest
> umbilical
>> lead. Maybe excessive voltage drop? This seems somewhat likely since the
>> center motor has about half the length and runs for a longer period 
>> before
>> cutting out.
>> 
>> Even after just a few mowings my damn near deaf ears can pick up the
>> individual hums of the motors singing their sweet tune in three part
>> harmony. I know when one has passed out. The current meter shows it too.
> The
>> running motor feels no cooler than the stopped motor.
>> 
>> I was thinking though, maybe it would be a neat idea to have a red/green
> led
>> display for each motor that changes color when the motor drops. My 
>> wife's
>> hearing is very good but she seems oblivious to the fact that one motor
> has
>> dropped. When two go she knows it. Last night two dropped and she 
>> thought
>> the tractor needed recharging, so drove it over to the outdoor plug and
> let
>> it drink. Not necessarily a bad thing, but not needed either.
>> 
>> It seems to me that the grass I'm cutting shouldn't drop any of the
> motors.
>> Ambient temp is 70, the grass is moist(internal), not wet(external), and
>> about 4-5 inches long. I'm cutting it in half. I'll really be in trouble
>> when summer gets here and the ambient is sitting at 85-90. I'm thinking 
>> of
>> upgrading all of the motor wiring to a heavier gauge. Maybe 8 or 10, I
> think
>> right now it's 12 at best, maybe even 14. While I'm at it, I'll make all
> of
>> them equal lengths.
>> 
>> We've got a week of rain forecast, so I'll take this opportunity to 
>> switch
>> over to the new deck also.
>> 
>> Anybody have any other suggestions?
>> 
>> Stay Charged!
>> 
>> Hump
>> I5/NY
>> 
> 
> 
> 
>