(ET) Motor Brushes for E-15

[Michael J DeLiso <mjdeliso juno com>]

Zach,
        Checking Motor Brushes.
        The large frame tractors, the motor has to come off the tractor. 
Found it is smart to drop the belts first and run the motor, use a wire
brush to 
clean the motor shaft and the pulley. Use eye protection.
        Match mark the motor frame and the motor end bells. Pulley end and
opposite pulley 
end. The motor has 4 through bolts be careful not break them.  All thread
will work as replacement.
        The black plastic thing on the side of the motor is a Texas 
Instrument
Klixon, it is an overload protection device. Do not touch the little
screw in the center of it. Soak the screws with penetrating oil and wait.
Remove the mounting screws and disconnect it at the motor studs. With a
little luck you do not have to touch the connections on it. 
        The brushes on the E-15 motor are 0.5 by 0.625 inches. The ones I
removed are 
about 1 inch long on the short side of the radius. This is still a usable
length.
When the other E-15 quit, the brushes were 0.38 long on the short side of
the radius.
The reason I replaced them was, we were having trouble plowing snow 
and were loosing motor power. I did this in the snow and 
was not going to take the motor apart with out a new set in hand.  It did
not solve my 
problems that day but I figure I'll never change them again in my life
time. 
Tractor is 27 years old. 
The name plate motor model number was 5BCY56RA6.
The brush number from Repco was REP360W,  the cost was about $5.50 each. 
They also have brushes for the large mower motors, the 4.5 inch diameter
ones.
The Repco number is REP622, the price was about the same. They are
working OK for me.
Four sets in use now. 

        Repco  Inc.
        6 Eves Drive 
        Marlton NJ 08053
        phone 1-800-822-9190
        fax 1-800-424-9224
        web site www.repcoinc.com

Have the motor name plate number if you call, I talk to Scott Tussey. 
We both live in same town, our kids played field games together. 

Other things to check:
The field resistance F1 to F2, was 16.3 ohms cold. 
The field to ground resistance was greater than 1 Meg ohms cold. 
(1,000,000)
The armature to ground was greater than 1 Meg ohms cold.
For motors of this type and voltage anything greater than 10,000 ohms is
acceptable.
Replace the faston connections on the field leads if needed.
Clean out old brush dust with compressed air but keep the pressure about
35 psi.
Blow to the outside of the coils, not into the coils.
I leave bearing changes to the local electric motor shop. 
I do not have the tools to do it right. Last cost was $25 in 1993.
They did it while I waited. I had the armature out of the motor. 
Would not be surprised if your E-12 had same motor in it.
Would not be surprised if it uses the same brush.
GE was fast and loose with these motors. When it is sold, get it out the
door.
They would substitute if needed. 

This got a little long sorry.  Mike DeLiso