Re: (ET) Re: mover deck submerged.

[snaugler earthlink net]

Perry,

I would take all three motors apart and dry them.  If there is any water 
in them despite baking in the sun, and there probably will be, you will 
get severe corrosion when you apply the 36 volt power.  I have rebuilt 
motors that had water inside of them, and it was not pretty.  They were 
difficult to take apart, the cables on the brushes were gone, bearings 
were shot, and the commutator needed serious polishing.  The brush holders 
were damaged but repairable.

The tiny vent hole won't allow much water vapor to escape.  However that 
same vent hole will allow a lot of water to get sucked into the motor if 
the motor was warm when it went for a swim.  The mechanisim is that the 
cold water chills the motor housing, causing the air inside to contract as 
it cools.  This creates a vacuum sucking water inside.  When you warm the 
motor in the sun some water will get pushed out as the air expands from 
heating, but not all of it.

It is unlikely any water got in rubber sealed bearings, but if you have 
metal shielded bearings that is a different matter.  Metal shields don't 
seal, they only keep most of the dust out.  Also, without taking all three 
motors apart you have no way of knowing if all three deck motors all have 
bearings with rubber seals, or if some of the bearings still have original 
bearings with metal shields.  If the bearings have shields it is likely 
that those bearings will have water in them.

I would advise taking the motors apart and warm the parts for 24 to 48 
hours.  What I have done is use one of the oil filled electric heaters 
that is shaped like an old cast iron radiator.  I set it on low and leave 
the pieces on top.  They will heat to roughly 140 to 150 F, not hot enough 
to hurt rubber bearing seals or cause the grease to melt.  This is hot 
enough that it will evaporate water trapped in a bearing.  Don't forget to 
dry the thermostats. When everything is dry, put it all back together.

You said that you were surprised to find the bearings sealed.   Forgive me 
if it sounds like I am talking down to you, but I don't know your level of 
experience with bearings.  If the "seals" that you saw were metal, you 
have shielded bearings.  In this size bearing bearings seal are typically 
100 % rubber, ans shields look like they are 100% metal.  I have never 
seen a GE Elec-Trak motor with open bearings, and all of the OEM bearings 
had metal shields.

Hope this helps,

Steve Naugler

-----Original Message-----
From: Perry Cain <perry suppleye com>
Sent: Jun 7, 2005 9:19 AM
To: elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu
Subject: (ET) Re:  mover deck submerged. 

Took one of the motors apart.  Surprisingly damp inside. ;0

The bearings were in fact sealed.  Which surprised me, since there has been
very little maintenance on this particular tractor prior to my ownership.

Thus, I am going with Chris Zacks "leave it upside down in the sun" for a
few days theory.  I see no reason why they would be damaged beyond use.

 



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