Making New Powerhouse Rings!!!!!
 

Who is interested in replacement brushholders for their powerhouse? These are for both the three bush and five brush powerhouses.

Jeff (from Brattons) and I are trying to figure out how many folks might be looking for replacements. If we can prove to ourselves that there is the demand for at least 40 of them, we are likely going to make a batch (of 50 or 100). I have committed to buying three as I have three powerhouse generators with broken holders which I would love to get working. The price will be partially a function of how many folks are interested. We just need some indication that there is an actual market for these parts besides the the three I would buy.

We are also looking for someone who might want to be the "go to guy" to refer people to when it comes to remounting of existing hardware (the metal parts) onto the newly minted brushholder rings. I've got to imagine there is someone interested.

Please post if you are interested or have any thoughts. If you have a working powerhouse, think of this as a chance to get a back up ring BEFORE the one you have inevitably cracks.

Re: Making New Powerhouse Rings!!!!!
 

How has been the response to this?

Re: Making New Powerhouse Rings!!!!!
 

I would be interested in 2-4 depending on the price

Re: Making New Powerhouse Rings!!!!!
 

The response was lower than was anticipated but I am getting a few emails/calls. I'm going to push until it makes sense. The big challenge is going to be getting it done in a cost effective manner.

Re: Making New Powerhouse Rings!!!!!
 

I recently bought a deceased estate of Model A bits which included several generators, some of them powerhouse ones in various stages of disrepair. Two were complete, assembled and working and about three were dismantled, usually because the ring was broken. Amongst the "debris" was a ring someone had made. This ring (since sold) looked to be a real winner. It was machined out of a slab of suitable thickness of that compressed elecrical insulating material used for circuit boards etc. Maybe a good way to produce your replacements would be to do likewise, either by manually controlled machine or by computer controlled ones.
Good luck with your project.

Re: Making New Powerhouse Rings!!!!!
 

Syncro, Keep your hands on the brushholders and the generators. It is only a matter of time for there to be enough interest or for the manufacturing costs to be low enough to justify the production. Seth

Re: Making New Powerhouse Rings!!!!!
 

Have you ever tried to remove and save the brush holders? ---sometimes the bent over tabs break off, all the solder has to come off too

i would think you would have to make 2 versions, 3 brush, 5 brush

When i used to rebuild generators in the 70s, 80s I made a few by hand out of computer boards (tube ones)---they came out a little thinner so the broke tabs stub was just enough to bend and solder ---did some rewinding too, --cheaper to just buy another core at 3-10$

Re: Making New Powerhouse Rings!!!!!
 

They should be able to make just a 5 brush type as you can install three brushes on on it using the existing predrilled holes.

Re: Making New Powerhouse Rings!!!!!
 

Gary, I did not know that. Seth

Kurt, I've never tried to remove/save, but have to assume that it is more efficient to do so than to try to remanufacture the brush holders themselves.

Re: Making New Powerhouse Rings!!!!!
 

I am pretty sure that the 3 brush uses different sized brushes than the 5 brush ---i think i have both where I am going tonight, will look

Re: Making New Powerhouse Rings!!!!!
 

Yes, the 3 brush and 5 brush holders do use different size brushes.

Re: Making New Powerhouse Rings!!!!!
 

I was looking in the parts book (1937 edition)and there it only listed the 3 brush, and that you needed brushes to fit

So to save the metal parts to reuse you need figure how to save the riveted over brush spring posts, the third brush one has to be just right to be able to move, and the brush spring slot has to be at the correct angle to have proper brush tension--- when reassembled the electric pathway has to be one that won't come loose