powerhouse brushes

[jkeesey]

Are powerhouse brushes really that hard to come by? Ive been looking through the dealer catalogs and don't see them.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Since the brush holders support the brushes so well, you can get by for quite a while by sticking a small piece of wood or cardboard between the spring and brush. That should get you thousands of miles before the springs hit the stops again. Of course the commutator bars will need to be smooth and not pitted from arcing. Arcing usually happens when the brush springs are too weak or hit the stops, or if the armature is shorted.

[jkeesey]

I was really just curious. I have about 4 o.s. sets. I had a customer ask me for some and I'm not sure what to charge him since no one is producing them.

[Steve Wastler]

Old stock currently selling at 21.50 both 3 and 5 brush.

[jkeesey]

My old stocks are all 5 brush and one box has 7 brushes in it for some reason.

[Ron in Quincy]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I have several nos 5 brush sets. If that is what you need, send me a private message. Also have a few brush springs if you happen to have a weak spring. You can usually determine a weak spring if when motoring the generator it requires more than 5 Amps to motor the gererator. Use a orange stick and apply light pressure to each brush as its motoring.

Ron

Ron

[glenn in camino]

The ones I bought on Ebay were too big so my friend who was helping me filed one down to fit. I works fine.

[Mike V. Florida]

Powerhouse Generator Brushes -
How To Make Your Own
Instructions
Frank Pollack

Over the years I have made several sets of powerhouse generator brushes, both for the 3 and 5 brush generator. The procedure is very simple and the same for each type of generator. This procedure works well and I have had no problems with the brushes that I have made.

You can easily make a 1 - 5 brush set or 2-3 brush sets in about 1/2 hour for about $2.

Basically, I use the standard 3 brush set that you get for the 29-31 generator. Cut them in half, use fine sand paper to fit to size, drill small hole thru end of brush for wire and countersink back side of hole slightly. I use regular house lamp wire that I strip the insulation off or lamp grounding wire, twist lamp wire so it will fit in drilled hole, put a drop of super-glue on end of lamp wire that goes into brush, to hold brush in place. Push lamp wire thru hole with small amount extending out back side, expand back side of wire into countersunk area and put another drop of super-glue on this area. When dry file excess wire so it is flush. Cut wire to necessary length and add a small wire terminal.