Cooling Fan Motor

[VOETOM]

Ed,
I spoke with the folks selling the brushes about that and that was one thing I worried about too. They assured me the hardness will be close enough that the commutator wear shall not be a big issue. I bought only 12; I think National Carbon is also creating these for me and they were high $ but still less than half of the cost of new chinese motor.
Tom

[Matt42]

Originally Posted by VOETOM

Ed,
I spoke with the folks selling the brushes about that and that was one thing I worried about too. They assured me the hardness will be close enough that the commutator wear shall not be a big issue. I bought only 12; I think National Carbon is also creating these for me and they were high $ but still less than half of the cost of new chinese motor.
Tom

Please, if it's convenient, post on how well it went, and maybe even a step by step of how you did it. I am going to change out the fan assembly on my 2004 pretty soon. If I can rework the motor and save it for the next time, it would be good.

[VOETOM]

Matt, if it works well on mine, I have enough for two more. I am rebuildign one to keep as a spare for my 2005 or the 2001 (we have three total).
Tom

[Mal]

Superb; this needs to be a sticky. I wish I hadn't thrown my old one away; no doubt the HS brushes were its problem as well. Can you provide a source and prices for the brushes?

[VOETOM]

Mal, I sure will. They cost quite a bit so if it works maybe we can buy a few more and round up some more motors to rebuild. For now, they were about $10 each so $40 for the motor. Buying more will drop the price but I'd rather pay $40 for my OEM motor than $95 for a Chinese one. Odd, but I know how well the original one worked.
Tom

[Mal]

I certainly agree. I can't help but think there is a source that would not be so expensive; one that has the brushes in the correct size that wouldn't have to be made specially. I have rebuilt motors on numerous occasions but didn't even think about it until I had spent nearly $200 on a new assembly. I kept the old one for months before canning it thinking about rebuilding.

[edsidders]

A well stocked shop that repairs electric motors and/or power tools may have a usable brush in stock..

[VOETOM]

That is what I thought too Ed but never found any locally. I ended up sending the plate away and have a shop in CA measure and special order them as they did not stock them either. They are little odd.
Tom

[VOETOM]

I got the brushes Friday, got them shortened and installed. (I gave them the wrong estimated length.) The motor now runs fine again. I now have a perfectly good original fan module to reinstall on my 2005 PT when this 2003 rebuilt one wears out. It is nice to not have to buy the Chinese replacement module. I have eight more brushes so I can repair two more motors.
Take care all.
Tom

[Arne]

Last week I put in two of the replacement fan motors.
Seeing how the brush assembly included the speed coils and capacitors on a single board I never considered they could be substituted.
First motor has badly burnt and worn armature contact pads.
I would think it could be turned if I knew the minimum radius, in which case longer brushes would be a plus.
Having a spare is always good.