Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info
MMD > Archives > July 2000 > 2000.07.18 > 08Prev  Next


Refurbishing Electric Motors
By D. L. Bullock

To remind you, I have been taking my Ampico, Duo-Art, and Welte pump
motors to a very large, old motor shop in East St. Louis, Illinois.
They charge from $140.00 to $649.00 to do what is needed on them.
I have, for some time, wondered why the huge variety in prices.
I found out yesterday.

I took two Ampico B drawer roll motors to Bradford Electric, across
the Mighty Mississippi River from St. Louis.  I spoke to the guy who
does the bigger rotary pump motors.  (He will also do the roll drive
AC-DC motors).

He pulled the bearing off the shelf that he had replaced from one of the
most expensive piano motor rebuilds they did.  He said that no one makes
such bearings any more, which I knew very well.

However, I did not know how complex the bearing is.  It is 7/8" O.D.
[outside diameter] with about 1/2" shaft hole.  But it also has 10 other
holes as well as a complex maze of channels inside the shaft hole
connecting all the holes.  It also has a milling on each side that makes
it the shape of an hourglass from a side view.  They had to fabricate
this item from 1" bronze rod.

He showed me another one from our piano motors that was slightly less
complex, but I was still impressed with their machine shop abilities.
They also had to weld in more metal and turn down the shaft to bring
everything back to factory specs in that motor.

I may not like paying the bill on the expensive motor rebuilds, but I do
like knowing that the job is being done correctly.  I am always
comfortable paying for good work well done.  I also know this won't be
needed for another 70 years...if the motor packing is kept oiled every
few years.

I have the complex bearing and will photograph it.  I will send it to
Robbie to put it up on MMD photos when I get the photos back.

D. L. Bullock    Piano World    St. Louis

 [ D. L. has written several MMD articles on this subject; see
 [ http://mmd.foxtail.com/Archives/Authors/Aut841.html
 [ -- Robbie


(Message sent Tue 18 Jul 2000, 18:45:57 GMT, from time zone GMT-0700.)

Key Words in Subject:  Electric, Motors, Refurbishing

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page