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Anyone in the Rochester, NY that can help someone?

Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2017 11:19 pm
by neanderman
A gentleman I know is rebuilding a 1923 Model T Ford, and needs the commutator on his generator turned.

PM me if you can help.

Thanks!

Re: Anyone in the Rochester, NY that can help someone?

Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2017 2:19 pm
by Conrad_R_Hoffman
Well, I'm in Canandaigua, and have a small lathe. Doing a commutator properly (and I don't know much about it) also requires undercutting the mica or whatever they used for an insulator. There are/were accessories for that, but I don't have such. If he can describe exactly what he wants done, I might be able to help. OTOH, going to a specialty place that does generators for a living might be a smarter option.

Re: Anyone in the Rochester, NY that can help someone?

Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2017 10:35 pm
by neanderman
Thanks, Conrad. I've let him know and will let you know what he says.

Re: Anyone in the Rochester, NY that can help someone?

Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2017 12:19 am
by neanderman
Conrad, he was able to find someone in Rochester.

I appreciate your willingness to assist.

Re: Anyone in the Rochester, NY that can help someone?

Posted: Sat Sep 23, 2017 9:04 am
by Ironman1
For reference, when I was young, there were no alternators. So generator repair was very common.
I have seen homemade jigs to turn a commutator on the car, they clamped to the gen shell.
To undercut mica, which has to be done after turning, it was common to use a hacksaw blade. You ground off the set on each side of the blade so the teeth were there but no clearance angles. Then you hand dragged it in the slot between bars to remove mica, usually to about .030 thou depth.

Re: Anyone in the Rochester, NY that can help someone?

Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2017 10:44 pm
by neanderman
Thanks, Ironman1 -- that sounds like a neat trick.