Anyone in the Rochester, NY that can help someone?

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neanderman
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Location: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Anyone in the Rochester, NY that can help someone?

Post 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!
Ed

LeBlond Dual Drive, 15x30
US-Burke Millrite MVI
Atlas 618
Files, snips and cold chisels

Proud denizen of the former "Machine Tool Capitol of the World"
Conrad_R_Hoffman
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Location: Canandaigua, NY
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Re: Anyone in the Rochester, NY that can help someone?

Post 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.
Conrad

1947 Logan 211 Lathe, Grizzly G1006 mill/drill, Clausing DP,
Boyar-Schultz 612H surface grinder, Sunnen hone, import
bandsaw, lots of measurement stuff, cutters, clutter & stuff.


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

Post by neanderman »

Thanks, Conrad. I've let him know and will let you know what he says.
Ed

LeBlond Dual Drive, 15x30
US-Burke Millrite MVI
Atlas 618
Files, snips and cold chisels

Proud denizen of the former "Machine Tool Capitol of the World"
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neanderman
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Re: Anyone in the Rochester, NY that can help someone?

Post by neanderman »

Conrad, he was able to find someone in Rochester.

I appreciate your willingness to assist.
Ed

LeBlond Dual Drive, 15x30
US-Burke Millrite MVI
Atlas 618
Files, snips and cold chisels

Proud denizen of the former "Machine Tool Capitol of the World"
Ironman1
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Re: Anyone in the Rochester, NY that can help someone?

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

Post by neanderman »

Thanks, Ironman1 -- that sounds like a neat trick.
Ed

LeBlond Dual Drive, 15x30
US-Burke Millrite MVI
Atlas 618
Files, snips and cold chisels

Proud denizen of the former "Machine Tool Capitol of the World"
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