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Post by mazda on Nov 18, 2019 3:48:30 GMT -7
I have made a very cheap tool for cleaning pancake armatures. I came across the idea while cleaning my work space. A tube of body putty had gone hard and was about to put it in the bin when, I realised that the cap is the same size as the Commutator on a pancake armature. I measured the shaft right against the commutator and drilled a .09" hole in the centre of the cap. It was a perfect fit against the commutator. I then cut a disc of 1200 grade wet and dry paper to fit the cap and glued it on, then after making the hole in the centre of the paper tried it on a scrap armature. IT WORKED, after a few careful turns a clean shiny commutator. A very useful tool which cost almost nothing. I thought that this may be of use to some of you fellow racers.    |
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Post by jjwallace on Nov 18, 2019 8:35:38 GMT -7
Very cool Clive! I will have to post some pics of the one I made. I won't say anymore about it till then...it's kinda funny. I use some 3M two sided tape for the sandpaper. It gives a little cushion and makes replacement a little easier. Thanks for sharing.
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Post by dave632 on Nov 18, 2019 17:42:35 GMT -7
Very nice Clive, good engineering. I bought a tool that works like that. It comes with stick on pads and a drill attachment.  Comm tool
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Post by ecbill on Nov 18, 2019 19:57:25 GMT -7
Very nice Clive, good engineering. I bought a tool that works like that. It comes with stick on pads and a drill attachment. Comm tool
That same tool is now in my box too. Started out with a wood dowel with a hole drilled in the end and sandpaper stuck on with 2 sided foam tape. For replacement sanding discs, I now use adhesive backed automotive DA sander discs which are about 6" in diameter. A gasket punch is used to cut out the small discs for truing the arms. |
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Post by dave632 on Nov 18, 2019 20:38:17 GMT -7
Sounds like a good way to make the disks Bill. Where did you find the gasket punch?
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Post by mazda on Nov 19, 2019 3:31:05 GMT -7
Well it is obvious that I am not the only one to come up with a solution to this  . |
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Post by dave632 on Nov 19, 2019 13:59:22 GMT -7
Good idea though Mazda.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2019 16:14:10 GMT -7
sure nice tools!
usually I use a piece of ScotchBrite to clean commutators.
polishes nicely without chance of removing material.
for pickup shoes I like to use 1200 or 1500.
good thread
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Post by ecbill on Nov 19, 2019 19:46:19 GMT -7
I agree with Dave, your idea is innovative and effective. It also makes good use of something you had readily available, which is always a plus. The gasket punches I have were rescued from somebody who was about to throw out a bunch of tools. One came from an estate or yard sale. A quick check on eBay reveled a bunch of them. Some listed under gasket punch, others under hollow hole punch. The ones I have are a hodgepodge. 7/16" is a hair small, 9/16" is a bit too big. Don't have a 1/2" but it should be close. 12mm would be about perfect.  |
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Post by dave632 on Nov 20, 2019 7:58:27 GMT -7
Thanks Bill. I actually have a 9/16" punch like that which was sitting in my tool box. I will give that a try.
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Post by jjwallace on Nov 20, 2019 18:24:05 GMT -7
I have made a very cheap tool for cleaning pancake armatures. I came across the idea while cleaning my work space. A tube of body putty had gone hard and was about to put it in the bin when, I realised that the cap is the same size as the Commutator on a pancake armature. I measured the shaft right against the commutator and drilled a .09" hole in the centre of the cap. It was a perfect fit against the commutator. I then cut a disc of 1200 grade wet and dry paper to fit the cap and glued it on, then after making the hole in the centre of the paper tried it on a scrap armature. IT WORKED, after a few careful turns a clean shiny commutator. A very useful tool which cost almost nothing. I thought that this may be of use to some of you fellow racers. I am all about fabricating tools to use on these cars. I have made several over the years some of which I still use. This is my "Hillbilly" armature tool that I made. It is a solid piece of brass from a commercial flush valve....yes a flush valve  . It was brand new and never installed but it's a solid piece of brass and already had a hole in the center. All I did was file the end flat. I use a piece of 3M two sided tape to hold the sandpaper on and I just draw a circle on the sandpaper grit of my choice and cut it out with scissors. Nothing fancy at all, it works great, and it cost me $0. That's the best part  .  |
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Post by dave632 on Nov 20, 2019 19:59:38 GMT -7
I am amazed at the ingenuity of our members. I think without those who innovate we would still be living in caves.
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. It was brand new and never installed but it's a solid piece of brass and already had a hole in the center. All I did was file the end flat. I use a piece of 3M two sided tape to hold the sandpaper on and I just draw a circle on the sandpaper grit of my choice and cut it out with scissors. Nothing fancy at all, it works great, and it cost me $0. That's the best part 
.