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Leads on antique electric motor rebuild shops in California?

Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2017 9:02 pm
by Czechsix
OK, gotten into the Dynastarter enough to see what's going on.

My best solution, as long as it's not crazily expensive, would be to let a repair shop handle it. Has anyone had any Dynastarter rebuilds done in California? If not in CA, how about USA in general? Any shops better than others?

I see that there are a few in the UK, but shipping would be pricy, so I'd like to keep it on this side of the pond if possible.

If I can't find anyone of worth, I'll just break it down the rest of the way. At this point I'll need to take it into a shop anyway to break loose the plate screws.

Re: Leads on antique electric motor rebuild shops in Califor

Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2017 7:41 am
by heinkeljb
I don't know of any business in the USA that rebuild Dynastarts, but as you say there are places here in the UK. I have had two rebuilt by a firm and have no complaints about the end results. Except of course the cost.
I don't know anyway round that part of the equation, but shipping if done via sea, should be relatively cheap but take a long time. Customs is more likely to be an issue, unless there is some dispensation of a repair coming into the country and then leaving again. Which I believe there is.
I would be happy to act as a go-between if you want to use a UK business. Ship it to me, I'll send it on for repair and ship it back when it's done. Cost is going to be something that will need to be looked at carefully. Judging by the cost of the repair I had done and the state of your one, cost is likely to be around the £300 ~ £500 mark (If they have to replace / rewind stuff rather than just clean and solder). UK internal shipping I can get at about £20, so the only unknown is the shipping to and from the USA.

If you are going to do it yourself, take lots of pictures from several different angles as you are bound to find you need on for the one angle you didn't take a picture from when you come to rebuild!

John

Re: Leads on antique electric motor rebuild shops in Califor

Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2017 9:39 am
by AustHaflinger
Jim LaGuardia at Goatwerks might be able to point you in the right direction on this.

Maybe even Expedition Imports.

They are both in your neck of the woods and I have found both to be a great help even with me across the other side of the Pacific.

Garry

Re: Leads on antique electric motor rebuild shops in Califor

Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2017 2:34 pm
by Czechsix
Thank you very much for the kind offer, John. Hopefully, though, I'll be able to repair it locally. Sounds very pricy for the rebuild! Tearing this unit down, it's actually very simple, major issue to me are the old materials being used in it, and whether or not a local shop knows not to use harsh cleaning methods on it. I've learned not to trust anyone with older equipment, unfortunately through harsh experience.

I've torn it down enough now that I think I'll be able to take it to a local shop, just to get the plate screws out, then I'll be able to pull the windings. From the top they look quite nice, no fabric tears, the varnish is in good condition, etc. If I can get the windings out, then I can extend the coil wires enough to resolder. I'll do just enough cleaning to be able to assess it, no more. If necessary I can unpack my lathe to turn the commutator, but that's such an easy job any machine shop can do it, and probably for $20 or so.

Garry: Both good ideas, I'll give Jim a ring. EI has gotten large enough that I'm not sure if they even bother to get motors rebuilt by now. I've known Scott for years, he spoke with another Unimog friend and I back when he was just getting into 'mogs, and was still in Harbor Master school.

Re: Leads on antique electric motor rebuild shops in Califor

Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2017 3:35 am
by Czechsix
Update:

Dropped off the stripped down case at a local rebuilder I found.

He'll pull the plates, desolder the #30 post, and I'll pick it up and fiddle with it to extend the wires leading from the windings, as they are too short currently (HA! See what I did there? Clever, eh? :roll: ) to resolder onto the stud.

He's also cleaning up the commutator and then installing sealed bearings. So far, around $40.

I'll take it back to him for a solid reassembly, they use an expandable mandrel to hold the plates to the case while they torque the screws back in.

We'll see how it goes.

Re: Leads on antique electric motor rebuild shops in Califor

Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2017 7:51 am
by heinkeljb
Real reason rebuild costs are high is that usually a winding is burnt out or the armature is damaged. The place I use also has all the correct equipment to actually test the Dynastart once they have repaired it so you get a gauranteed to work item back.

John

Re: Leads on antique electric motor rebuild shops in Califor

Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2017 3:45 pm
by Czechsix
Labor costs are the killer. If it does have a bad winding, I'll rewind it myself. The same place has all the supplies and the owner said he'd be happy to give some pointers too, he's dealt with antique motors quite a bit. Once it's back together he'll also load test it for me. I've already done continuity tests on it, and it checked out fine, so I think the insulation is OK, windings are still good too.