
Repairing a Small DC Electric Motor
- Step 1: Clean It. If it needs it clean it with scotchbrite and soap to remove any corrosion and goo it doesn't matter...
- Step 2: Take It Apart. Place a small blunt blade between the drive gear and casing and leaver the gear off. Using a very...
- Step 3: Clean and Examine. I used disposable paper tissues for most of my cleaning kitchen...
Full Answer
How to repair small DC motor at home?
The Simple DC Motor
- Starting to Built. TOP surface of the wire. ...
- Preparing to Assemble. Strip the other straight section of wire completely – top, bottom and sides. ...
- Twisting Paperclips. Place the ceramic magnet in the middle of the wooden base. ...
- Proper Arrangement. Using thumbtacks, secure the paperclips to the wooden base. ...
- Help. • Has the rotor been stripped correctly? ...
How to clean DC motor?
Tools/Supplies Needed:
- tooth brush or nylon brush
- electrical contact cleaner
- safety glasses
- rubber gloves
- drill with larger chuck
- 600 grit aluminum oxide sandpaper
- plastic scriber
- file
- razor knife
- cutting blade
How to upgrade DC motor?
Users should upgrade their DC drives when:
- You want to save money, as when the DC drive replacement costs less than AC system replacement throughout the HP range;
- The existing DC motor is in decent shape, and spares are readily available;
- Your situation requires fast upgrade with minimal downtime.
How to check the operation of a DC motor?
- Manufacturer's Name — the name of the company the made the motor
- Model and Serial Number — information that identifies your particular motor
- RPM — the number of revolutions the rotor makes in one minute
- Horsepower — how much work it can perform
- Wiring diagram — how to connect for different voltages, speeds and direction of rotation

Can a DC motor be repaired?
DC motors often have to have field coils and armatures rewound and insulated. In some cases, repairs can be made but, sometimes, rewinding is necessary to achieve acceptable motor performance.
How do you troubleshoot a DC motor?
0:301:41Troubleshooting a Brushed DC Motor - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnother test that could be performed is to run the motor using a 9-volt battery connect the positiveMoreAnother test that could be performed is to run the motor using a 9-volt battery connect the positive terminal of the 9-volt battery to the positive terminal of the motor connect.
Why do DC motors stop working?
The most common cause of motor failure, and arguably the most difficult to overcome, is low resistance. Low resistance is caused by the degradation of the insulation of the windings due to conditions such as overheating, corrosion, or physical damage.
How do you service a DC motor?
In brief, a D.C. motor maintenance program (Table 1) begins with reviewing a motor's service history....Table 1: D.C. Motor Maintenance Program. 6.Wipe off dust, dirt, oil, etc.MonthlyTest field coilsSemi-annualTest armature windingsSemi-annualCheck electrical connectionsSemi-annual5 more rows
What is the most common cause of motor failure?
Winding insulation breakdown and bearing wear are the two most common causes of motor failure, but those conditions arise for many different reasons....Shaft imbalanceDirt accumulation.Missing balance weights.Manufacturing variations.Uneven mass in motor windings and other wear-related factors.
How do I test a DC motor?
1:153:02How to check a DC drive motor from a treadmill using a multimeterYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThere. So I'm going to flip the meter on two ohms. And we're going to put one probe in one line if IMoreThere. So I'm going to flip the meter on two ohms. And we're going to put one probe in one line if I tell you what we'll put the red probe in the red wire. And the black and the black wire. And
Can an electric motor be repaired?
So long as the shell exists, a motor can be repaired and reconditioned. The key is to remember that eventually that motor will need a burnout and rewind before it is insulated again. Then, with proper maintenance and smart reconditioning, there is no limit to how many times you can have that motor repaired.
What causes electric motor failure?
Electric Motor failure occurs due to overheating, phase unbalance, voltage unbalance, single-phasing, surge voltages, poor ventilation, lack of lubrication, overloads, over cycling, excessive moisture, improper belt tension, misalignment and vibration, loose connections, pests, etc.
Why is my electric motor not working?
It might be that the wiring has come loose, or is simply of the wrong gauge. You might also have broken or frayed wiring. All of these issues could prevent the motor from starting up. Make sure you carefully inspect all of the wiring in the starting circuit of the motor.
How do you maintenance a motor?
7 Ways to Ensure Better Maintenance of Electric MotorsPerform Visual Inspections. ... Perform a Brush and Commutator Inspection. ... Conduct a Motor Winding Test. ... Check the Bearings. ... Perform Vibration Tests. ... Use Infrared Thermography in Predictive Maintenance. ... Document Everything.
How do you clean a DC motor armature?
0:273:27DIY: How to Clean the Commutator of an Armature - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWww.keytime.com spray the contact cleaner on the commutator then agitate the surface with theMoreWww.keytime.com spray the contact cleaner on the commutator then agitate the surface with the toothbrush. This will remove any oils dust dirt or any other contaminants.
What maintenance does an electric motor need?
All-electric vehicles typically require less maintenance than conventional vehicles because: The battery, motor, and associated electronics require little to no regular maintenance. There are fewer fluids, such as engine oil, that require regular maintenance.
What is the first thing you should do when troubleshooting a motor?
For the supply, test first with the motor disconnect open and locked out. Use your megohmmeter to test the insulation resistance to ground....Then apply the sense tests again:Listen for unusual noises.Smell for smoke or hot insulation.Feel the motor for excessive heat or vibration.Look for possible obstructions.
How do you check if a motor is shorted?
You should test the windings for a “short to ground” in the circuit and open or shorts in the windings. To test your motor for short to ground, you'll need to set the multimeter to ohms and disconnect the motor from its power source. Then inspect each wire and look for infinite readings.
Why would an electric motor stop working?
Low resistance is the most common cause of failure in electric motors. It is also often the most difficult to overcome. Under conditions such as overheating, corrosion or physical damage, degradation of the insulation of the internal windings of the motor may occur.
How do you troubleshoot a single phase motor?
Visually inspect the motor. Replace the motor if it is burned, the shaft is jammed, or if there is any sign of damage. Check to determine if the motor is controlled by a thermal switch. If the thermal switch is manual, reset the thermal switch and turn motor ON.
What can go wrong with a DC motor?
Let’s face it, there is a lot that can go wrong with a DC motor, but most of it involves fairly straightforward repairs, such as bearing replacement or a simple brush replacement. These repairs won’t take as long as a more complicated repair like an armature or field coil rewind. Keep in mind, however, that a fast repair isn’t always a good repair. Quality DC motor repair shops will work to track down not just what is wrong with your motor but what caused it to fail in the first place. This takes time, as does redesign for improved performance and careful quality testing. The extra time invented in repair will, in turn, result in significantly better downtime and much better motor performance.
What are the different types of DC motors?
The four types of DC motors are shunt wound motors, series wound motors, permanent magnet, and compound motors. Shunt motors are typically used for speed regulation made possible because the shunt field can be excited separately from the armature windings. Series motors generate excellent starting torque but don’t offer much in the way ...
Why is my commutator burning?
Marking and burning on the commutator can indicate issues with the DC motor. Slot bar marking can be seen as every other or every few commutator bars being darkened and discolored. This is from an uneven current distribution or a bad armature winding. Burning of the commutator bar edges indicated that there is incorrect brush alignment, bad interpoles (if applicable), incorrect brush grade, or even low spring pressure. You may also see copper drag happen which looks like you smeared the copper of the commutator with the brushes. This is due to excessive heat that softened the commutator surface. This is an indicator of a potential larger issue.
How do armature coils work?
The ends of the armature windings are connected to a commutator which allows each of the armature coils to be energized in turn via carbon brushes (except in the case of a brushless motor, which makes use of electronics to achieve the same effect).
Why does my commutator brush groove?
This is usually caused either by arcing due to an incorrectly installed brush (low spring pressure) or the use of the wrong type of brush (abrasive).This can also be caused by low humidity and temperature.
What happens if a DC motor brush is worn?
The carbon brushes on a DC motor will wear over time and will eventually need to be replaced. Worn brushes can cause loss of power to the armature, damage to the armature winding, and damage to the commutator. Premature motor brush wear can result from incorrect installation as well as issues with the windings, voltage surges, overloading, and sparking. An added complication from carbon brush wear is the generation of carbon dust which can lead to grounding of the field coil or armature winding.
What causes motor brush wear?
Premature motor brush wear can result from incorrect installation as well as issues with the windings, voltage surges, overloading, and sparking. An added complication from carbon brush wear is the generation of carbon dust which can lead to grounding of the field coil or armature winding.