Chuck Sartor posted:Replacing it is the only permanent fix. The armature hole has worn too large. If you take tweezers to the armature shaft and can wiggle it at all, even a tiny amount, it needs replacing, the lube will just spin off or run down to the commutator face. I suppose if someone wanted to make a bushing to fit the worn out brushplate it can be done, but hardly worth the trouble. Lionel tried in the late seventies adding a bushing to the 2035 style beushplate, but they never repeated it.
I thought that was probably the case. I just measured the slop, about 4-5 thousandths, much more than my uncalibrated fingers would have guessed! I considered a bushing or even (crude, I know) an eyelet, but there really isn't much space to work with between the commutator and the brush plate or brush holders, I think something would rub!
I think a better idea would be a piece of hardened metal, drilled with the appropriate size hole, then JB Weld applied to hold the metal plate on the top surface of the brush holder. The only caveat is that there is precious little room around that hole as the brush holders are so close to the hole - exactly 1/16" from armature to each brush holder! That would take some really careful crafting - much easier to get a new plate!
Thanks Chuck
