3T22 Motor Brushes

[blitz350]

I am an officer with a volunteer fire company in Central PA. We have a 3T22 siren that will no longer run. It is need of brushes. I have found numerous posts on this site about them needing/being replaced as well as user manuals detailing the process. However I cannot find a reference to a supplier of these brushes. The actual replacement appears straightforward but I cannot replace the brushes without replacements.

Specifically what I need is an equivalent part number from a brush supplier or the dimensions of the brushes so that they can be ordered. Our town is without a fire signal until this is repaired and the situation has already resulted in extended response times due to our members not being alerted to emergencies.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

[TNT1001]

I heard that West Shore Services in Michigan has plenty of old decommissioned sirens and parts. Try asking them about brushes for a 2T22/3T22, hope it helps!

[holler]

Message Clayton Werden (SIRENMAN) here on the board and ask him. He had some single phase brushes at one time.

In case you don't have it, the brushes are Federal Signal part #8283A342. Springs are part #8283A343. Don't even bother with West Shore.

If all else fails, you can take what's left of your old brushes and send them to Hellwig Carbon in Milwaukee. They can match it up to an existing brush. The motor on the siren was made by Northwestern Electric and is 7 1/2 horsepower. The Northwestern part # for the brushes is #A-2176-1

[TNT1001]

Message Clayton Werden (SIRENMAN) here on the board and ask him. He had some single phase brushes at one time.

Don't even bother with West Shore.

If all else fails, you can take what's left of your old brushes and send them to Hellwig Carbon in Milwaukee. They can match it up to an existing brush. The motor on the siren was made by Northwestern Electric and is 7 1/2 horsepower.

Oh, sorry

[holler]

Found some for sale at a brush store: http://www.graphitestore.com/itemDetail ... &curPage=1

[blitz350]

Thank you all for your help! Brushes were ordered and will be in next week. I'll be sure to let you know what the outcome is.

[blitz350]

Repairs complete. Here's a video of it running.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EX_yqW1oBQ

[MysteryMachine]

That thing underpowered or what? It sounds horrible

[holler]

Wow, the pitch drops throughout the entire test. How worn down was the commutator on it? Did you put enough tension on the brushes? Sounds like it doesn't have enough pressure and the brushes are skipping, or the mica is sticking up from between the segments and causing brush bounce.

Did you by chance fiddle with that ring that the brushes sit on? You loosen a bolt up and turn it. If you did you screwed up your angle of commutation. Sounds like you need to bump it back the other way. Put an amp meter on it and adjust it until the motor pulls the amps listed on the nameplate.

BTW, you might want to try and find a top cap for it.

[blitz350]

Ok I know this is a year later but it has been a rough one. A week to the day after my last post on this thread my dad passed away from cancer. This meant that a lot of other things took priority. Including the issues with the siren. My dad was the Fire Chief and treasurer so the company had to do some reorganizing and the siren was working (though yes I know poorly) so it was kind of forgotten about. In about June the siren stopped working. A quick inspection found that the brushes were completely chewed out. It needs new springs. I knew it needed them but with everything that has gone on I couldn't get to it.

Once again I need help finding them or an equivalent to get the siren running again while we continue to search for a replacement. I have searched online but no luck.

Barring that if any one has a lead on a single phase 240v siren in or around PA in good shape I would appreciate a hint. I have yet to have luck with that either. I had gotten quotes on getting the siren sent out and fixed properly but the company was worried about it becoming a money pit.