How to replace bearings in a Thunderbolt 1000BT?

[GreenblottF]

So my friend over in Connecticut has a Thunderbolt 1000BT chopper assembly, and he messaged me the other day saying his 1000BT was winding down/up way too quickly. He thinks the bearings are bad. However, as I don't own a Thunderbolt, I don't know where the bearings are located in an A model, even less how to replace them, if replacing them is even possible. He doesn't have an ARS account so I will have to relay instructions to him. Do any of you know how to replace bad bearings on a 1000BT? If so, shoot me a reply so I can tell him how. Thanks! :TBolt:

[SoundMaster 391]

Capacitors? From what I know of the chopper does not have any capacitors. Ask your friend if he can send some pictures to you of the chopper assembly. My guess is that it might be either the brushes, armature, or bearings. The only place I know of that has capacitors in a Thunderbolt is the blower motor.

[GreenblottF]

Capacitors? From what I know of the chopper does not have any capacitors. Ask your friend if he can send some pictures to you of the chopper assembly. My guess is that it might be either the brushes, armature, or bearings. The only place I know of that has capacitors in a Thunderbolt is the blower motor.

Yeah, he checked, and it was actually the bearings. He checked the capacitors in his blower and they were fine. Like I said, I don't own a Thunderbolt, so what do I know?

[SoundMaster 391]

Your friend will have to order bearings directly from Federal. The model number for the bearings is 8239A045. If he doesn't want to do that then he can use some 6202 bearings instead. Here is a video link to murrfarms video of him installing 6202 bearings. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7abRQAaosk . 2nd video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQdbznOX3W0 . Cool how your friend has a Thunderbolt chopper assembly. How and where did he get it from?

[GreenblottF]

Your friend will have to order bearings directly from Federal. The model number for the bearings is 8239A045. If he doesn't want to do that then he can use some 6202 bearings instead. Here is a video link to murrfarms video of him installing 6202 bearings. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7abRQAaosk . 2nd video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQdbznOX3W0 . Cool how your friend has a Thunderbolt chopper assembly. How and where did he get it from?

Oh yes, the Thunderbolt chopper motors use the same bearings as a Model 2, correct? Also, Federal probably charges a ton of money for new Model 2 bearings, so I'd recommend the 6202 bearings and the link to the video to him. He actually got his 1000BT from West Shore Services in Michigan when he went to Michigan for Thanksgiving 2 years ago (He has family there). The 1000BT had its original Roots blower when he got it, although it was seized solid. He just bought a blower off eBay to replace it (I believe it was a C series). The rotator motor needed some work (I helped him with that, I go to Connecticut periodically, although his rotator is now separate from the chopper motor for simplicity). He paid about $600 for the thing, and West Shore even helped him take the projector off so it would fit in his parents' car. Hopefully I'll be able to go to Michigan with him and get a siren from West Shore.... Haha. Now he tests it once a month when New Haven tests its Whelen WPS-2910 hurricane sirens... Even though they double as nuclear sirens because of New Haven's proximity to the Millstone Nuclear Power Plant in Waterford! :O

[SoundMaster 391]

Your friend will have to order bearings directly from Federal. The model number for the bearings is 8239A045. If he doesn't want to do that then he can use some 6202 bearings instead. Here is a video link to murrfarms video of him installing 6202 bearings. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7abRQAaosk . 2nd video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQdbznOX3W0 . Cool how your friend has a Thunderbolt chopper assembly. How and where did he get it from?

Oh yes, the Thunderbolt chopper motors use the same bearings as a Model 2, correct? Also, Federal probably charges a ton of money for new Model 2 bearings, so I'd recommend the 6202 bearings and the link to the video to him. He actually got his 1000BT from West Shore Services in Michigan when he went to Michigan for Thanksgiving 2 years ago (He has family there). The 1000BT had its original Roots blower when he got it, although it was seized solid. He just bought a blower off eBay to replace it (I believe it was a C series). The rotator motor needed some work (I helped him with that, I go to Connecticut periodically, although his rotator is now separate from the chopper motor for simplicity). He paid about $600 for the thing, and West Shore even helped him take the projector off so it would fit in his parents' car. Hopefully I'll be able to go to Michigan with him and get a siren from West Shore.... Haha. Now he tests it once a month when New Haven tests its Whelen WPS-2910 hurricane sirens... Even though they double as nuclear sirens because of New Haven's proximity to the Millstone Nuclear Power Plant in Waterford! :O

Yes that is true. The chopper / chopper motor is basically a legless Model 2 stuck in a housing and connected to a horn. I actually have my own Model 2 (Federal Enterprises) which I am currently trying to restore right now. I am still trying to find some parts for my model 2 since it is the older 4 brush model. But anyways very interesting story on your friends Thunderbolt. Hope he can fix it soon.

[CDV777-1]

Depending on the age of the thunderbolt it could take either 87502 bearings if it's older, or cheapie 6202s if it's newer.
I hope everyone here is aware that bearings are marked with their part numbers. Just look for it on the bearing.

[GreenblottF]

Depending on the age of the thunderbolt it could take either 87502 bearings if it's older, or cheapie 6202s if it's newer.
I hope everyone here is aware that bearings are marked with their part numbers. Just look for it on the bearing.

His is a newer model, from the 1970s I believe. I'll just recommend the 6202's to him. Thanks for your help guys, he'll appreciate it!

[CDV777-1]

By "newer Thunderbolt" I meant C series. I guess I should have made it more clear. I believe all A series had 87502s for chopper bearings.
If I replace bearings I replace them with the same part number as the originals no matter what I am replacing bearings in. The 87502 have an offset internal race. You look at them and the internal race is higher on one side. That higher side goes facing in towards the armature. I don't know if you can directly replace those with 6202s. If you put a 6202 in the upper bearing of an A series the chopper will be closer to the top inside of the stator. I don't know if it will be close enough to matter though. Seems like the inner race is about .050" higher on one side. So the chopper would be that much closer to the top of the stator if you put 6202s in place of 87502s.