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Help me get a Thunderbolt back on it's feet

Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2016 3:47 am
by T1000 Charlie
Got the 1003 home. There was about a coffee cup full of water run out of the chopper and horn when we picked it up. It was laying on its side with the pipe downhill about 15 degrees so the water would not tend to collect. The blower was also on its side with the cover still in place. The solenoid box had a little water in it. The only damage to the solenoid box is the spring bracket rusted on one side.
Do I need to take the chopper apart before putting power on it? If so how? I plan on rewiring the whole thing and servicing the blower and painting it. Thank goodness the control boxes were in an equipment room and look like new with 20 years of dust on top.

Re: Help me get a Thunderbolt back on it's feet

Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2016 6:11 pm
by ModulatorMan
Do you know if the rotor bearings are in good shape?

Re: Help me get a Thunderbolt back on it's feet

Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2016 6:45 pm
by WolfSoul
PM a siren expert on here Im sure they can help you ;)

Re: Help me get a Thunderbolt back on it's feet

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2016 3:28 am
by T1000 Charlie
What's the easiest way to check the chopper bearings? Take the horn off and see if the rotor will turn easily?

Re: Help me get a Thunderbolt back on it's feet

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2016 4:43 am
by tboltnation95
I am not expert but I have a 1000t, that was it pretty rough shape. I tried to buzz the chopper with the siren assembled, and found the rotor was sticking. I pulled the horn off as well as the chopper cap, it wasn't too hard. Once I disassembled it I found the bearings where fine, and there was corrosion in between the rotor, and the stator. Once I cleaned it up it ran up to speed fine,bearings sound good as well! In a nutshell if it where me I would just pull it apart especially if water was in it, don't want to short anything. unless you have given it enough time to dry out then I would pulse it and listen to see if I could hear the bearings rattle.

Re: Help me get a Thunderbolt back on it's feet

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2016 1:41 pm
by holler
Go ahead and replace both the chopper bearings. If they had water in them they are on borrowed time. Besides they are probably shot anyway.

Re: Help me get a Thunderbolt back on it's feet

Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2016 2:32 am
by Creeperboy
that sounds sad. :(