Electric motors & generators

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Since my shop was 80% under water, I have lots of motors that I need to dry out. I called our local motor specialist that deals only in motors and generators. His suggestion was to tear them apart and put the fields and armatures in a convection oven for at least 24 hours @ 150 degrees.

I've got an old Jennair convection oven that I have set up in my shop. I'm giving it a try. Has anyone else tried to do this or have another way of saving a wet muddy electric motor?

We also have several generators that also got submerged. I did get the oil drained out. The motor guy in town said he could save the generators probably, but I would have to get the gas engines running first. I checked out the 12K generator and it looks like a pain to seperate the two. He said not to run the engine while the generator is hooked up.

This I know is going to be a challenge. There is about 80 to 100 motors that I need to do this to. They range from 5hp down to fractional size motors.

Please lord, don't let it rain again like it did the night of the 21st,,,,,,,ever!

 

[dolluper]

Re: Electric motors & generators

Some big commercial fans many help in the dry out,hair dryer's ,only thing I'dd be worried about would be the bearings at least oil them before an attempted start....GOOD LUCK anyways

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Electric motors & generators

Maybe lots of WD-40. The WD stands for Water Displacement.

edit: From Wikipedia - WD-40 is the trademark of a widely used penetrating oil (cleaner, lubricant and anti-corrosive solution) spray. It was developed in 1953 by Norm Larsen (then working for the Rocket Chemical Company) to eliminate water and prevent corrosion on electrical circuitry. It also has many household uses.

WD-40 stands for "Water Displacement, 40th attempt", a name which came from Larsen's laboratory notebook. Larsen was attempting to concoct a formula to prevent corrosion by displacing water, and arrived at the formula on his 40th attempt.[1] A common myth is that "WD" stands for "war department".

WD-40 was first used by Convair to protect the outer skin of the Atlas missile from rust and corrosion. The product first became commercially available on store shelves in San Diego in 1958.

 

[Windykid]

Re: Electric motors & generators

If you WD-40 make sure you oil every thing after and run them.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Electric motors & generators

WD-40 in the earlier days was good stuff. Todays new formula doesn't impress me at all. I like my PB Blaster stuff better. Used a bunch of it already on my files, drill bits, taps, and dies. After this flood I do have respect and first hand knowledge of the destruction that occurs. Its sad that anyone has to endure this type of mayhem.

I baked 2 motors over night and put them back together this morning. Installed one on a HVAC unit and it fired right up. No smoking or smell, amp draw well within limits.The store was real happy since the temps were in the 90's today. I haven't attempted any DC motors yet. I also have several small transformers baking as well. I know from experience that if they get wet, they are ruined. So far the recomendation from the motor specialist is working.

After todays high temps, I have got to get my shop A/C back up and running. Just too friggen hot in the shop with all the wet soggy stuff. The smell is bad.

 

[rwise]

Re: Electric motors & generators

put the fields and armatures in a convection oven for at least 24 hours @ 150 degrees.

yes this will work just fine, have done it many times, but check the bearings if they have been contaminated replace them you'll save money and time in the long run. Also on the DC units clean the comutator(sp) (where the brushes run) there should be groves between each piece. An old car may help some with the small ones (since you may have many) they get good and hot inside

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Electric motors & generators

I have been taking the bearings off and hanging them in a can of gear lube. Since water is heavier than water, hanging them allows the water to settle to the bottom an not to retain the water in the bearing.

Its just hard to imagine how the mud/dirt gets into everything. Even sealed plastic bags with parts have water in them. Not having my inventory of spare parts sure has made my job a lot harder.

All of the circuit breakers in my inventory we are tossing out. Don't want to take a chance of a failure due to the mud/dirt intrusion. Roughly 150 of them of different makes and sizes. A real big loss in that part of my inventory.

One of the hardest thing hit in my equipment is insulation. We can't take a chance on leaving the stuff in there to grow bacteria, so all of it has to be taken out. Sad thing is the units have to be completely tore down to get at the stuff. Also finding out that since insulation is not a common replacement item that it is hard finding part numbers for it. The nightmare is going to continue for quiet awhile yet. Thanks,,,,,,SS

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Electric motors & generators

I would use WD and lots of compressed air to rid the stray water from motors... Some motors with ecectronic start circuits may be toast or at least the circuit boards might be.

 

[bandit86]

Re: Electric motors & generators

I'd be real concerned with water in the bearings, if they are sealed bearings it's "probably" fine, I'd take a couple apart just to check.
no sealed should be ok if you dry it out, but needs plenty of lube.

on engines, pull the plugs and check for water, drain the oil. If no water in the cylinder, dont worry about it. if there is, try to suck as much as you can out, then spray some lubricant inside. any residual water will come out after you run it and do an oil change. I do lots of hardcore offroading and had friends completely sink their jeeps by taking a wrong turn, the engines and even the automatic tranny is fine after draining, running and changing again

 

[tommays]

Re: Electric motors & generators

SS

The bearings will be shielded (ZZ) or sealed (RS) there is pretty much no practical way to repack the grease



All are motors are cleaned with hot water everyday and with all the grease pumping in the world they still get rust failures unless they have good seal systems that keep any water out in the first place


Tommays

 

[moterboat]

Re: Electric motors & generators

I rebuilt starters and alternators for 20 yrs for a livin, I would just drain them and lay them in the sun for a day.. the water won't hurt them,they get soaked when on a vehicle driving thru the puddles..the same with generators and alternators.stand the starters on the drive housing,or (nose..) set alternators and generators on the pulleys,in the sun for a day..

 

[rwise]

Re: Electric motors & generators

12VDC is a lot of diference to something that runs on 120VAC, 240VAC or 480VAC.