Sewing Machine Motors: Clean and Polish the Commutator Bars

This is my method for cleaning and polishing the commutator bars of our electric motors. This is a potentially dangerous operation and should you attempt to perform this procedure, you do so at your own risk. I fully understand not everyone will have a Ferree's bench motor (and yes, they are expensive), but any motor fitted with a 1/2" or larger Jacob's chuck will work just fine. I recommend a footswitch for hands free operation of the motor. A midi size wood lathe with a chuck in the head stock would be an ideal choice and you could run at 1720 RPM with no major problems. This can be also done with a drill press, but keep the speed down to under 1000 RPM and be very careful with your placement of any abrasive strips used so as to not get tangled with the spindle. With a drill press, keep your abrasives to the left of the chuck so the work is always trying to take the strip away from you. Do not apply pressure, let the spinning part make light contact with your abrasive of choice. Never grip the abrasive strip tightly, rather only support it so that in the event it becomes trapped and grabbed by the spinning part, it will just carry away from your hand and not take YOU with it.
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[@butterflyonmywall6183]

Very interesting! I'm going to give this a go with a featherweight commutator. I think I haven't cleaned it enough. Yours is really bright and shiny. Mine needs more work. Thanks Bob!

[@BobFowlerWorkshop]

Go for it!, Just be sure to use contact cleaner to flush the filings away and keep the wires dry.

[@stoneblue1795]

Sweet tutorial. I have cleaned up these from potted motors but not to that (fine) extent, thanks!

[@alyssapeters6271]

I love the new intro on your videos 📹 😍

[@BobFowlerWorkshop]

Thanks 😁

[@binhminh417]

Thank You!

[@rich-f-in-tx6388]

Great job. 👍

[@BobFowlerWorkshop]

Thanks 👍

[@johannesnaude6606]

Hi Bob i am in the proses of saving a 15-90. I got everything working nicely except the motor. I put a new rubber drivebelt on and tention it acording to instructions but it seems like the motor struggles to get the machine to start sewing. It also makes like 'n buzzing sound in the speeding up fase that quiet down as soon it is operating. I did open the motor and cleaned dust and oiled the motor bearing. Any advice on how to fix this issue. Thank you sir.