Trimming motor brushes - how practical is this?

Have a bush motor that brushes are used up and can't find exact replacements. They are 7 x 8 x about 20 mm with a braid out the side. Have found some similar and slightly larger. Wondering how easy it would be to reduce the size, what sort of methods to use, how to clamp them without breaking, etc

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jim27

Have a bush motor that brushes are used up and can't find exact replacements. They are 7 x 8 x about 20 mm with a braid out the side. Have found some similar and slightly larger. Wondering how easy it would be to reduce the size, what sort of methods to use, how to clamp them without breaking, etc

---

You can do this on a Bench grinder and then file them to square them up, just be careful with the wire ( braid ) not to damage it, they need to be a good fit in the brush holder so take you time in fitting them

If not that much difference, what I do is use some medium emery paper and use hand strokes to carefully take it down evenly as possible, you do not want any slop if possible as it causes premature wear.
If there is a fair difference, use coarse paper at first.
Have a digital caliper handy to check fit.
Al.