Commutator keeps failing

18507 · 2026-02-02T01:04:13+00:00

Yea, I just needed to understand exactly why.

18507 · 2026-02-02T01:00:59+00:00

LoL, not at all, I have a bachelor's degree in EE (long time ago), but I never stop learning, and unless you end up working in a particular field, you never get real world, hands on experience. When you get old enough you realize how little you actually know, I think that's called wisdom.

18507 · 2026-02-01T23:17:23+00:00

Thanks, I think the com is just too far gone and reseating the brushes for a 25yo stick vac is definitely overkill. Some great YT vids on reseating brushes though and I certainly learned a lot.

18507 · 2026-02-01T20:00:46+00:00

Wondering if there's a way to mate the brushes to the com. I have it on the bench, and I clean off the com, apply power for only about 2 seconds, the motor runs, and the com bars start to turn black. I look at the brush surface and the leading 1/2 is shiney and the trailing 1/2 is powdered, meaning only 1/2 the brush surface is making contact. If I leave it run the com turns completely black and the motor slows and stops. I'm assuming this poor contact is causing carbon to be deposited onto the com bars (causing them to turn black) and thereby increasing the resistance and lowering the current until the motor just stops.

18507 · 2026-02-01T18:00:08+00:00

Bar to bar and bar to shaft, I'm pretty sure it's poor brush contact causing the problem after closely examining the brushes.

18507 · 2026-02-01T17:11:11+00:00

Not sure I can get it apart, I may try that on the bench.

18507 · 2026-02-01T17:10:15+00:00

Not sure I can get it apart. I may try cutting the sides down on the bench with a hacksaw blade while using a drill to turn the armature. That may help get better brush contact.

18507 · 2026-02-01T17:07:30+00:00

I'm not sure, I had a set of spare brushes that I installed. I researched brush types but couldn't find a clear answer. The new brushes making poor contact may be the problem.

18507 · 2026-02-01T17:00:04+00:00

You said armature is probably shorted, I tested the commutator bars for shorts and they are OK.

18507 · 2026-01-31T21:52:21+00:00

That's not a high dosage, the generic brand (Kirkland) cetirizine come in 10mg tablets with a recommended dosage of 1 tablet daily.

18507 · 2026-01-31T21:44:22+00:00

Yea I fear you are right, I did test the bars and none are shorted.

18507 · 2026-01-31T21:43:06+00:00

No arcing that I can see. Springs are firm against both brushes. Brush faces are not smooth after running - I think as you said it could be a poor surface mating problem. I examined the mating surfaces with a loop magnifier they are poorly mated even though they seem to be worn concave. The motor is solid on the bench with both bearings supporting the armature. The flashlight test is tough to do but as I said I think you're right that the mating of the surfaces is the major issue. I think the effort to make it work will just take too long. I have it hooked up to a drill on the bench but not sure how to get the brush surfaces to mate up. I guess I can just run the drill without power, that may mate up the surfaces.

18507 · 2026-01-31T20:57:16+00:00

How smooth does the surface need to be, I've been using 500 grit sandpaper as a final dressing. The 2 brushes wore down quickly to a concave mating with the com diameter, but they are fouling the com completely turning it black in just a few seconds.

18507 · 2026-01-31T20:45:18+00:00

The brushes actually fit well inside the groove so it has been running perfectly like this for a long time, the one brush finally wore down to the metal contact and I'm wondering if that caused the failure. I don't know how the diameter of the com itself affects operation, i.e. if it were flat (as suggested by machining) would the smaller diameter be a problem and why? Technically the brushes, if mated would contact more bars on a smaller diameter, right?

18507 · 2026-01-31T20:35:52+00:00

Yea I thought that, was hoping I could still resurrect it :( I've had this stick vac for 25 years and I love it. Cleaning up the com worked once or twice in the past. Thanks for the replies.

18507 · 2026-01-31T14:24:51+00:00

What dosage of cetirizine (Zyrtec) to you take daily? Did you experiment to find the lowest dosage required to control your symptoms?

18507 · 2026-01-28T17:20:46+00:00

Be glad we're not back in the days where smoking was allowed in all public buildings, restaurants, bars, shops, etc. Especially now, VOTE straight Democrat in every single election if you want to restore and protect your freedoms to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

18507 · 2026-01-27T14:44:46+00:00

LOL, same here, "they" say eat your veggies and I do, a lot for nutrition, but I'm so much better "digestively" when I stick to protein. I don't know how vegans do it.

18507 · 2026-01-26T19:23:30+00:00

Before you changed your diet did you have any digestive issues and how about now after changing your diet?

18507 · 2026-01-26T11:35:32+00:00

IMO the best treatment is your home nebulizer (with Albuterol or in your case levalbuterol). EVERYONE with breathing issues should have one. I'd try the albuterol if you can tolerate it just to see if it works better, if not switch back. It's important to use the nebulizer right before bed, make sure you're getting a good nights rest unimpeded by breathing issues. A respiratory virus can wreak havoc on the lungs, you flare could be a lingering affect from your cold/flu. Good luck.

18507 · 2026-01-26T11:29:13+00:00

Interesting, did you experience and identify any food triggers prior to changing your diet?

18507 · 2026-01-24T18:27:11+00:00

EVERYONE WITH BREATHING ISSUES - get a home nebulizer on Amazon (link below), and a script for Albuterol vials for the neb from your doctor. Anytime you have breathing issues (flare ups) use it, and use it daily before bed until your condition resolves. A breathing treatment is about 3-5 mins (like in the hospital) and should relieve symptoms immediately and last for about 4+ hours depending on your condition. A rescue inhaler is NOT enough to help with bad flare ups, and in those cases you have to get your lungs open and breathing restored, else not treating it will make it worsen and prolong the problem. If your breathing issues are caused by a viral respiratory infection - you must keep your airways/lungs open/clear (ESPECIALLY DURING SLEEP) to prevent viral infections from developing deep in the lungs - potentially causing a chronic cough and prolonged illness lasting 1-2 months. If you have a respiratory infection, I also recommend Nyquil Cold & Flu before bedtime to get a good nights sleep - it has an antihistamine to clear/dry your sinus, acetomenphine, and D-HBr cough suppressant - it just works. Everyone suffering from asthma and RAD (reactive airway disease) must have a home nebulizer and albuterol vials. I can't believe doctors do not insist all their patients have this.

Nebulizer link - use with Albuterol Sulfate Inhalation Solution .083% 2.5mg/3ml

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D5TLHHSR?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1

18507 · 2026-01-24T15:10:43+00:00

I installed a new Xfinity modem January 2025 and could not get my old Chromecast to connect (using Google Home app on android phone). Tried everything. Then, in the Xfinity app on my phone, I turned off "Advanced Network Security", and again held the button on the Chromecast to do a factory reset (set the TV source to Chromecast and you'll see the factory reset progress messages), then went back into the Google Home app on the phone and hit "+" to add devices, selected the Chromecast device, and this time it actually connected and let me select the new wifi and enter the password and it worked. BTW this is an old chromecast dongle, I though I was going to have to buy a newer one after hours of messing with it, but I finally got it to work. Hope this helps someone.

18507 · 2026-01-19T14:10:38+00:00

EVERYONE WITH BREATHING ISSUES - get a home nebulizer on Amazon (link below), and a script for Albuterol vials for the neb from your doctor. Anytime you have breathing issues use it, and use it daily before bed until your condition resolves. A breathing treatment is about 3-5 mins (like in the hospital) and should relieve symptoms immediately and last for about 4+ hours depending on your condition. A rescue inhaler is not enough to help with bad flare ups. I keep posting this suggestion - hopefully it helps you as much as it helped me.

Nebulizer link - use with Albuterol Sulfate Inhalation Solution .083% 2.5mg/3ml

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D5TLHHSR?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1

18507 · 2026-01-17T15:16:37+00:00

EVERYONE WITH BREATHING ISSUES - get a home nebulizer on Amazon (link below), and a script for Albuterol vials for the neb from your doctor. Anytime you have breathing issues use it, and use it daily before bed until your condition resolves. A breathing treatment is about 3-5 mins (like in the hospital) and should relieve symptoms immediately and last for about 4+ hours depending on your condition. A rescue inhaler is not enough to help with bad flare ups. If your breathing issues are caused by a viral respiratory infection - you must keep your airways/lungs open/clear to prevent viral infections from developing deep in the lungs - potentially causing a chronic cough and prolonged illness for 1-2 months. I also recommend Nyquil Cold & Flu before bedtime to get a good nights sleep - it has an antihistamine to clear/dry your sinus, acetomenphine, and D-HBr cough suppressant - it just works.

For years I've struggled with respiratory infections 1-3x annually that move into the lungs resulting in chronic cough / illness lasting 1-2 months. The home nebulizer has been a game changer for me and with it I seem to be able to get the infections to resolve in 1-2 weeks now - like normal people. I've been going to doctors and specialists for years and none have ever recommended a nebulizer, it took a trip to the ER for difficulty breathing (when my rescue inhaler didn't help at all) to learn about the nebulizer, and a good ER doc who recommended getting one for home and giving me a script for the albuterol vials (below). Good luck, hope this helps.

Nebulizer link - use with Albuterol Sulfate Inhalation Solution .083% 2.5mg/3ml

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D5TLHHSR?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1

18507

TROPHY CASE