So You Say Your Windows Are Slowin' Down

[boxrodz]

Well, if your windows are slowing down, then maybe you need to eat more Wheaties if you have manual regulators.

But, since I have power windows, I decided to take it apart including the power window motor itself. The motor was on its' last leg and by disassembling it, it looks like the brushes are excessively worn based on the deposits. (See the first two pictures.) I cleaned it up and the brushes are indeed worn. After cleaning the armature, the armature still looks in decent condition. (See the final two pictures.) I'm curious to see if I can find some replacements for the brushes to get the motor working properly again. I looked for some brushes today but struck out. I'll try another place tomorrow. If all else fails, I'll go with a new motor.

...time to go to eat some Cheerios.

[knightlife]

you live near Ft Collins by chance?!

[Phuloi68]

There are places you can get brushes from. There was a place in ILL(Lansing I think) that is a source for carbon brushes. Think it was called Helwig or something similar to that. Might try them. With the internet, shouldn't be hard to find some. Don't know how much info you need. Put in carbon brushes and do a search.

[boxrodz]

Originally Posted by knightlife

you live near Ft Collins by chance?!

What makes you say so?

[boxrodz]

Originally Posted by Phuloi68

There are places you can get brushes from. There was a place in ILL(Lansing I think) that is a source for carbon brushes. Think it was called Helwig or something similar to that. Might try them. With the internet, shouldn't be hard to find some. Don't know how much info you need. Put in carbon brushes and do a search.

Phuloi-
Thanks for the tip. I search HellwigCarbon, but couldn't find the right dimensions. It almost seems the bushings are a copper/carbon mixture. Where's a (g)chemist when you need one? I'll keep looking, since I'm curious to see if they can be replaced. But, I'd probably be better off getting a new motor in the meantime.

[GREASEMONKEY72]

how big or small are they?

if theyre on the big side you could get brushes from a grinder and cut them down a bit and fit them in there but if they are on the small go to a hobby shop that rc cars and see if they have any motor brushes thatll fit

[boxrodz]

Originally Posted by GREASEMONKEY72

how big or small are they?

if theyre on the big side you could get brushes from a grinder and cut them down a bit and fit them in there but if they are on the small go to a hobby shop that rc cars and see if they have any motor brushes thatll fit

The size of the brushes are approximately 0.304" wide x 0.304" thick and probably needs to be about 3/4" long. The cylinder-shaped nipple on the backside is approximately 0.231".

I tried a local RC hobby place, but they only have brushes for only one brand of RC motors and they weren't big enough. I also tried a local motor repair shop but unfortunately they only have carbon brushes since they only deal with AC motors. They did suggest another shop around the corner. It turned out to be a place where they repaired automotive alternators and generators. The place was a throw-back to the old days, with literally all the shelves, bins, and rafters full of new, painted, chromed and used alternators/generators. The "old-timer" behind the counter tried to help, but he didn't have anything thick enough for me to reshape. He did confirm that they are copper/carbon brushes. After looking cloesly at them, he could tell that the shortest brush must have been arcing when the motor was running since it was pitted.

The search continues ...

[boxrodz]

Well, I was able to get back to this. I did some more searching, but did not have any luck locating carbon/copper brushes. So, I settled on a carbon brush from the place with the friendly hardware man (i.e. ACE). The size I settled on was 5/16" x 5/8" x 1". Using a Dremel, I cut off a 5/16" block of the bushing. Cuting the block in half, I shaped the two brushes using fine grit sandpaper. The carbon dust/filings are messy...

I got it installed with the help of some nylon string and buttoned it together. The motor now makes a more pronounced electric motor sound and the window goes up and down much faster than before... It was struggling before. With the engine runnning, it now goes up or down in about 4 seconds whereas the other side (with the original motor/brushes) takes about 6 seconds. We'll see, in time, how well it works. In the meantime, I may have another lead for carbon-copper brushes. I'll get another set cut and shaped before I start on the other side.

[Russell]

Another thing that would massively help the speed of those windows would be to install relays to power the motors, and just use the switches to power the relays instead.

Guy on another forum did so, and he claimed that it more than doubled the speed of his windows, just like adding relays more than doubles your headlight output

[liljon285]

Mine are brand new, like two-four months old and their already slowing down..well only the passenger side i even greased the motor and the window and it sped up a bit but still slow.

[79Silv4x4]

Originally Posted by Russell

Another thing that would massively help the speed of those windows would be to install relays to power the motors, and just use the switches to power the relays instead.

Guy on another forum did so, and he claimed that it more than doubled the speed of his windows, just like adding relays more than doubles your headlight output

Got a link to this one? Sounds like an interesting read.

[Russell]

Here you go!

http://www.coloradok5.com/forums/sho...+window+relays

Have to be a paid member to see the pictures, but the text should cover it. I've attached the wiring diagram mentioned over there

[boxrodz]

Originally Posted by Russell

Another thing that would massively help the speed of those windows would be to install relays to power the motors, and just use the switches to power the relays instead.

Guy on another forum did so, and he claimed that it more than doubled the speed of his windows, just like adding relays more than doubles your headlight output

Russell -
I threw around the idea of adding a pair of relays, but ran short of time. At the rod show I came across an electrical parts vendor, HayWire that had an assortment of relays, switches, wiring systems, etc. at decent prices. I still may experiment with them when I do the other side.

[joe231]

I realize this is super old......but how has the brush replacement worked out for you?

[grinch4om]

curious also