Commutator.
The surf:ice of the commutator should be kept clean and
free from oil and brush dust, etc.; neglect of this precaution will result in
the commutator becoming blackened, causing sparking to occur at the brushes,
and consequent shortening of the life of the machine.
The best way to clean
the commutator is to insert a fine duster, held by means of
a
suitably shaped
piece
of
wood against the commutator surface, slowly rotating the armature
by the starting handle at the same time.
Tf
the commutator has been neglected for long periods, it may need
cleaning with fine glass paper, but this is more diflicult to do, and should not
be necessary
if
it has received regular attention. The grooves between the
commutator segments should be examined occasionally a~:d any deposit of
copper or carbon dust may be cleaned out by means of a thin saw blade or
similar article.
Lubrication.
As the bearings are packed with grease hefore leaving the
Works, very little attention is needed. A few drops of oil, however, may be
added through the lubricators provided, say, every
1,000
miles. The reader
is cautioned that far more trouble has been caused by excessive oiling than
by too little. (After the car has run about
10,000
miles the dynamo should
he removed, cleaned and adjusted and the bearings re-packed with grease.
This should be entrusted to the nearest Lucas/Rotax Service Depot.)
Never attempt to make
an
alteration to the electrical equipment without
first disconnecting the battery lead, on replacement watch ammeter for any
undue discharge.
Dynamo Field Fuse.
A
fuse is provided in the dynamo field circuit to
protect the machine in the event of anything being wrong in the charging
circuit, e.g., a loose or broken
batt,ery connection. If the dynamo fails to
charge the battery at any time (indicated by the ammeter giving a discharge
reading during
daytime running), inspect the fuse and
if
it has blown, replace
it. If the new fuse blows after starting up, the cause of the trouble must be
found, and we advise that the equipment is examined by a Lucas/Rotax
service Station. Replacement fuses must be of the same size as those
originally fitted, i.e.
5
amps.
In
the case of the
5/33
M.G. Midget model, the fuse is one of the four
cartridge type fitted in thse junction box on th'e engine side of the dash (see
page
43),
and is marked
"
E."
The size of the fuse is marked on
a
coloured
paper slip which can be seen inside the fuse.
Removing the Dynamo.
In order to obtain easy access to the dynamo for
removal it is necessary to take off the radiator. Remove the two bolts
fastening the radiator to the chassis
frame, slacken the nuts at the rear end
of the bonnet rod and release it from its bracket. Remove watler return
pipe
from cylinder head and loosen clips holding bottom \vater hose.
N.R.-It is unnecessary to interfere with any of the oiling system to
remove dynamo.
Between the projecting portion of the cylinder head and the top of the
dynamo will be found a circular flexible coupling. Remove the nuts on
e:ich
of the four coupling bolts in turn, leaving the bolts in position, so that the
D/I
PAGE FORTY-FIVE