Electric Motor Servicing
After 5 years plus service its time to get the Electric Motor serviced. The motor has been in the boat since the hybrid was first fitted in October 2008 and has been used in the many tests and trials done over the first couple of years. In the last season the motor bearing was making some interesting noises when the motor gets warm and the most likely cause is a failing bearing.
So last weekend I visited the boat to remove the electric motor and send it off for servicing.
The Motor is a LEM "pancake" motor made by the Lynch Electric Motor Company this is a very compact powerful DC motor capable of generating enough power to propel a 20 ton boat and 6 people at 4 miles and hour, or generate 5Kw of power to recharge the battery but is only 120mm deep and 200mm in diameter.
So the motor will be packaged up and shipped off to the manufacturer for a new bearing, reskim the commutator and new brushes as well as a general clean and check up. It will be interesting to see what the difference is when the motor returns.
The good news after the weekend is that the boat is all safe and sound in the marina, although the canal below the the Marina is in flood and the Severn at Worcester has burst its banks quite spectacularly. See the web cam preview and live picture from Diglis lock.
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