Mesh vs Carbon brushes in starter or generator

[Dodge1934]

I have a 1919 Northway engine with a gear driven generator and "copper" mesh brushes...  it is a REMY model 307A 

I have had several of these engines and have only ever had 2 generators one of which has a broken casting.

When I opened up the one complete generator the brush area looked like it had had an unhappy life... sorry no pictures of this.

I disassembles the unit and cleaned it up but  was surprised to see mesh brushes ( First car this old) but on careful examination I noticed the edges of all 4 brushes were frayed... see picture... My thoughought was that this maybe causing the brush to be effectively too wide and when it is touching the armature it could be touching up to 3 sections of the armature rather than  just 1 section. Would this or does this cause grief for the generator in some way? 

I am thinking that I should update to carbon type brushes . Does anybody have any experience doing this and was it a good result?

I don`t believe this engine had very many miles on it at all based on the conditions of some of the parts I have collected off of it.

 

I would be pleased to hear your thoughts

 

Don

[Friartuck]

My initial reaction is that mesh brushes were the predecessor to carbon brushes. I would continue to investigate, but consider using carbon versions that fit in to the brush holders and verify correct spring tension on them.

[Spinneyhill]

Dyke's 1929 says brushes were carbon. Brushes on motors were formerly made of gauze, but there is no further explanation.

[nickelroadster]

Agree with Friartuck.  Replace these with carbon brushes.  It looks to me like if these were used now, they could start unraveling and really mess things up.  I have seen plenty of older cars that had carbon brushes.

[certjeff1]

The mesh is correct. Remy was the only company I have ever seen use mesh. I have a total of 20 of the mesh type brush and 4 of the solid copper brush.

 

Jeff

[Dodge1934]

THanks for all the input.

I think I will work on finding some carbon one that fit as I do want to drive this car when it is done,

[certjeff1]

I have the solid copper in stock give me a call 1-440-439-1100 M-F 5A-5P ET.

[cahartley]

A generator won't care if they are carbon or copper bearing.

A starter is a whole different matter which requires copper bearing brushes.

[certjeff1]

Brushes come in different copper to carbon mixes. Higher carbon the softer the brush. Starters require higher copper mixes. Generators  and alternators require higher carbon.In the case of this Remy starter they used as original equipment a mesh type. They eventually switched to the solid type that we are all used to seeing. The copper to carbon mixture did not change just the design appearance.