Funny you should mention the funky old shop. I was at one of those this
morning, looking for brushes for a 3/4 HP Dayton 90 volt. I tried
Grainger, they can get them but had a $50 minimum since it was a factory
order. I wound up paying $20 for a pair of 1/4"x5/8" brushes, thought
that was a bit steep. But beggars can't be choosers.

I stopped at my super complete hardware store for these last fall,
I *think* I recall seeing some 3/16"x5/8" brush/wire assemblies in their
bins for $3.50 each. If no one else has a better idea, I suppose I could
stop back and check size, availability, and source.

Al A. wrote:
Hi all,
Is it just around here (NE Massachusetts) that it seems that no place
seems to sell replacement brushes for motors anymore? Used to be that
every rinky-dink hardware store around at least a small assortment to
look through. Now no place seems to.

I need brushes for a 3/4 HP 90V DC motor. It is a rectangular brush,
the face that runs on the commutator is 0.312" X 0.625" and it has a
shunt (the little copper wire & metal contact) and spring attached. I do
not know what the length is supposed to be offhand, but it would not
seem such a difficult thing to find. I tried the biggest old-tyme
hardware store around here (goes way back to the mill fabric mill era, 7
HUGE creaking floors of stuff, some of which I'm sure has not been sold
in 30 years, etc.), they don't carry them. I even tried the local motor
service and rebuilder guy, good size shop, he rewinds motors for the
place I work all the time. He does not stock them! WHAT?!?!

I found a few places on the web, but at least the ones I found were not
the sort of places that would deal in 2 or 4 pc quantities.

Any of you guys have a secret source or a hot lead for me?

Thanks for any ideas.

AL A.