When installing the heating, I chose a form of tubing that the French call multicouche, to circulate the hot water to the radiators. The decision was made on the basis that multicouche was for sale in the DIY shop, and is supposed to work. The connectors, although relatively expensive at about 4 or 5 euro each, can be bought in a push-fit version, which makes connecting up the pipes a piece of cake ("simple comme bonjour"). In the sure and certain hope that these push-fit connectors would be watertight I made some joints in the ceiling, that ended up behind some plasterboard. This turned out to be a mistake, since in my case, one leaked.
This morning I cut out some plasterboard to take a look, and disconnected the leaking pipe. I don't want to replace all the piping, so I will replace the joints with different connectors that are clamped in place with a big pair of pincers. I am hoping that I have cut a big enough hole in the plasterboard to properly wield the pincers, that are quite big.
The mower, since you ask, is still not working. I thought that I had a flat battery, but no amount of recharging or jump leads could get the starter motor to turn the engine over anything like fast enough. The starter motor is knackered; the brushes are shot. I was hoping to get a replacement set together with the mounting plate (shown here, price should be about €30), but they don't seem to supply them separately, despite what it says in the Kohler engine manual. So it looks like I'm in for a new starter motor (about €120).
You'll usually find that some of the brushes are worn more than others. If it's possible to swap them over, you can often get a bit more life out of the assembly. This depends on how the braided tails are connected - soldered, or spot welded. If the latter, and you have a big soldering iron, cut them off at the weld and solder them back.
ReplyDeleteHi Dave,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment. The two brushes on the negative side are much more worn than those on the positive side. I will see if I can swap a pair over.
I've just remembered that I dealt with this company last year:
ReplyDeletewww.engineeringcarbonproducts.com
They specialise in everything to do with carbon brushes. I was trying to repair a small DC motor for a friend - he had been quoted £400ish for a complete new one! This firm supplied a pair of brushes for £21.44, which might seem expensive, but not compared to a new motor... It might be worth your while contacting them - the person I spoke to was Donovan Brown. If they haven't got something suitable in stock they will make any style/type to order.
Thanks for the reference, I have dropped them an email.
ReplyDeleteKeep us up to date on what happens.
ReplyDelete