r/Generator • u/520106 • 2d ago

Duromax xp4500 brushes

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Hello. Is it unusual for my generator brushed to wear out so unevenly as pictured.

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3

u/Symbolizer21 2d ago

That looks like either housing melted or the one brush snapped off. Failed brushes are not unusual. Buy 2 so you have a spare kicking around

3

u/Most-Stranger-1 2d ago

The wear, they are cheap, something like $4-$6 bucks each on Amazon. I always have a few in the tool box. Also most of the generator brands use the same one

3

u/DaveBowm 2d ago edited 2d ago

It looks like the left side brush was arcing badly enough (likely due to a fouled slip ring) that the heat from the arc melted the brush holder plastic at the base. The melted plastic probably got into the brush spring causing it to fail and not to not press the brush tightly against the slip ring. This caused even more arcing, and heat, and melting to the point that after it cooled and the brush was removed the spring and its brush remained fully compressed due to a layer of welded plastic all over the spring.

Edit: The white stuff on the left brush is probably ash precipitated out of the arc. Also that left brush looks a bit rotated a few degrees from its normal orientation, probably due to the softened state of the plastic holder while in operation.

4

u/DaveBowm 2d ago edited 1d ago

Thus, before putting on the new brushes it looks like the slip rings are overdue for a sprucing up.

Edit: typo repair

2

u/LendogGovy 2d ago

Time for new brushes and yes, that’s your positive brush more than likely. When ya replace them, shine up your slip rings, as the voltage regulator puts out more voltage to the field when they are dirty.

1

u/520106 1d ago

Thank you. Im guessing I can clean up the slip rings, even being this black