Explainer video · TEMISA
Locomotive traction motor repair on a diesel-electric unit
Short answer
A diesel-electric locomotive carries one traction motor per axle. On DC units, current reaches the armature through the brushes and the commutator. Full-load starts, dust, vibration and reversals wear the commutator until it arcs. TEMISA tests insulation to IEEE 43 and IEEE 95, growler-tests the armature, washes and varnishes the winding, turns the commutator, undercuts the mica and balances the armature.
Key points
- A diesel-electric locomotive carries one traction motor per axle.
- On DC units, current reaches the armature through the brushes and the commutator.
- The wear the video describes ends in commutator arcing and the locomotive out of service.
- Incoming tests: insulation against IEEE 43 and IEEE 95, and a growler test on the armature.
- The winding is washed, dried and varnished. The commutator is turned and the mica is undercut. The armature is balanced and the motor returns with a report.
Transcript
A locomotive parked in the yard moves no freight, and often the fault is in a single traction motor. Every diesel electric locomotive carries one traction motor per axle. In DC units, current reaches the armature through the brushes and the commutator. Full load starts, dust, vibration and direction reversals wear the commutator, foul the winding and punish the bearings. Until arcing shows up at the commutator, and the locomotive is pulled from service. Here's how we fix it at TEMISA. First, incoming tests: insulation against IEEE 43 and IEEE 95, and a growler test on the armature. Then we wash the winding, dry it and varnish it. We turn the commutator and undercut the mica. New bearings, mounted by induction heating, and dynamic balancing of the armature. Your motor goes back on the track with its report. At TEMISA we repair, rewind and balance traction motors. Get a quote at temisa.mx
Frequently asked questions
How many traction motors does a diesel-electric locomotive have?
The video says one per axle. A fault in a single motor can leave the locomotive moving no freight.
What kind of traction motor does the video describe?
DC units: current reaches the armature through the brushes and the commutator. It is not a medium-voltage induction motor.
Which tests are run when the armature comes in?
Insulation against IEEE 43 and IEEE 95, and a growler test on the armature.
What is done to the commutator?
It is turned and the mica is undercut. Before that, the winding is washed, dried and varnished. The motor goes back with its report.
What pulls the locomotive from service, according to the video?
Arcing at the commutator, after full-load starts, dust, vibration and direction reversals.
Related
Video with images and narration generated with AI.
Request a quotation by email: ventas@temisa.mx. Phone: +52 33 3614 2460.