Bugeye Heater Motor

[David_Doan]

Anyone know of a heater motor that's a reasonable replacement for the one in the Bugeye?

I took mine apart today, brushes are almost gone and commutator is worn really bad. If I could find new brushes, that might make it work for a while, but I'd rather put a new motor in.

A search on ebay shows a few for around $50 that are likely worn as bad as mine.

A suitable 12v motor shouldn't be that hard to find, just thought I would see if someone else has already done it.

Thanks,


David

 

[jlaird]

Actually you can have a new one. https://www.mgcars.org.uk/ah/heater.htm

 

[David_Doan]

Thanks Jack, Moss has some for about $300 as well. I'm looking for cheap.

 

[bug_sixty]

well...cheap is all relative

 

[JPSmit]

well...cheap is all relative

True. My relatives are really cheap

 

[David_Doan]

The rest of my heater is in good shape. I'd just like to buy a new motor.

 

[bug_sixty]

Well Dave you have suffered enough abuse by your peers.. I have an extra motor that has been sitting around for years.. If you want it, it's yours...when you receive it and check out (it does work) then send me a check in the amount you think it's worth...Eric contact me @ earthur44@aol.com

 

[jlaird]

Now there is a deal.

What he wants is a southern heater motor. Little use. LOL

 

[bug_sixty]

Well I'm from out here in the wild wild west.. only heard about that southern heat...

 

[bug_sixty]

I take that back..I saw Nolan Ryan pitch his last game up here in the Kingdome.. yea.. that was some serious heat

 

[jlaird]

Shucks, I have never had my heater on but to test it. However it does work.

 

[Jim_Gruber]

Jack,

It's 24 this AM in Dayton. Temps supposed to be in the 50-60's over the next few days though. Bugsy's still anxious to get out and about sans top.

 

[61frogeye]

Jim,
It's a balmy 27 up here on the Lake this morning. I'm off work on Saturday this week, I sure hope I get some decent weather here as well.

 

[David_Doan]

Well Dave you have suffered enough abuse by your peers.. I have an extra motor that has been sitting around for years.. If you want it, it's yours...when you receive it and check out (it does work) then send me a check in the amount you think it's worth...Eric contact me @ earthur44@aol.com

Eric, thank you for the offer. I'm going to go try to buy brushes today. I live in the burbs of Dallas, most of the real hardware stores have been run off by the big box guys, but I still know of at least one.

If I strike out, I'll send you an email.

Thanks,

David

 

[David_Doan]

Re: Bugeye Heater Motor - FIXED

So, at my favorite hardware store they had a box of plastic drawers in the back corner filled with brushes. After a little digging around I found some that fit.

Just in case anyone else needs some they are
1/4 in. X 1/4 in. X 1/2 in. long.

Long story short. The new brushes worked and my heater is back in business.

Here's a few pics:

Armature as it came out of the motor

What's left of the original brushes. The one on the left is almost gone, and the one on the right was completely gone, just a few coils of the spring left.

Here's my shade-tree-mechanic lathe

Armature polished up

Here's the brushes installed with a 1/4 drive socket holding them in place during assembly.

And finally the finished fan all cleaned up.

 

[rkep01]

Re: Bugeye Heater Motor - FIXED

Masterful stroke of ingeniousity.*


* Bushspeak

 

[jlaird]

Re: Bugeye Heater Motor - FIXED

Nice job on the brushes.

You do know that the fan shell will come apart so all the metal can be striped and repainted and such.

 

[David_Doan]

Re: Bugeye Heater Motor - FIXED

Nice job on the brushes.

You do know that the fan shell will come apart so all the metal can be striped and repainted and such.

Yep, I could have done all that stuff... I just wanted to get it done and cruise around in the crisp air.

Someday, when my 4 kids are all through college (youngest is 7), I will have the time and patience to strip and repaint everything and make it perfect. For now, I'm OK with good enough. I did clean it up, buff the rusty areas and cleaned all the grunge off the car that had accumulated under the blower over the years. There were actually some spare bolts and acorns under the fan housing.

 

[Sarastro]

Re: Bugeye Heater Motor - FIXED

Very cool! Love to see people digging into things and fixing them, instead of just shelling out to the Usual Supects for parts that are often pretty bad.

 

[DrEntropy]

Re: Bugeye Heater Motor - FIXED

It was all made to be serviceable back-when... try that with a new heater or window motor in ANY of the modern cars!