Yes, folks, it's time once again to play... "Stump the Experts"!
I hate to admit it, but I'm stumped by this "filler" for the GE 66 motor caps (which we generally call axle caps). There's evidently two pieces of sheet metal with a weird shape, but I've never seen anything like this:
The first person to come up with a plausible explanation will win instant fame and undying esteem!
Shims for adjusting the gap between the two halves of the axel caps. Used for adjusting the tigheness of the motor support bearings.
ReplyDeleteGregory
The GE-66 motor was built without an oil reservoir or method to fill it. The expectation was the motor would be over a pit every night and would get a little oil on top of the waste then. It was common for the operator so add a sheet metal barrier in the waste box to provide space for an oil reservoir and space to the top to fill it.
ReplyDeleteDavid Johnston
I note that the filler is dated 1913, whereas the "improved motor cap" posted above which looks exactly like what the cars have now, is dated 1919, so the filler solved a problem that no longer exists. David Johnston's explanation is undoubtedly correct. Thanks!
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ReplyDeleteI do not understand the layout in the center of the part... It's obviously intended to allow the tinsmith to lay out the elliptical end of the slot, but without dimensions to the vertical layout lines it seems incomplete. What am I missing?
ReplyDeleteDennis Storzek
I wondered about that too. I also thought about cutting out a couple of pieces of cardboard to see if I could make them fit somehow, but since we've decided that the motor caps have been changed, that's not necessary.
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