DETROIT DIESEL 53
Preventive Maintenance
15.1
Item 15
Delco-Remy Cam and Ball Bearing Lubricating, or equivalent. Avoid excessive lubrication since this may cause lubricant
to be forced onto the commutator.
Some generators. have a built-in supply of grease, while others use sealed bearings. In these latter two cases, additional
lubrication is not necessary.
On D.C. generators, inspect the commutator and brushes every 500 hours or 15,000 miles. Clean the commutator every
2,000 hours or 60,000 miles, if necessary, with No. 00 sandpaper or a brush seating stone. After cleaning, reseat the
brushes and blow out the dust.
On A. C. generators (alternators), the slip rings and brushes can be inspected through the end frame assembly. If the slip
rings are dirty, they should be cleaned with 400 grain or finer polishing cloth. Never use emery cloth to clean slip rings.
Hold the polishing cloth against the slip rings with the generator in operation and blow away all dust after the cleaning
operation. If the slip rings are rough or out of round, replace them.
Inspect the terminals for corrosion and loose connections and the wiring for frayed insulation.
Item 16
Check the specific gravity of the electrolyte in each cell of the battery every 100 hours or 3,000 miles. In warm weather,
however, it should be checked more frequently due to a more rapid loss of water from the electrolyte. The electrolyte
level should be maintained in accordance with the battery manufacturer's recommendations.
April, 1974
SEC. 15.1
Page 7
