Armature tester (growler)

[boltz]

If this is wrong forum, I apologize,but was not sure to how to post question. Do any of you know anything about old style growler troubleshooting, I used mine for testing my farm starters etc and now when I plug it into 115v outlet, nothing works, has new115 cord and test leads, even light bulb does not turn on and also no growl when armature is place on it. Its old but worked faithfully for years. I also by passed off/on switch and nothing.

 

[k0ua]

If this is wrong forum, I apologize,but was not sure to how to post question. Do any of you know anything about old style growler troubleshooting, I used mine for testing my farm starters etc and now when I plug it into 115v outlet, nothing works, has new115 cord and test leads, even light bulb does not turn on and also no growl when armature is place on it. Its old but worked faithfully for years. I also by passed off/on switch and nothing.

I havent seen a growler in years, but isn't it just a transformer winding that has a big cut out section of the core cut into a V and you lay the armature in there to induce a field into it? I would suggest your primary winding is an "open". Take your ohm meter and go troubleshooting If it is the winding, the most likely areas are where external wiring attaches to the smaller magnet wire of the winding. But the ohm meter is your friend.

 

[boltz]

Thx for your reply. Good points. Will double check with meter. I don't use it much, but for the odd starter. Pulled it out to test a starter for an employee off his Lada Niva, of all things. Will let you know back as soon as I can, with what I find. Boltz

 

[boltz]

Sorry for so late a reply. Took it apart again and found one winding had an open in it when tested with ohm meter. So there you go. Will try to find one on Kijiji or equivalent here in Ontario. PS, employee put his Niva starter back together. We found loose nut on solenoid of starter, and now Lada life is good again. :cool2:

 

[k0ua]

Sorry for so late a reply. Took it apart again and found one winding had an open in it when tested with ohm meter. So there you go. Will try to find one on Kijiji or equivalent here in Ontario. PS, employee put his Niva starter back together. We found loose nut on solenoid of starter, and now Lada life is good again. :cool2:

If you check carefully where the external wiring fastens to the very small magnet wire of the winding, you might get lucky and find the open and be able to repair it... of course you might not too, but I have repaired a transformer or two in my life by doing that. Of course the open could be buried deep in the windings too. But worth a quick look.

 

[boltz]

Yea, I still have it apart and was looking at where wires go into the windings. There is only the 4 of them and they disappear under some very old looking tape of some sort or cloth. I could have sworn that I got a reading momentarily when I wiggled the alligator clips on my ohm meter, but could not replicate it . Just thought of something, though, when I was going to originally use it, I never actually tried the armature on the machine, just plugged into the 120 wall outlet and touched the two wires for the indicator bulb together and if memory serves me correctly it should have lit up. So got to see if I have an old genny or starter apart up in the barn. I may be blowing smoke here, been a long, long time since we used this. I am going to have to learn how to post pictures on here, or at least get some help from my wife, but old guy you know! I'll get there, eventually. By the way these forums are great tool for learning and especially appreciate all those that post and try to help. Thanks to all of you. Awesome!!! Boltz