Cloth wrap for generator field coils

Hi Johnny,

FWIW: Not authentic but:

About 10 years ago I rebuilt a Model A starter and Model A generator where the ragged and torn 75+ year old electrical cloth tape looked like it was made from Marco Polo's only set of underwear he wore while on his return trip from the Orient.

I called the 3M Scotch Co. in St. Paul MN and asked to speak to their top material technician about wrapping Model A starter and generator coils.

He recommended their "Scotch Super 33+" Electrical Tape.

He recommended following directions where the last lap of tape is not provided with tension to prevent end of tape uplift.

It is still working well on my 1930 Briggs Town Sedan.

Unless the judges disassemble your generator, they will never know your coils were not wrapped with tape made from Explorer Polo's cloth underwear.

And then maybe ..... Mr. Polo did not wear underwear ...

Just hope this helps.
 
I use bias binding when I convert a starter to 12 volts and have to reconfigure the field coils. Before I wrap with it, I wipe it with silicone and hold it in place with whatever comes to hand while it cures. Masking tape, bulldog clips, rest a weight on it - whatever. The silicone holds everything in place, helps with insulating and once assembled, you can't see it anyway.
 
The heat inside the motor tends to deteriorate the glue on black vinyl electrical tape so the 1/2" glass tape from 3M would be better.
Bias cloth tape is also good and you can get it in the Fabrics department of any store.

The best tape though is one I used on the last coils that I wrapped. It is Self-Fusing Mastic Tape. You stretch is as you are wrapping and the next day it is totally fused together so that it is no longer just a "wrapping" but it is a seamless casing. Like heat-shrink tubing. It is great!
 

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Hi Johnny,

Unless the judges disassemble your generator, they will never know your coils were not wrapped with tape made from Explorer Polo's cloth underwear.



H.L., You think your coils looked bad. When I open up the generator, I thought that a family of rats were living it it. Look like someone had put a bunch of ground up leaves in it.

The judges can open my generator any time they want too. The only thing I will say to them is, get a good pair of running shoes, Because I will be driving down the road.

Thanks everyone for your feedback. Now to get it done.
Johnny
 
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