CT 26 E and decreased suction after 12 years

[mcooley]

I have a 12 year old CT 26 E and curious if you all have ever replaced the motor brushes or the entire turbine?

I ask because my newer Midi has more suction than it does and so I am curious if old motor brushes might decrease its power or if you think a 12 year old turbine is just going to have less suction? I opened the motor housing and everything is clean and no blockage. I thought maybe after 10+ years there would be dust caked in it but nothing.

The amount of suction is still very useable but I was surprised it was less than the newer Midi etc.

Thanks

 

[Tom the Remodeler]

Have you replaced the HEPA filter? Over time the filter will slowly get packed with the particles that get past the fleece filter, if you’ve never replaced the filter I’d start there….

 

[mcooley]

Yes I have but recently switched to the yellow particulate filter because of cost etc.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

For me, if it is functional, I think it would let it be.
"If it is not broken, don't fix it"
I wouldn't think the brushes could rob much power from it? If they are big enough to make contact and run, it shouldn't matter how thick they are. I'd probably have a look at them, just in case, but not sweat it unless they are really worn.
I would think that the newer turbine is just better? a 12 year old CT26 is pretty old. I'm not really sure when they came out? The one we had back then was a CT22

 

[mcooley]

I will probably not mess with it but I remember on my TS 55 tracksaw the brushes were jammed and I couldn't actually remove them so I suppose if this CT ever shuts down then I might be replacing the entire turbine.

 

[luvmytoolz]

It is possible the brushes may have extremely worn down or jammed, but I would think it extremely unlikely to be the brushes, which wouldn't be hard to replace anyway. 12 years use is not overly long, my SR5E is going on over 40 years now, and my CT36 has been buried behind my CNC machine the last 13 years, and the wife's Midi has been going 13 years also.

I'd be opening it up and giving it a good go all over with an air compressor, and check any filters as well.

 

[xedos]

I have a 12 year old CT 26 E and curious if you all have ever replaced the motor brushes or the entire turbine?

I ask because my newer Midi has more suction than it does and so I am curious if old motor brushes might decrease its power or if you think a 12 year old turbine is just going to have less suction? I opened the motor housing and everything is clean and no blockage. I thought maybe after 10+ years there would be dust caked in it but nothing.

The amount of suction is still very useable but I was surprised it was less than the newer Midi etc.

Thanks

When you say "less suction" - are you speaking anecdotally or have you actually measured the flow with an anemometer ?

Because per the specs, the design of the new MIDI turbine produces slightly less suction that the 26's.  That being said, I thought it was common knowledge that older motors (turbines) produce less horsepower as the age and wear.  Do you think your old car still produces the same rated horsepower as when it left the factory ?