Electric Motor Technicians

Key Responsibilities

• Reface, ream, and polish commutators and machine parts to specified tolerances, using machine tools.
• Seal joints with putty, mortar, and asbestos, using putty extruders and knives.
• Record repairs required, parts used, and labor time.
• Sharpen tools such as saws, picks, shovels, screwdrivers, and scoops, either manually or by using bench grinders and emery wheels.
• Verify and adjust alignments and dimensions of parts, using gauges and tracing lathes.
• Inspect electrical connections, wiring, relays, charging resistance boxes, and storage batteries, following wiring diagrams.
• Cut and form insulation, and insert insulation into armature, rotor, or stator slots.
• Inspect and test equipment to locate damage or worn parts and diagnose malfunctions, or read work orders or schematic drawings to determine required repairs.
• Clean cells, cell assemblies, glassware, leads, electrical connections, and battery poles, using scrapers, steam, water, emery cloths, power grinders, or acid.
• Steam-clean polishing and buffing wheels to remove abrasives and bonding materials, and spray, brush, or recoat surfaces as necessary.
• Disassemble defective equipment so that repairs can be made, using hand tools.
• Rewire electrical systems, and repair or replace electrical accessories.
• Rewind coils on cores in slots, or make replacement coils, using coil-winding machines.
• Adjust working parts, such as fan belts, contacts, and springs, using hand tools and gauges.
• Reassemble repaired electric motors to specified requirements and ratings, using hand tools and electrical meters.
• Assemble electrical parts such as alternators, generators, starting devices, and switches, following schematic drawings and using hand, machine, and power tools.
• Hammer out dents and twists in tools and equipment.
• Solder, wrap, and coat wires to ensure proper insulation.
• Test battery charges, and replace or recharge batteries as necessary.
• Test equipment for overheating, using speed gauges and thermometers.
• Weld, braze, or solder electrical connections.
• Repair and operate battery-charging equipment.
• Set machinery for proper performance, using computers.
• Remove and replace defective parts such as coil leads, carbon brushes, and wires, using soldering equipment.
• Scrape and clean units or parts, using cleaning solvents and equipment such as buffing wheels.
• Read service guides to find information needed to perform repairs.
• Lift units or parts such as motors or generators, using cranes or chain hoists, or signal crane operators to lift heavy parts or subassemblies.
• Maintain stocks of parts.
• Lubricate moving parts.
• Measure velocity, horsepower, revolutions per minute (rpm), amperage, circuitry, and voltage of units or parts to diagnose problems, using ammeters, voltmeters, wattmeters, and other testing devices.
• Repair and rebuild defective mechanical parts in electric motors, generators, and related equipment, using hand tools and power tools.