6.1.5 DC Motor Modifications

If you are having trouble with your DC Motor, here are some modifications you might want to try to get it to work: 

1) Level the arms.  Take the 2 1/2 in. copper pieces and make sure they are at the same height
2) Straighten the ears.  Make sure the ears on your armature loop are directly opposite of each other, centered and straight.
3) Sand the ears.  To make the commutator, one ear of the armature loop needs to be sanded all of the way around, while the other is only sanded on one side.
4) Sand the arms.  Make sure the contact point inside the loop of the arm and where the alligator leads connect are sanded until you can see the copper underneath the insulation.

If those do not work, try spinning the armature the other direction, switch the sides the ears of the armature loop are facing, OR switch the positive and negative leads.