I've beat on one with a hammer, or a rock, too... I've also replaced one on the street beside an parts store...
And when the screwdriver creates that life-giving spark, at least one or more of several available 4 letter words was required to be spoken.
My mom taught me how to replace brushes and undercut the mica to recondition one. The woman was very handy with practical repairs on electric motors and anything in that sphere. She hated replacing starters, alternators, generators. Her attitude was "Take it apart and rebuild it." Obviously, sometimes that wasn't possible but that was her default attitude.I've beat on one with a hammer, or a rock, too... I've also replaced one on the street beside an parts store...