Brush spacing (also called __________) can be checked by wrapping a long strip of paper around the commutator under the brushes

• A. gapping
• B. quartering
• C. alignment
• D. spacing

Answer: (B)

Brush spacing, or quartering, is about placing the brushes around the commutator so each brush sits on a different commutator segment and the gaps between brush positions are evenly spaced around the circle. Wrapping a long strip of paper around the commutator under the brushes lets you see precisely where the brushes contact as the armature turns. If the paper shows that two brushes line up on the same segment or the spacing isn’t about a quarter turn (90 electrical degrees), you adjust the brush holders to achieve proper quartering. This even distribution helps with smooth commutation, reduces sparking, and promotes uniform wear. The other terms don’t capture this specific check for evenly spaced brush positions around the commutator.