Date:         Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:16:13 -0600
Reply-To:     John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject:      Alternator parts sources
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

I have three alternators - 4 including the one on my daily driver (it
works) and those three are dead. They turn freely, excess play, smooth,
no sounds from the bearings - sound perfectly good - but perfectly dead.
Two of these are the typical Bosch units on the Vanagons that get
rebuilt but one is a a Beck/Arnly rebuild.

Are parts available for these alternators? When active in Aviation along
time ago - Cessna and others switched over to alternators that look
pretty much  like - and mount just like - these Bosch and Beck/Arnly
units. Mount on a bracket - belt driven. The ones that came on the
Cessna aircraft had "Ford" marked on them. Back then, I could rebuild
the alternators in the shop. Didn't take much. Almost always if the
alternator failed before the engine reached overhaul time - the
alternator failure was the result of rectifier failure or brush failure.
Any decent A&P Mechanic could fix that and send the aircraft owner on
his way in short order.

So, my question is -  Are parts available for these alternators on the
Vanagons? Most likely the problem is the same one as on the airplanes -
if the bearings are still good. Anyone know of sources?

BTW - in my experience the Beck/Arnly rebuilds hold up and last a lot
longer. Of course the prices is greater for the Beck/Arnly rebuild too.

Finally - the back of a Beck/Arnly rebuild has the same components as
the Bosch but there is a third little do-dad and I haven't decided what
that is - voltage regular, filter, or what.

If anyone knows a parts source I sure would appreciate hearing of it.\

Thanks

--
John Rodgers
Clayartist and Moldmaker
88'GL VW Bus Driver
Chelsea, AL
Http://www.moldhaus.com