Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2011 21:23:04 -0500
Reply-To: Tom Hargrave <thargrav@HIWAAY.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Tom Hargrave <thargrav@HIWAAY.NET>
Subject: Re: Alternator Brushes Wore Out Pretty Darn Quick
In-Reply-To: <4E530D23.5060504@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
I doubt that you are a hapless idiot. Most don't check the skip rings or
even know what to look for.
When you pull the regulator look into the opening the brushes protrude into
and you will see two brass bars going across from that vantage point. Turn
the alternator and it will be obvious that they are continuous rings.
You need to inspect the slip rings while turning the alternator shaft. The
surface of the slip rings should not looked burned or be pitted.
Another list member mentioned a loose rear bearing. This is not likely the
cause because a loose rear bearing will cause the rotor rub against the
stator long before the misalignment causes a problem with the brushes.
BTW, I mentioned commutator before. DC motors & generators use commutators.
Alternators are three phase AC that's rectified to DC.
Thanks, Tom Hargrave
www.stir-plate.com
www.towercooler.com
www.kegkits.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Rocket J Squirrel [mailto:camping.elliott@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, August 22, 2011 9:15 PM
To: Tom Hargrave
Cc: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
Subject: Re: Alternator Brushes Wore Out Pretty Darn Quick
On 08/22/2011 05:58 PM, Tom Hargrave wrote:
> Fast alternator brush wear is almost always caused by burned or
> pitted commutator rings.
>
> Did you check them when you replaced the regulator or did you just
> change out the regulator?
Well, as I wrote, I was in a campsite and didn't have confidence that I
could get ahold of the forward nut of the alternator pivot bolt in the
bracket. So, no, I did not inspect the commutator rings and, for that
matter, don't know how.
> Most just change the regulator& then blame the regulator when the
> brushes fail in a few months or weeks.
I sure don't want to be in that category of hapless idiot. I am my own
category, the worrywart idiot, and now I need to address the worn
commutator possibility.
Can anyone explain how, and what to look for?
--
Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
Bend, Ore.
1984 Westfalia. A poor but proud people.
1971 "Ladybug"-brand utility trailer ca. 1972 from a defunct company in
San Clemente, Calif., now repurposed as The Westrailia.
Sent from my kitchen.
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