Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2011 23:40:36 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Alternator Brushes Wore Out Pretty Darn Quick
In-Reply-To: <4E53BAFF.1000901@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Except for maybe a fuel hose in the way there is plenty of room for the bolt
to be pushed forward for removal. For many years the bolt is a carriage head
and the front hole in the bracket was square to keep the bolt from turning
as the nut is tightened. Be sure this bolt-nut is properly tightened. If
the alternator can rattle on it a broken bracket along with broken studs on
the case will soon follow.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Rocket J Squirrel
Sent: Tuesday, August 23, 2011 10:37 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Alternator Brushes Wore Out Pretty Darn Quick
"if you are into fixing it yourself..
and going on semi-remote trips and being your own rescue team ..
one should, or could, have more than one alternator total."
But where does this end?
Oh and BTW, the illustration on Bentley page 27.15 seems to show the
alternator pivot bolt (the long one in the bracket) installed backwards.
Looks like a generic drawing for the various versions of the engine, maybe.
As shown, the bolt could not be extracted on the 1.9 as it would bang into
the engine. It comes out rearward. When I was doing my field replacement of
the voltage regulator, I was concerned that if I removed the nut so I could
really get at the back of the alternator, my fingers would not be able to
get the nut back on in that cramped area. It's pretty tight in there.
Needlenose pliers?
--
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.
On 08/23/2011 01:01 AM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans wrote:
> Dear WorryWart Idiot ......
> ( just had to use the term ! ) ..
>
> I wouldn't take it back apart now myself.
> I would get a good used 90 amp bosch alternator ..
> and inspect those commentator rings ..
> even talk to a rebuilding shop about cleaning them up perhaps ..
> put in an new VR, ( make sure the bearings are good ) , then install
> that one on your westy ..check charging voltage of course.
> and use your current one to examine, and possibly rebuild, and carry
> for a spare.
>
> if you are into fixing it yourself..
> and going on semi-remote trips and being your own rescue team ..
> one should, or could, have more than one alternator total.
>
> Scott
> turbovans.com
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rocket J Squirrel"
> <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Monday, August 22, 2011 7:14 PM
> 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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