Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2011 22:12:08 -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: <1314066345.68160.YahooMailClassic@web83603.mail.sp1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
I've pulled a lot of alternators out of Mercedes (the most I owned was 6 at
one time) & friends VWs & BMWs and most had nice smooth slip rings. But then
I'd get one that was pitted and/or burned. I would pull it apart and dress
the slip rings until smooth.
I think more depends on how the last rebuilder handled the alternator and on
the load placed on the alternator and the last brush set spring tension but
I don't know for sure.
Thanks, Tom Hargrave
www.stir-plate.com
www.towercooler.com
www.kegkits.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Richard Koerner
Sent: Monday, August 22, 2011 9:26 PM
To: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
Subject: Re: Alternator Brushes Wore Out Pretty Darn Quick
Would you agree that if your Vanagon didn't see a lot of off-road use, and
hence the opportunity for rocky debris to deposit itself inside the
alternator, that you'd be in way better shape? Reason I asked is that I
only replaced the voltage regulator & brushes a while ago. Brushes were
worn "smoothly" (I guess) at 185,000 miles, or so it appeared. I mostly do
asphalt driving, Southern California style. I guess there is no definitive
answer.....all depends what sort of stuff got in there to wear things
unevenly, or like someone said some strain due to electrical power surge.
Replacing with a quality rebuilt for $125 sounds like a good idea; even a
better idea considering how long they might be easily available. The clock
is ticking; I guess if we're going to hang onto these relics, better get
while the getting's good.
Rich
San Diego
--- On Mon, 8/22/11, Tom Hargrave <thargrav@HIWAAY.NET> wrote:
From: Tom Hargrave <thargrav@HIWAAY.NET>
Subject: Re: Alternator Brushes Wore Out Pretty Darn Quick
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Date: Monday, August 22, 2011, 7:01 PM
Sorry, slip rings. But the same applies.
Thanks, Tom Hargrave
www.stir-plate.com
www.towercooler.com
www.kegkits.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Dennis Haynes
Sent: Monday, August 22, 2011 8:28 PM
To: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
Subject: Re: Alternator Brushes Wore Out Pretty Darn Quick
Being a bit picky here but alternators do not have a commutator.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Tom Hargrave
Sent: Monday, August 22, 2011 8:59 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Alternator Brushes Wore Out Pretty Darn Quick
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?
Most just change the regulator & then blame the regulator when the brushes
fail in a few months or weeks.
Thanks, Tom Hargrave
www.stir-plate.com
www.towercooler.com
www.kegkits.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Rocket J Squirrel
Sent: Monday, August 22, 2011 4:29 PM
To: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
Subject: Alternator Brushes Wore Out Pretty Darn Quick
Buried in my post from yesterday (about an intermittent charging issue) is a
question about the wore-out brushes on the voltage regulator. The
reg/brushes can't have more than 20,000 miles but were worn to nubbins, less
than 1/8'' long.
Fortunately I had my old voltage regulator which probably has 70,000 miles
on it and its brushes were much longer so I swapped it in and the charging
system is working fine.
What can cause brushes to wear quickly?
Do different brands of brushes wear differently? (The ones that wore out
quickly were on an aftermarket adjustable voltage regulator, my old one with
the still-long brushes is a factory type).
Could something have happened within the alternator to speed brush wearing?
--
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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