Date:         Wed, 3 Feb 1999 16:32:43 -0500
Reply-To:     "John Y. Hung" <jhung@ENG.AUBURN.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "John Y. Hung" <jhung@ENG.AUBURN.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Alternator question
In-Reply-To:  <199902032139.PAA26802@Eng.Auburn.EDU>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Dave,

Indeed, the slip rings can be worn to the point that new brushes don't
help.  I had this problem once...could have saved myself the cost of a new
regulator/brushes if I had checked the slip rings first (one ring was
practically gone).

Alternators (remanufactured) are cheap compared to the labor to rebuild
yourself.  I got mine at a FLAPS.

John Hung
Auburn, AL
84 GL

>Date:    Wed, 3 Feb 1999 00:04:06 -0800
>From:    Dave Bayer <bayer@SYBASE.COM>
>Subject: Alternator question
>
>Hello-
>        My battery and OXS lights have been acting up lately. They tend to
>glow real dim when the rpms drop below 1500 or go above 3800. Sometimes
>they kind of flicker brightly (near to the brightness of when the engine
>is not running and thus no current is being produced). It did this once before
>for about a week or two and corrected itself by the time the replacement
>voltage regulartor/brush set arrived. Putting the new voltage regulator in
>didn't fix the problem as I thought it would. Thus I am trying to figure
>out what could be going on inside my alternator. I am guessing either that
>the slip rings that the brushes ride on are wearing out or my stator is
>about to go out completely. Anyone know how to diagonsis this better?
>        The wire from the D+ terminal was putting out a solid 13V when the
>lights were glowing dimly. If I remember correctly, the alternator should
>be putting out ~13.5 volts, and thus mine is a little low... Could this be
>something else then the stator or the slip rings? The armature has a
>permanment magnet and seeing as I have not been dropping my alternator
>regularly, I assume that it ok and producing a nice magnetic field. Anyone
>know of a source for replacement parts (besides a complete remaned
>unit)?
>
>        Looking at a diagram of the inside of the alternator, the stator
>should be an easy swap. The slip rings on the other hand, I am not sure
>about. Is replacement of those rings  something best left to an alternator
>rebuild shop?
>
>dave