Went for a cruise yesterday that included a stretch of very rough dirt road
(washboard type roughness). A couple of miles later there was a clunk and
then a high pitched screech. Opened the bonnet and discovered that the
mounting ear had broken off the alternator. This is the ear that bolts to
the water pump. The alternator had rotated and the alternator fan was
clipping the bracket making the screech. Got it in a better position and
tightened the the bracket at both ends and made it home ok.
Any thoughts on why it would break? Just a bad casting? maybe running the
belt too tight? The bolt hole portion of the ear was ground down for
alignment but that is not where it broke. It broke right along the edge of
the alternator case.
Larry Miller
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