[Shotimes] Low voltage light / rebuilt alternators

[Leigh Smith]

I've rebuilt alternators in the past myself. As long as you're restoring the
rest of the car, why not, right?
As long as it didn't self-destruct, all you need is a new set of brushes. A
new diode bridge is a good idea, and maybe a new bearing.
Maybe $20 worth of parts at a rebuild shop, they'll sell 'em to you.
The trickiest part is using a paper clip or plastic straw to hold the
brushes in place while you slide the armature back in. A red plastic
injection tube from a can of WD-40 usually works great.
Lot cheaper than a "rebuilt" alternator at $75-$140.
Throw in a new voltage regulator if you really want to splurge, but they
don't seem to fail as often as the other above parts, so unless the voltage
was weird, don't bother.
Plus you get to keep your known good working original alternator.
If it is hard to locate, expensive or you want the original numbers matching
unit, that's a good thing.
..
Normal failure modes & their cause:
Diode failure: difficult to charge like at low rpms, like this recent list
thread.$10 fix
Normal failure: just stops working: brushes wore out & died: $10 fix
Lots of noise & squeeling before dying, or belt breakage: bearing died,
throw the whole thing in a trash can, the main armature just got trashed.
New alternator (big $$$ = bend over)

PS: on a SHO, it's much harder to remove it than it is to refresh it.
If you are still intimidtaed, take it off and hand it to the rebuild shop
over the counter. You'll save big bucks on labor and get your unit back.
Lee


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Carl Prochilo" <gr8sho@prochilo.myserver.org>
To: <shotimes@autox.team.net>; <TechSHO@topica.com>
Sent: Saturday, January 01, 2000 3:42 PM
Subject: Re: [Shotimes] Low voltage light


> I like this theory the best ('cause I don't have to do anything).
>
> I would assume that there is extra capacity in the diode bridge which is
> why this becomes okay.  The broken diode will eventually become high
> resistance and the current flows through the remaining diodes.  The light
> has stopped coming on of late, but I will keep an eye on it.  Worst case
> is I need a new alternator.  I don't have time or patience to rebuild it
> myself.
> -- 
> Cheers,
> Carl Prochilo
> 92 Ultra Red Crimson
>
> On Tue, January 25, 2005 10:04 am, Kevin & Cheryl Airth said:
> > I have had a similar problem on other charging systems. I think you have
a
> > bad diode in the diode bridge inside the regulator. You have to rev the
> > engine up until the alternator output is high enough to overcome the
> > additinal resistance. After the diode is broken down it works OK.
> > .
> > .
> >
> >
> >
> >> I don't think the regulator is working as designed that is what
happens.
> >> Not sure if that is the exact failure either, but my '93 did the same
> > thing
> >> as George's.  I am on my 3rd alt now.  After a while with not charging
> >> properly it will take the battery out also.
> >>
> >> -A.J.
> >>
> >
> >> George, I'm not following this completely.  If I interpret this
> >> correctly
> >> you're suggesting the voltage regulator kicks in at 2K RPM.  If this is
> >> working as designed, then that would implicate a weak battery, yes?
> >> --
> >> Cheers,
> >> Carl Prochilo
> >> 92 Ultra Red Crimson
> >
> >> >>I've noticed lately that the low voltage indicator comes on when I
> >> start
> >> >> the car and stays on for about 5 seconds or so.  From that time
> >> onward
> >> >> the light never comes on.  It doesn't do this unless the car has sat
> >> >> overnight or for about 6 hours.
> >> >
> >> > That symptom sound similar to Lowrider's....the light stays on either
> >> > bright or dim
> >> > until the engine hits about 2K rpm during a start, hot or cold.  The
> >> > regulator in
> >> > the alternator is preventing charging from occuring until the rpm of
> >> the
> >> > alternator
> >> > gets to a certain point.
> >> >
> >> > At least I think it is the alternator regulator.....the last three
> >> > alternators have
> >> > all done it, ever since I took the first on off to be rebuilt in
1999.
> >> >
> >> > George
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