Date: Sun, 15 May 2011 14:42:27 -0700
Reply-To: Poppie Jagersand <poppie.jagersand@YAHOO.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Poppie Jagersand <poppie.jagersand@YAHOO.CA>
Subject: Re: Voltage at alternator blue D+ lead?
In-Reply-To: <BAY152-ds209DCFB05020CFEA4B93E0A08A0@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
I'd be tempted to try to replace the brushes. I peeked into the alt, and sliprings look ok. No noise so far from bearing.
I agree with Dennis that compared against a tow home, it is a good idea to keep the alternator in good shape. Luckily I have the two belt arrangement on my Diesel. The last belt tends to slip before the waterpump belt and make enough racket so I notice.
I'm still tempted to try the brush replacement on the Bosch regulator. I assume I need to heat the backside and springs will pop old brushes out. Though saw that I can buy a new Bosch regulator on ebay for only $13.
I guess there are two approaches to maintaining our busses. The low budget involves scouring for used parts and always having a backup part available. (Was handy to have that no-name regulator when the charging light came on 400km from home)
The more common is perhaps to try to make sure your bus makes it there and back without roadside repairs. Then changing parts for quality rebuilt makes a lot more sense.
I used to have backups for everything (parts bus, extra engine etc...) but had to slim down to what would fit in the bus for my cross country move. Should have kept the pulley of my spare alternator at least. I understand that with the vanagon Diesel pulley in hand I could pull a Bosch alternator from a variety of vehicles and be on my way.
Martin
--- On Sun, 5/15/11, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:
> From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
> Subject: Re: Voltage at alternator blue D+ lead?
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Received: Sunday, May 15, 2011, 8:27 AM
> From new the brushes should last for
> the useful life of the alternator. The
> slip rings are also worn at this point and at some point
> the rear bearing
> will start to go bad and spin in the housing. This will
> wipe out that rear
> sleeve and at some point the rotor will rub on the stator
> etc. Point is the
> brushes wearing out is an indicator for overhaul. If the
> alternator bearings
> crash and you lose the belt and then overheat the engine
> the savings on not
> getting the alternator rebuilt can be used for the tow
> home.
>
> Dennis
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]
> On Behalf Of
> Jim Arnott
> Sent: Saturday, May 14, 2011 11:32 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Voltage at alternator blue D+ lead?
>
> People don't replace brushes anymore???? $3.00 from
> NAPA. Ten minutes with
> a soldering gun. I always buy 2 sets. There are probably
> 3-4 pairs in my
> toolbox right now.
>
> Jim
>
>
>
> On 5/14/11 7:38 PM, "John Rodgers" <inua@CHARTER.NET>
> wrote:
>
> > A caution. If the brushes in the
> regulator pak are worn, you can get
> > replacement paks for anywhere between $13.95 and
> $30.00. I bought mine
> > off of E-bay for about $15.00.
> | 
