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Hi All,
FYI.
I installed a new voltage regulator on 3/30/2012 and replaced again on 8/31/2014. I put about 74,171 miles and it had 7mm brush left over. Both regulators were Bosch and they were made in Hungary.
I had my dash gauge light, overhead dim light & head light flickering issues when the car was sitting at a light. I checked the belt, battery/charging and grounds. They were all within spec/good.
I couldn't figure it why... It was my last resolution to change the voltage regulator. Anyway, it worked. Now, there are no more flickering.
I am guessing that the springs weren't holding the brushes tight enough causing fluctuation. However, battery charging rate was within the spec. I don't recall the exact voltage but it was good.
Thank you as always
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posted by
someone claiming to be CB
on
Fri Sep 12 18:58 CST 2014 [ RELATED]
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having an 87 and having found myself stranded on the highway as a result of the Brushes - one of them falling out of the holder - after only 30K, I would second Art's not to be particularly Anal about checking them.
The Slip Ring...that upon which the Brushes ride, that sits on the end of that rotating shaft that spins at whatever RPMS as you drive down the highway at 70+MPH, gets scored over time and eats away at the brushes. A Rebuild usually does not included replacing the Slip Ring...This is EXTRA and will only be done if you take your Alt to an independent local automotive electric shop and that person is reliable enough to tell you that the Slip Ring need to be replaced.
They can be pulled off the shaft...like a bearing... and new ones slid into place
this is what they look like...thought they are usually only available to you thru a Rebuild Jobber
http://www.wagneralt.com/products/W160-00.asp
__________________________________________________________
For Future Reference...when an if you have this problem.
Another Flaw in the Bosch Alt is that the Rear Bearing on that shaft sits in the rear housing of the Alt Body. It is held in place by a plastic Ring that can crack.
http://www.wagneralt.com/products/W110-21.asp
You will know this when you can wobble the shaft, even though the front and rear bearings are good. Grasp the front pulley and there will be noticable movement. Again you will need a Jobber willing to acquire this relatively inexpensive-but UnaTainIUM-part.
My Alt rear plastic cracked around 180K and my Jobber told me that the plastic was UnaTainium...so a bought a rebuilt Alt.
Cheers. And good luck with all the driving you do with your 87...esp in I95...where a breakdown can cost you.
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CB,
Alternator & Starter Parts Wholesale has provided me with good service without being protectionist about the reman industry. Order on line -- maybe $10 mininum order:
http://aspwholesale.com/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=2114
It is just another one of those things where if you want to know how it was done, you gotta do it yourself. :)
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore
These jokes should be in Alt.ernating
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posted by
someone claiming to be CB
on
Sat Sep 13 14:04 CST 2014 [ RELATED]
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thanks Art... now I'll have a spare Alt. I never exchanged it for the core charge
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I see folks write now and then, almost in pride, that they are able to change the regulator/brush pack with the alternator on the car; in situ so to speak. I'm guilty too. It used to be a lot easier when the retaining screws were slotted, but since Bosch chose to use Phillips on the newer alternators, the screw heads don't always fare so well.
But, the relevance is here: If the brush pack gets swapped on the car with the belts on, the slip rings cannot be inspected very well. Those with eagle eyes may be able to spot a set needing care, but in general, if your eyes are as old as those alternator cores, it isn't likely you've checked out the slip rings.
A stopgap shortcut, where the belts are off, is a sort of fingernail runout check, perhaps following a pass with a bit of Scotchbrite, but the real deal can only be done on the bench. My guess is, as the alternators get to their 3rd or 4th set of brushes, the brushes just don't last as long.
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore
Ohm my God, that was bad. Watt made you tell that joke?
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Hi Art,
Honestly, I didn't know it could be a difficult task. I hope I didn't offend anyone here. Mine has slotted screws so go figure. I put a little dab of anti seize cream at the tip of screws. I just googled, "alternator slip rings." I will check it out next time when I have to replace the brushes again.
Thank you as always.
--
Since I am a newbie here. I have listed things/tasks that were memorable to me.
1. Replacing ball joint; bottom three nuts. I learned what is "a nut breaker" from Dan Pageda.
2. Drive shaft bolts; trying to loosen them after digging out 2 feet of snow.
3. Removing a battery tray for my 93 240; bolts were buried under sand, dirt, rust and more. . .
4. Loosening accessory belts for the first time.; now what do I need to loosen???
5. A broken bleeder valve made me to chase the brake line all the way to the brake junction valve/octopus; I changed one of each. Sigh.
6. Welding and patching rust holes under carriage without burning wiring harness; there is a reason why my 20 something year old young instructor told us we will feel like a bad ass.
7. Removing a harmonic balancer for the first time; broke my HFT 1/2" ratchet, learned how to pick a right tool for the job.
8. Removing a passenger engine mount for the first time using a 2"x6" wood stud + a jack. This method is not for me.
9. When my SR1018/93 240 caught fire; a chief female firefighter wanted take off her suit for me because I did a great job putting off the fire.
10. Installing crankshaft seal & crankshaft cover for the first time; I learned the word, "mating."
11. Cutting over the axle pipe by a hacksaw.
12. Placing a windshield back with help of my wife, I have had never spoken so many words within a minute in my life; we have only one shot, left, right, you are too far, top, bottom, too high, my gap is too wide, come closer, we got it!
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One #10, was the mating referring to the sometimes very well mated dowel pins locating that cover?
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore
My resistance to post further in this thread has been overcome by
my capacitance to reason clearly.
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Hi Art,
I used a scissor to cut both ends of the gasket imprecisely and it was too short. I don't know what I was thinking. I should have trimmed it as shown here. There were tiny gaps at both ends and oil leaked as soon as I fired up the engine.
BTW. It's not what you said. I didn't want to sound like a brat because I was able to remove the voltage regulators with the alternator on the car.
Thank you for reading my post. Happy Friday to all!!!
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Not sure where you thought you might have offended someone. Was it something I said?
With 7mm brush protruding from the holder, I'd guess you were at the end of life, even if the books have a slightly smaller measurement. Yes, the spring pressure is greatly weakened at that length, and I was just pointing out the fact these alternators in our old cars have been through more than one brush set, most likely, and each succeeding repair is going to be less lasting than the previous if the slip rings are not smooth.
The idea that the weakened brush support will bounce has to be thought of at higher rpm. At idle, when you have your meter on the battery posts, this is not likely to occur. More likely on the BQE toward the end of third shift, with the lights blazing and the heater fan up high.
It is a very telling anecdotal fact that in my experience, the failure of the alternator to charge the battery has been the cause of more on-road troubles in my volvos than all other failures combined. And there have been many. One cannot be too anal about the alt.
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore
Any more of these and they'll have to charge me with assault and battery.
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So true Art thats why a 2 and 1/4 inch voltmeter mounted in the upper pod is a must have!!
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Have always changed regulator on the car so to speak and get rid of the philips head with whatever fits as a replacement from the local hardware store
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"Have always changed regulator on the car so to speak and get rid of the philips head with whatever fits as a replacement from the local hardware store "
Obviously you are a kidd with eagle eyes. :)
I like the "whatever fits" remark, as it seems the reman shops who distribute to the chain auto parts stores take the same approach. I'm sure you were speaking with more precision in mind.
It is very difficult to repair housing threads which have been wallowed out to "fit" and I even found one with what looked like a specially made-for-reman aftermarket regulator having larger mounting eyelets to adapt to the housing holes tapped (or whatever) to larger sizes. The screws they fit to the alternator would not go into a Bosch regulator.
Best fit for someone wanting to match the original size and thread, I've found, is the M4x18. Too long and it will encounter the diode plate.
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore
Plug in your most re-volt-ing puns here...
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