Re: [DML] I'm a colossal nitwit.

[Nick Kemp <nkemp@xxxxxxxx>]

Remember that a real craftsman does not do everything perfect. Rather 
they are skilled at getting out of messes and covering their mistakes.

+1 on dumping the Ducellier and finding a more locally available 
alternative. If on a budget it might be time to visit the salvage yard. 
The one I'm using for the last 25 years was not a perfect fit. But after 
shortening the mounting bracket on the alternator it fit perfect. Since 
then I believe that a number of folks have identified alternators that 
do not need modification to fit (?? Saturn??).


JP Hindin wrote , ----On 7/8/2013 9:50 AM ---------------------------:
>
>
> So, first step in figuring out where my voltage was going (for the low
> voltage at the fuel pump and apparently alternater voltage not getting
> 'into' the car), I decided I was going to go on a cleaning binge and pop
> off all the terminals I could find (within reason) and start scrubbing
> things up to get some good contact and blob some dielectric grease.
>
> I started with the alternator, whose B+ terminal was quite badly rusted. I
> wire-brushed it, WD40d it, let it soak for a half hour, WD40d it again,
> and then promptly sheared the bugger.
>
> I have the original Ducellier alternator in it, and there's a guy local to
> here that rebuilds alternators, generators and magnetos, so I figured I'd
> pop it off and have him replace the stud. Here began a MASSIVE pain in the
> neck to pull it. The other bolts were easily undone, so no harm there, but
> I just COULD NOT remove the clip that goes into the brush module. I
> couldn't even figure out if I was supposed to pinch or pry apart. After
> literally dismantling the alternator under the car and removing the brush
> module entirely, I figured it out (the clip was slightly warped, which
> meant it required a massive amount of pressure to release)... but since I
> was under the car, holding the alternator up by one hand and in huge
> amounts of pain so the whole alternator wasn't hanging from the brush
> module clip wires... as I'd already undone it thinking I'd just flip it
> over and it would be "obvious" how to remove it and was carrying its full
> weight... well, it would be fair to say I was in a rush.
>
> I don't suppose someone could take a picture of the back of their
> alternator and post it so I can figure out where to mount the noise
> suppressing cap? I remember the ring connector goes around the B+, but I
> can't remember where its base mounted.
>
> Oh, and of course, AFTER removing it, I discovered that the B+ terminal
> has a pair of 1/4" shims on it - so I didn't need to remove the alternator
> at all, I could've just removed one of the shims and tidied up the sheared
> end. (At least this way I can clean the heck out of everything easily,
> but, wow, what a lesson).
>
> <groan>
>
> - JP
>
> 




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