Jump to content

Spitfire Alternator Problem


Gnbickley

Recommended Posts

  • Replies 58
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

1 hour ago, Gnbickley said:

Cheers Pete,

I'm hoping to get some work done on the alternator later  as all the spares have now arrived. 

Hello Gary

                  You will have to remove the slip ring to change the bearing!

If it not in good condition or you do not have access to a lathe replace it.

I don,t know which kit you bought but they are cheap(as to quality????)

Bearings I would use a good make(SKF etc) not unmarked Chinese ones .

https://www.bearingsrus.co.uk/6202-c-2hrs-c3-fag

http://www.jcrsupplies.co.uk/products/ALTERNATOR_REBUILD_PARTS/ALTERNATOR_REPAIR_KITS_AND_COMPONENTS/LUCAS_15_16_17_18_ACR_REPAIR_PARTS_KIT_LRA100_101_ETC.html

But if you have any problems PM me your address and I will post my ACR15 to you

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 So I'm trying to split the case to see the bearings but I'm a bit stumped. I've removed the the long bolts that hold the two halves together and loosened the two halves but I can't get them apart. I've managed to wiggle the slip ring up a bit and discovered that one of the wires has disconnected from its clip (photos below) could this detached wire be the problem? On turning the shaft by had the unit is making very little noise. In order to get the halves apart do I need to unsolder  the wires from the slip ring?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello Gary,

I don't know if you've got this, but I've dug out and scanned the relevant section from the Lucas Workshop Manual in the hope that it will provide you with some pointers.

There's a lot of technical stuff which you may find interesting, but the section further dismantling and bearing replacement on page 15 is probably useful to you.

David - (TSSC Member - just in case Pete or Doug are reading)

Lucas Workshop Instructions A5.pdf

Link to comment
Share on other sites

17 acr alternators are not expensive, when they start causing trouble either get a new or exchange unit with a warranty, been there many times fixing alternators, not worth the hassle as most come back and bite a few months later and you have wasted your money on the bits you have bought

Link to comment
Share on other sites

David, thanks for the scan that will be very useful :)

I've managed to get all the bolts out now and the brushes are well worn. Plan is to unsolder the rectifier and slip ring tomorrow so I can inspect the bearings before starting to reassemble with all the new parts.

Hugh, I'm sure I'll probably end up buying a new alternator in the not too distant future but at the moment I'm determined to work it out and fix it purely for my own satisfaction. No doubt it'll catastrophically fail at the worst possible moment ;)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Have faith.......  keep the spare in the boot

No its good to have a try and get an understanding of how things work , 

But they are not the best part for a reliable rework  

And from years of warranty experience with  recon parts the world of reconditioned can be appaling

So buy new after a scout round for parts,  and early  Land rover have the lowest mark up many parts are compatible 

The later A127 was a better lucas machine .

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oh ye of little faith! My alternator diode pack died. I got a kit, diode pack, regulator, brushes and changed them. Three years later the alternator is still fine, just a little noisy. The electics are easy, the bearings a bit more difficult. (Which is why I haven't done them yet. :lol:)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

To be fair, the new (turkish? Chinese?)alternators, and even the recons, are much better than they were 10 years ago. I had a few that lasted a few hundred miles before dying. But they were about £20 exchange from the local motor factors.

I gave up and bought new Denso alternators, they seem bombproof. He said, with fingers and everything else crossed.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ok,

So I finally got the entire thing apart and the bearings all look fine, they spin freely with no noise and so I decided to try and put it all back together. Unfortunately the detached wire that should have been attached to the slip ring was too short to re-attach (as shown in the pics) So I decided to solder an small piece of wire on that would make it the correct length. needless to say my soldering 'skills' are appalling! having never touched a soldering iron since technology classes at schools some 30 odd years ago so I'm not sure if this is going to work! However I'm determined to give it a try.

Thank you all for the help and advice so far.

IMAG2443.jpg

IMAG2444.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Doug,

Thanks for the encouragement :)

Angelfire,

I've got an adjustable temp one so I had it at 350degrees the solder was melting sure enough but it wasn't sticking very well didn't want to turn it up to 450 as I was worried about damaging the diodes. soldering the wire onto the slip ring went ok at 350 just doesn't look very pretty!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Gentlemen,

Thank you all for your help and advice over the last couple of weeks. Despite my appalling Soldering it would seem that I have successfully fixed my Alternator. :D Having reassembled it and fitted it into the car I got the ignition warning light coming on for the first time in months! 14.5volts across the battery with the car at idle and with the heater on, mainbeam on and the indicator going I was still getting 14.2volts time will tell just how successful I've been. Next job is to replace my broken speedo cable and then to find out why the car isn't getting hot!

Thanks again

Gary

IMAG2448.jpg

IMAG2448.jpg

IMAG2450.jpg

IMAG2451.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

×
×
  • Create New...