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randywebb Samba Member
Joined: February 15, 2005 Posts: 3815 Location: Greater Metropolitan Nimrod, Orygun
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Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 7:16 pm Post subject: Protect Alternator Electrical Stud |
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That naked stud sticking out of the back (forward) of the alt. bothers me. It's just waiting to have a wrench or some other metal object dropped on it and cause some spontaneous arc welding (near the fule hoses too).
Has anyone found a way to cover it up? maybe with a right-angled rubber terminal cover? If so, I'd like to know where to get one... _________________ 1986 2.1L Westy 2wd Auto Trans. |
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MidwestDrifter Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2012 Posts: 769 Location: Kicking Around Australia
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Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 8:20 pm Post subject: |
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I have used rubberized coating (brush on) before.
Liquid electrical tape works, but can be hard to remove.
Many starters motors have rubber boots on their terminals. Junk Yard? _________________ 2004 Dodge/Mercedes Sprinter (Custom Camper)
2000 Jetta TDI
1982 Diesel Westy W/ ABA I4 hybrid (Sold)
Epic Road Tripping since 08/05/12 | http://VagariesAbound.blogspot.com/
My Current Build | http://sprinter-source.com/forum/showthread.php?t=41215 |
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thatvwbusguy Samba Member
Joined: April 18, 2007 Posts: 1712 Location: Newmarket, New Hampshire
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Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 9:00 pm Post subject: |
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Ask for an "alternator boot" at your local automotive parts place and they should have something for $5.00 or less that will do the trick. _________________ Jay Brown
'85 Zetec Westfalia
Newmarket, NH
If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.
If you want to be happy, practice compassion. |
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randywebb Samba Member
Joined: February 15, 2005 Posts: 3815 Location: Greater Metropolitan Nimrod, Orygun
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Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 11:26 pm Post subject: |
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I did and they didn't (!) _________________ 1986 2.1L Westy 2wd Auto Trans. |
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thatvwbusguy Samba Member
Joined: April 18, 2007 Posts: 1712 Location: Newmarket, New Hampshire
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Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 1:40 am Post subject: |
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Check in the HELP section with all the small parts on blister packs. There is usually something there that will do the trick. I am pretty sure that Dorman makes a couple rubber boots that should work.
Boating supply places should be a good source as well. Marine battery switches use the same style boots over the large terminal posts.
Here is a cheap possibility from amazon. http://www.amazon.com/WARN-2090-Electric-Terminal-...minal+boot
If you don't want to cut the ring connector off the wire, be sure to get something that will stretch over the terminal. _________________ Jay Brown
'85 Zetec Westfalia
Newmarket, NH
If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.
If you want to be happy, practice compassion. |
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Rallyedude Samba Member
Joined: December 06, 2009 Posts: 206 Location: Aylmer, QC
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Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 3:59 am Post subject: |
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You're talking about the 13mm(wrench size) nut ? If so , lots of later VW's have a plastic cap that pushes on. If you have a scrap yard nearby you look at any fwd vw and you'll find one. You'll probably have better luck with the newer models though. As they get older mechanics tend to not re-install them , or they break on removal. Otherwise pop into a vw dealer , price it out. Sometimes VW surprises me with super cheap pricing. Other times I wonder if their pricing guy was dropped on his head as a child. _________________ 85 2wd Doka ABA In progress
82 westy diesel under the knife , MTDi ,weddle gears |
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MarkWard Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005 Posts: 17014 Location: Retired South Florida
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Volksaholic Samba Member
Joined: December 26, 2005 Posts: 1771 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
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Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 7:40 am Post subject: |
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One of the things that's always bugged me about VW is that there is a lot of vulnerable wiring that could be fused. As a preventative cover you might be able to get away with something like a thin rubber or nylon washer and nylon nut from your local hardware store (Lowes is better than HD for this stuff). When I did my Subaru conversion, the Subaru wiring diagram had an 80A fuse on the run between the alternator and battery. That seemed prudent, so I included it in my conversion. Adding a fuse wouldn't protect you from shorting the post to ground, but it would keep the wiring, your wrench, and your hand intact. _________________ 1988 Wolfsburg Edition, 2001 Subaru EJ251 |
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randywebb Samba Member
Joined: February 15, 2005 Posts: 3815 Location: Greater Metropolitan Nimrod, Orygun
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Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 3:51 pm Post subject: |
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I don't think the Germans understand electricity very well. _________________ 1986 2.1L Westy 2wd Auto Trans. |
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MarkWard Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005 Posts: 17014 Location: Retired South Florida
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Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 10:02 am Post subject: |
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randywebb wrote: |
I don't think the Germans understand electricity very well. |
It is more about production cost and percentage of failure. At an Audi electrical school we asked about having a fuel pump submerged in a tank of fuel. For the pump to work, you have to add 12 volt power and a ground right next to it. Seems like a fire waiting to happen. In a collision or a pump failure would it be possible to ignite the fuel? The instructor said it was about percentages. If 1 in a 100 burst into flames, then you have a production problem. If 1 in a million units, does, maybe not so much.
The New Beetle when it was released had a recall out of the gate, I believe to add a fuse to the alternator circuit. Some alternators must have been shorting internally causing more fires than they accounted for.
Bottom line, fuses really aren't necessary for circuits and components in good functioning condition. My 65 volvo had 4 fuses and one was missing. Probably as more circuits were added over the years and the lawyers got involved, more fuses were required. I personally find the German Electronics to be very reliable and the diagrams easy to troubleshoot. _________________ ☮️ |
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bluebus86 Banned
Joined: September 02, 2010 Posts: 11075
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Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 10:33 am Post subject: |
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if you cant find a rubber cap, get all your tools plasti-dipped. No issues! |
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ragnarhairybreeks Samba Member
Joined: October 26, 2009 Posts: 1888 Location: Sidney B.C. Canada
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T3 Pilot Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2011 Posts: 1507 Location: Deep South of the Great White North
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Posted: Sat Apr 13, 2013 10:56 am Post subject: |
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I was just working on my alternator (checking the brushes on the regulator) and wanted to protect the main Aternator stud from shorting on my right angle screwdriver. There was a marette (household wire nut) sitting on the bench and on a whim I tested it out. Perfect Fit, spun right on with light finger pressure.
Remembered reading this post a while back and wanted to add what I used to solve the problem. _________________ 1988 Vanagon
The most important part in every vehicle is the nut behind the wheel...... |
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bluebus86 Banned
Joined: September 02, 2010 Posts: 11075
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Posted: Sat Apr 13, 2013 11:05 am Post subject: |
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The right sized piece of rubber hose can be slipped on the stud, that should offer some protection, a dab of silicone rtv would help make it hold better, but still make it easy to remove for service.
Some heat shrink tubbing can also be used, slipped over the wire, then attach the wire to the stud, then pull up the shrink tubing tight aginst the alternator over the stud and then shrink away with a heat gun.
two cheap options that should work fine.
PS one more method would be to zip tie a sheet of rubber that would hang over the stud on top of it, possibly zip tie to the wire and allow the rubber to overhang, extending past the stud. |
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r39o Samba Polizei
Joined: May 18, 2005 Posts: 9800 Location: San Diego
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Posted: Sat Apr 13, 2013 11:42 am Post subject: |
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There are boots used on earlier VWs and German cars in general, especially on the old generator studs.
http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=C16-113-901A
_________________ "Use the SEARCH, Luke" But first visit the Vanagon FAQ!
1990 Multivan EJ 22, Rancho trans 0.82 4th, Small Car front AC, CLKs w/ 215/65-16, homemade big brakes 303mm, Konis, Recaros, etc....
Click to see my ads for Cup holders, Subaru clutch fix and CLK wheels (no wheels currently) |
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