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Lil Lulu
Samba Member
Joined: December 08, 2007
Posts: 1745
Location: Mouth of the Columbia
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 Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2017 5:42 pm Post subject: Alternator options |
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My 55 amp, 40 year old alternator, I'm afraid, is about to give up the ghost. It's making lots of metallic noise and sometimes it stops charging for a little while.
Local options:
Reputable electrical shop rebuilds industrial and fish boat alternators but they want $250.min. exchange.
Samba classifieds- Not so hot looking used (untested)
Rebuilt from flaps- $209.00 exchange. Rebuilder- Grace L. Ferguson Airline and Storm Door Company (Who knows?)
New from flaps- $289 exchange. Rebuilder- economic slave (China)
Kinda lose the trail searching online. Can someone point out other options?
_________________
'65 Beetle "Lil' Lulu"- Ruby Red
1600 stock from '71 bus
'72 Deluxe - Niagara Blue w/pastelwiess Camper Special 2L dual 40 Webers 002
'74 Hightop Weekender "Dixie" 1800 34 Del singles |
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22639
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2017 6:25 pm Post subject: Re: Alternator options |
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Find the one with the word " reputable" and send your money there, and cry once.
_________________
.ssS! |
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raygreenwood
Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2008
Posts: 21510
Location: Oklahoma City
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| Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2017 6:26 pm Post subject: Re: Alternator options |
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 ....uh.....the Grace L. Ferguson airline and storm door company....is a comedy routine by Bob Newhart.....in the early 1960's
 Ray |
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Randy in Maine
Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2003
Posts: 34890
Location: The Beach
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| Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2017 6:31 pm Post subject: Re: Alternator options |
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| My local generator rebuilder guy charges about $70. His work is nice. |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50336
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| Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2017 7:21 pm Post subject: Re: Alternator options |
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-Check with your local FLAPS and see what they had available.
-Give Halsey Import Parts a call.
-I haven't dealt with them in years at this point, but Bus Boys are showing an alternator for $140 + core.
-You might look at ways to install at Delco or other common alternator and figure out how to keep her cool. |
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airkooledchris
Samba Member
Joined: January 25, 2005
Posts: 2707
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| Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2017 8:25 pm Post subject: Re: Alternator options |
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| Wildthings wrote: |
-I haven't dealt with them in years at this point, but Bus Boys are showing an alternator for $140 + core.
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do they actually exist still? I thought they closed up shop. |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50336
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| Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2017 9:31 pm Post subject: Re: Alternator options |
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| airkooledchris wrote: |
| Wildthings wrote: |
-I haven't dealt with them in years at this point, but Bus Boys are showing an alternator for $140 + core.
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do they actually exist still? I thought they closed up shop. |
They still have a website out there. I was searching for some part the other day and their site popped up to my surprise. |
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telford dorr
Samba Member
Joined: March 11, 2009
Posts: 3551
Location: San Diego (Encinitas)
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| Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2017 10:34 pm Post subject: Re: Alternator options |
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You could always buy a pair of bearings from a bearing supply house, and remove and press the new ones on (or have it done). They're likely a standard metric sized bearing. I did that to the bearings on the alternator on my '71, and it works fine.
_________________
'71 panel, now with FI
'Experience' is the ability to recognize a mistake when you're making it again - Franklin P. Jones
In theory, theory works in practice; in practice, it doesn't - William T. Harbaugh
When you're dead, you don't know you're dead. The pain is only felt by others.
Same thing happens when you're stupid. - Philippe Geluck
More VW electrical at http://telforddorr.com/ (available 9am to 9pm PST) |
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BayCreamPuff
Samba Member
Joined: August 10, 2015
Posts: 769
Location: Oakland, CA
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| Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2017 10:44 pm Post subject: Re: Alternator options |
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There's a guy on eBay who sells the 55amp AL75X rebuilt and rewound to 75amp. I haven't had any problems with mine.
He was in Van Nuys, CA. Not sure if this is the same guy, but it didn't have the same problems as the Bosch remanufactured units that shorts out.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/252894618884
_________________
Cream Puff
'79 CA Stock FI Deluxe Campmobile
Earl Grey
'87 GoWesty 2.2 Westfalia
Marsha Mellow
'00 Eurovan VR6 Full Camper |
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Busstom
Samba Member
Joined: November 23, 2014
Posts: 3837
Location: San Jose, CA
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| Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2017 11:57 pm Post subject: Re: Alternator options |
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| BayCreamPuff wrote: |
| ...it didn't have the same problems as the Bosch remanufactured units that shorts out. |
Hmmm  Are you suggesting that alternators rebuilt by Robert Bosch GmbH are randomly shorting out? That's concerning, because just four days ago, I bought a 55A alternator, rebuilt by Bosch U.S., and thinking I got a pretty damn good deal at my FLAPS, at $140 (and this place is indeed friendly...Winchester Auto on Winchester Blvd. It's where you go when you want quality stuff, above and beyond your O'Reillys, Auto Zones, etc).
Anyway, to the point: when I got the alternator home, in my quiet garage, I started spinning it in-hand, and the frickin' rotor was rubbing on the stator, making a kind of swish swish pfftt pfft sound at certain points in the rotation. I got annoyed, took it back, and the dude behind the counter spun it and said "oh yeah, I definitely hear that...I feel something too." Okay, cool, so I said "hey, I haven't even finished my engine yet, and I don't want to start the warranty clock, so let's just do a refund." And so that's done...for now.
But I'm concerned to hear this comment that the Bosch units are shorting out...and it's NOT related to the post touching the back cover?? |
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Xevin 
Samba Member
Joined: January 08, 2014
Posts: 7623
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| Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2017 12:19 am Post subject: Re: Alternator options |
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Shoot, Ronin10 is about to give me back the one I loaned him a year ago. So I know it's tested. I got another in the basement untested. Both loaned to me by buddies. If you need a loaner in a pinch call me up. You know how the Pacific Northwest loaner system works  Been itching to road trip out to your place 
_________________
Keep on Busin'
| 67rustavenger wrote: |
| GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo! |
| Clatter wrote: |
| Damn that Xevin... |
| skills@eurocarsplus wrote: |
I respect Xevin and he's a turd  |
| SGKent wrote: |
| My God! Xevin and I 100% agree |
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BayCreamPuff
Samba Member
Joined: August 10, 2015
Posts: 769
Location: Oakland, CA
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| Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2017 8:23 am Post subject: Re: Alternator options |
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| Busstom wrote: |
| BayCreamPuff wrote: |
| ...it didn't have the same problems as the Bosch remanufactured units that shorts out. |
Hmmm Are you suggesting that alternators rebuilt by Robert Bosch GmbH are randomly shorting out? That's concerning, because just four days ago, I bought a 55A alternator, rebuilt by Bosch U.S., and thinking I got a pretty damn good deal at my FLAPS, at $140 (and this place is indeed friendly...Winchester Auto on Winchester Blvd. It's where you go when you want quality stuff, above and beyond your O'Reillys, Auto Zones, etc).
Anyway, to the point: when I got the alternator home, in my quiet garage, I started spinning it in-hand, and the frickin' rotor was rubbing on the stator, making a kind of swish swish pfftt pfft sound at certain points in the rotation. I got annoyed, took it back, and the dude behind the counter spun it and said "oh yeah, I definitely hear that...I feel something too." Okay, cool, so I said "hey, I haven't even finished my engine yet, and I don't want to start the warranty clock, so let's just do a refund." And so that's done...for now.
But I'm concerned to hear this comment that the Bosch units are shorting out...and it's NOT related to the post touching the back cover?? |
I was referring to the post shorting out on the cover.
_________________
Cream Puff
'79 CA Stock FI Deluxe Campmobile
Earl Grey
'87 GoWesty 2.2 Westfalia
Marsha Mellow
'00 Eurovan VR6 Full Camper |
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Tcash
Samba Member
Joined: July 20, 2011
Posts: 12844
Location: San Jose, California, USA
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22639
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2017 8:44 am Post subject: Re: Alternator options |
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Wait a minute , why does a rebuilder want a core? If your alternator is operational, Have them rebuild and return your alternator?
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Busstom
Samba Member
Joined: November 23, 2014
Posts: 3837
Location: San Jose, CA
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| Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2017 12:46 pm Post subject: Re: Alternator options |
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| Thanks, BCP...I am still stoked on this Bosch reman, I still think it's a great deal at a buck-forty. |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50336
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| Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2017 1:47 pm Post subject: Re: Alternator options |
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| telford dorr wrote: |
| You could always buy a pair of bearings from a bearing supply house, and remove and press the new ones on (or have it done). They're likely a standard metric sized bearing. I did that to the bearings on the alternator on my '71, and it works fine. |
New bearings and brushes should get you another 100K down the road. |
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Lil Lulu
Samba Member
Joined: December 08, 2007
Posts: 1745
Location: Mouth of the Columbia
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| Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2017 5:34 pm Post subject: Re: Alternator options |
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Anywhere I might find the bearing size and the brush numbers. Idunno, maybe there's too many variants.
_________________
'65 Beetle "Lil' Lulu"- Ruby Red
1600 stock from '71 bus
'72 Deluxe - Niagara Blue w/pastelwiess Camper Special 2L dual 40 Webers 002
'74 Hightop Weekender "Dixie" 1800 34 Del singles |
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telford dorr
Samba Member
Joined: March 11, 2009
Posts: 3551
Location: San Diego (Encinitas)
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| Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2017 6:37 pm Post subject: Re: Alternator options |
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The bearings you just measure shaft diameter, outside diameter, and thickness (in mm). Two of those dimensions specify the bearing, but I forget which two. Look up standard metric bearings online for the specifics. Also, you want the high speed (19,000 r/m?) version.
_________________
'71 panel, now with FI
'Experience' is the ability to recognize a mistake when you're making it again - Franklin P. Jones
In theory, theory works in practice; in practice, it doesn't - William T. Harbaugh
When you're dead, you don't know you're dead. The pain is only felt by others.
Same thing happens when you're stupid. - Philippe Geluck
More VW electrical at http://telforddorr.com/ (available 9am to 9pm PST) |
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otiswesty
Samba Member
Joined: November 21, 2006
Posts: 1729
Location: Portland
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| Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2017 12:09 pm Post subject: Re: Alternator options |
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| BayCreamPuff wrote: |
There's a guy on eBay who sells the 55amp AL75X rebuilt and rewound to 75amp. I haven't had any problems with mine.
He was in Van Nuys, CA. Not sure if this is the same guy, but it didn't have the same problems as the Bosch remanufactured units that shorts out.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/252894618884 |
This is what I did.
A little pricey, but the extra amperage is nice without having to switch to the other 70 Amp Bus alternator
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1978 Sage Green P22 Westfalia
1989 T3 Syncro Single cab
Just a regular guy |
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