I did this exact thing. Mine works great

 

FALSE.



TRUE



TRUE



Oh so very true. So much so, I clamber upstairs to the 6.0L forum to pick up a few ideas, since you guys have more experience with your motors taken apart.

But really though, there is no defense for my posting a screenshot of just the first 10 pages smushed together of over 500 search results returned, on only the 6.0L forum alone, with the word "alternator" in the subject title of the thread, nevermind the thousands of instances of alternator in the post content. And then I punctuated the screen shot with a silver spoon. That was bad. I wouldn't call it condescending, but it wasn't very welcoming.

Not that this is an excuse, but I had the news open on another window, where it was announced today that Jeff Bezos is now the richest man who ever lived. In the history of time. His fortune swelled to 105.1 billion bucks today. All because everyone believes in Amazon. The same Amazon that means I can no longer go down to a book store and see a book before I buy it. The same Amazon that leveled several retail businesses. The same Amazon that is picking off, one by one, the businesses that I have depended on for the last 30 years.

So enter stage left a new member who wants an answer, without doing a search. Ok that's cool. He gets an informative and comprehensive answer by another member who, without a doubt, has devoted more time personal time than any member on any of the big four Ford truck forums, at any time past or present, documenting startup voltage fluctuations and amperage draws with various alternators and pulleys on this specific engine application. And the member asks, "well what about what Amazon said?"

And at that moment I look again at the business news window that was simultaneously open on the other half of my screen, and there is Bezo's 105 Billion dollar bald head, grinning back at me, all the way to the bank he is about to BUY, along with the entire chain of Target Stores, because everyone listens to what Amazon says. I'll admit, a small part of me lost it in that moment. The unedited thoughts streamed "do your own research then... it's all there... just one word and two clicks away. And spend the rest of the month reading. Or listen to a guy who I'm guessing has about 30 years of professional experience in the automotive industry, who has a peculiar passion for the charging system on the 6.0l. Take your pick." There is just no nice way to say that. Especially if you've had a tough childhood, are a bit gruff, and have spent the last 18 years working on a 7.3L.

The OP obviously couldn't know that I was staring Bezos square in the face in the moment he mentioned Amazon, while wishing on behalf of the businesses which are dissolving that Amazon didn't exist, and simultaneously, no, hypocritically, wishing that I invested in that stock a couple of years ago. Heck, a couple of days ago would have netted 8%. Amazing how the human mind wrestles with dualities. Enough of that.


OP, I apologize.


______________________



Getting back to the real subject at hand... it should be useful for alternator seekers to know that all alternators have "Lester" numbers, which the rotating electrical rebuilding trade use as a common industry interchange number which is useful for deciphering the internal component "recipe" with which the alternator is built.

Quite a few of the most recent alternator threads on the 6.0L forum within the last year have been discussing the Leece Neville 230 amp alternator, and more particularly, the voltage regulator that Prestolite uses inside of that alternator, where there are multiple reports of voltage oscillations during first two minutes the glow plug control module is active.

Therefore, some attention should be given to the voltage regulator used inside the Bosch AL7606N, since folks who use the AL7606N do not report having such oscillations. The Lester number to the Bosch AL7606N is 8307, and the recipe for the voltage regulator in Lester 8307 calls for Ford engineering number 3C3U-10C359-AA, and that voltage regulator is identified in the trade as F605, a soft start regulator color coded green.

This is the exact same voltage regulator that I would try inside of the LN AVI160T2002, replacing the F600HP, if I had a 6.0L and was experiencing voltage oscillation issues with the LN. In fact, Jack, once you get your engine rebuilt, you could probably swap regulators between your Bosch and your LN, to see if you can measure any changes in behavior of the LN. The physical form factor between regulators are identical, as are the I-D-A terminal pins.

 

They are sitting next to the other on a shelf, I will try that if this truck doesn’t get pushed into the ocean. Actually Mazza’s Scrap metal is closer, I could probably drag it there with the MDX.

Y2K, I’ve been acting like an a** for about a week, it usually comes out when I’m hanging too much in a medical office. So we all have triggers.

 

Y2K: you turned the first false into a positive

I've unleashed a number of posts I've later gone back and said "why'd I do that" and usually say sorry -- we all get frustrated with new comers who just ask their Q or post their problem, without appearing to do any searching at all. But I have come to the place that, that is just the way it is, and try to help some of those folks out...

But my real reason for posting is the news I hadn't heard that Amazon is buying Target, which brings it full circle back to a bricks and mortar store-front; maybe even a place we can just run down and get our Bosch Alternators at! Just to make you feel better: I made a killing on Amazon stock! Yup, back in '97 I bought in at $4 a share and darn near doubled my money when I sold at $7 a share, and now it's in the mid 1200 dollar range?!

Will be interesting where this Target thing goes...

Thanks for the info,
Scott

 

This morning I deleted two paragraphs about AMZN in the above post as I was trying not to drift....... and what do you do ......

From a retail perspective, Amazon quality and shipping is going downhill. If there’s a vendor for the product they may have their own website or sell on eBay, and it typically cheaper without the Amazon fees. I check that a lot. I was looking at something on Amzn for $40, they were selling on eBay for $30 w/ free shipping. Even Grainger is now on eBay.

 

WHAT?

In the early '80s I could roll into Grainger with an entire wheelbarrow full of $100 dollar bills, dump them on the floor, and come back with a second load of crisp cash direct from the US Mint for good measure... and Grainger would have none of it. At best, they would hand me a broom to sweep it all up and get it, and myself, out of their store. But I'd have to give back the broom, because they wouldn't sell me one bristle of it without an "Account".

So I established an account, and when I returned with an account number, they were more than happy to fill two empty wheelbarrows full to overflowing, with thousands of dollars worth of merchandise... without my paying for any of it. Go figure. Their point was, one had to have an account with them to trade with them.

And now they are selling on eBay?

 

Either under their own name or as Zoro and they often carry the same Grainger number. I've bought several items for some months now and under Zoro it can be cheaper then the catalog.

The other day I ordered an item on eBay late afternoon from a Zoro eBay ad, next day by 3:00 this showed up.

 

I had no idea that Zoro and Grainger were one and the same. And I've had a Grainger account for decades! The things I learn up here on the 6.0L forum. That's why I keep coming back.

 

Yup - just did a search and they are a subsidiary of Grainger - you can go to Zoro direct -- they pop up often in my Google searches for the best price on xyz. I think they are sort of a "cloud storefront" for Grainger (like Jet is for Walmart). They often have discount codes and shipping specials -- they ended up having the best price when I replaced the dozen smoke detectors in our house. Whereas Jet had a killer deal for some luggage that was $60 more per item on eBay (it was also more on Walmart's site).

Jack: I'm not having the same experience with Amazon - if there is a problem it gets fixed. I have had more problems with Walmart online by far. I do price compare against eBay, but also just figure out the part number, or root part number for something and Google the heck out of it!

And I won't even go into my other investments -- plenty of Thread Drift for this thread!

Scott

 

Two of these in November





And they never re-sent, and I had to request reimbustment. Two to three weeks later I reordered and everything was fine.

Five other orders that never made it by the time they said they would.

Walmart I don't do on-line. Home Depot on-line I've had good results with picking up in the store.

 

I've never even seen one of those, though I have gotten caught with something getting shipped from China you get like a month later, or it never comes (and Amazon just refunds).

Deal example: I just ordered two rifle cases from Amazon, be here in 2 days: both were $10+ cheaper than lowest eBay price (same make/model). On the other hand I can't even find the picatinny rail covers on Amazon I want - and yet they are all over eBay for $5 or so a set - go figure.

Tell ya' one thing not to order online: grease cartridges! Man do you get some banged up and leaky shipments

Dumped the rest of my REITs today, just in case you needed more Thread Drift here...

Scott

 

I just got my alternator/pulley hooked up and it seems to be working great! So, truly, thank you again! Now for my bad news. I've never tried to post on a forum before. I've googled questions and used the info in the past, but finally reached a point where my conscious said " you should contribute". I own a body shop and do a considerable amount of mechanical work. I don't however spend much time on computers. As soon as I signed up for the forum, I did search for my answer under "alternator". The problem as I stated in my original posts was that I couldn't get a straight forward answer. There's so much conflicting information and not being familiar with who has the right opinions left me more confused than how I went in to it. Thus, my question about a "straight forward answer or a link to the archives where I could find it".
I'm new to my 6.0 and my local community has been incredibly supportive in answering my questions, but the arrogance and some kind of weird entitlement/elitist attitude from Y2K drives me away from this one. I'll join another forum and share the info I have elsewhere. I actually do have quite a bit of 6.0 info on the things that I have done, from heads/studs, to blue spring upgrade and EGR delete, etc, as well as suspension and tuner recommendations. Not to mention my multiple years of experience in my body shop.

Y2K, no one twisted your arm and told you to answer my questions. No one even told you to read a thread that you were already so frustrated with. Jack had already done a wonderful job of holding my newbie hand and your input was not only unnecessary, but condescending and arrogant. You did not succeed in making me feel like an idiot, but rather made yourself look like one.

 

Glad it worked out.

Y2K had a bad day, visiting from the 7.3 forum. Trust me there's a few newbies that probably left after I posted in their thread so I'm no saint.

Again, glad your back to your truck working well and hope you hang around. It's a good community.

 

I'm really sorry to read this, and I hope you will reconsider staying here on FTE and in particular our 6.0 forum. There are a ton of other options out there. I belong to a number of other forums, but I rarely visit them. My personal experience has been that those forums have collected more of the intolerant folks, and I find frankly I'm afraid to post a question out of fear of getting hammered.

Like I said: I hope you stay, but in any case wish you the best down the road.

Scott

 

I know you have this alternator. I read through most of the reviews on Amazon and found a few that said the alternator died. Thanks for all your work testing products and giving amazing free advice.

"Complete failure after only about 8 mos of use. Had to go to dealer to get one which I should have done if first place."

"Got it shipped overnight because I had a failed one on my truck. This one arrived dead, never worked. Had it tested and it put out 11 volts. I was careful to follow the instructions regarding the order to connect the wires and it was still DOA."

"Bought one of these to replace the factory one in my 6.0 F350. Voltage regulator went out in the first one within two days, the second one has been in the truck for a few weeks and has just done the same thing. I'll be going elsewhere for my next one."

"Bought for my e350 power stroke which takes 3 he's to get it of . And to receive a bad alternator I would never buy another one. Thumbs down all the way."

"After 9 months had to replace two brand new Optima Yellow Top batteries <30% @ $180/ea (alternator supposedly tested fine). Two more dead batteries and truck completely dead 5 months later, less than 14 months after upgrading all 3 components and 4 gage cables. Have to replace all 3 at a cost of ~$600, 2 new batteries and a better quality alternator than this. This alternator is garbage!"

5 horrible reviews out of 40. 12.5%. In my opinion, that is too many failures.

I have an E350 van and it's not worth the effort to install and think about replacing it again. Vans are a pita. I think I will buy a DC Power alternator.

If I owned a truck, I would take my chances. In 40 years of driving, I have replaced maybe 3 alternators and I always drive old cars and trucks with 100,000 or more miles. I replaced every alternator with a rebuilt. In this van, I buy only new parts when available.