Alternator - rebuild or replace
Thread Starter
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Trailering
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Alternator - rebuild or replace
Hi
Just pulled my alternator as it quit on me.
One brush was shot and the other was down.
My question is this. There is a channel in the copper of the shaft of the alternator that is about 1/16" deep. I'm not sure how much contact surface is built onto the shaft so who might know if it's okay to just replace the brushes ($5.00) or do I have to replace the whole alternator ($285)
Thanks in advance.
Just pulled my alternator as it quit on me.
One brush was shot and the other was down.
My question is this. There is a channel in the copper of the shaft of the alternator that is about 1/16" deep. I'm not sure how much contact surface is built onto the shaft so who might know if it's okay to just replace the brushes ($5.00) or do I have to replace the whole alternator ($285)
Thanks in advance.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 203
Likes: 1
From: Western North Carolina
The "copper" are the two slip rings where the brushes make contact.
I would polish those with a little scotch-brite and put the new brushes in.
Probably will last a long while.
You can always rebuild the alternator later if doesn't work out.
I would polish those with a little scotch-brite and put the new brushes in.
Probably will last a long while.
You can always rebuild the alternator later if doesn't work out.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,933
Likes: 182
if you have got about 150k miles or so, then the wear to the commutator is probably excessive. i have cut them down on a lathe and polished, put in new brushes... you wil bo o.k. for a few months. It about time for a new commutator... thats a lot of work, just get another alternator. You can get a better deal than $300. I bought a takeoff on e-bay from a guy that builds ambulance and puts on BIG units. It cost me about $100. a couple years ago.
Thread Starter
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Trailering
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
if you have got about 150k miles or so, then the wear to the commutator is probably excessive. i have cut them down on a lathe and polished, put in new brushes... you will be o.k. for a few months. It about time for a new commutator... that's a lot of work
Thanks guys
Former Vendor
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 8,098
Likes: 10
From: Westford, MA
HI Clint,
If you would like to check out what we have here's a link to our alternator section.We sell new alternators,so there's no core charge to deal with.
Ford Truck Alternator
If you would like to check out what we have here's a link to our alternator section.We sell new alternators,so there's no core charge to deal with.
Ford Truck Alternator
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,060
Likes: 12
From: arizona
I did a check-up on mine at 250,000 miles and found the brushes were only half worn, but, since I was in there I replaced them anyway. Everything else looked good so I reinstalled it back on and now I'm at 340,000 miles with no problems.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,060
Likes: 12
From: arizona
Yea, my truck has ran so good it's unbelievable.
I know I will be rebuilding it soon.....I guess. Anyway, I went and looked at a used 97 for sale and noticed the engine running and could actually see a side to side shake in the engine.
I then went home, opened up my hood on my truck looked at it and I could not detect ANY movement at all. Makes me wonder if at the factory someone may have "blueprinted" my engine as an experiment.
Oh yea, I'm still on the original EGR, which I would have thought it would ruptured by now.
I know I will be rebuilding it soon.....I guess. Anyway, I went and looked at a used 97 for sale and noticed the engine running and could actually see a side to side shake in the engine.
I then went home, opened up my hood on my truck looked at it and I could not detect ANY movement at all. Makes me wonder if at the factory someone may have "blueprinted" my engine as an experiment.
Oh yea, I'm still on the original EGR, which I would have thought it would ruptured by now.
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