Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » I'm a Patient Man (GM Alternators)
| I'm a Patient Man [message #335687] |
Thu, 26 July 2018 22:22  |
George Beckman
Messages: 1085
Registered: October 2008
Location: Colfax, CA
Karma: 11
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Senior Member |
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I am a splendidly patient man. Men of great renown admire my patience. My problem is my patience has run out.
Everyone loves the GM "two wire" alternator. Hot rods. I even have one on my John Deere D.
I cannot count how many alternators I have put on my GMC. I have tired Autozone, Napa, Kragen when there was one, O'Reilies, local rebuild shop, etc. I went fro 80 to 100 and did better.
Inside the alternator, there is a silly little bridge piece that goes from the sink to the Batt post. Grab the batt post on a GM alternator and you fine a loose pole on many. I don't grab the post on my GMC because I keep thinking that "I just put that on." To be fair, some have to be changed out because the voltage jumps around and some because they howl and make me crazy.
Took the grandkids camping. Got gas before we loaded everything. On the way, to the station, the voltage dropped to 10 with AC and trans fan on. The silly Batt bolt had come clear out and was hanging loose. With 20 minutes to departure, I pulled the wheel well, disconnected from the isolator, pushed the lug it back in and used a wire tie to hold it. It sora charged for the 45-minute trip. This morning I ran a heavy wire directly from the heat sink and insulated it in the square hole with a bit of vacuum hose. If you replace the iron bridge or do what I did, shake out the detritus from inside the alternator. There will be bits and pieces of cooked metal and perhaps a nut.
I am not suggesting this as a fix. But I did it the first time between Barstow and Needles. Sometimes, in the middle of the desert one has to be creativeor when camping. The tricky part is getting the brushes polked back in and a wire or something to hold them. A tube from WD-40 worked.
I am a patient man. I would rather have sat in a camp chair.
'74 Eleganza, SE, Howell + EBL
Best Wishes,
George
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| Re: I'm a Patient Man [message #335696 is a reply to message #335687] |
Fri, 27 July 2018 08:58  |
JohnL455
Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma: 12
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Senior Member |
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Rebuilding on your own bench with no rush is the best bet. You can address the issues and weaknesses. JWID.
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
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| Re: [GMCnet] I'm a Patient Man [message #335700 is a reply to message #335696] |
Fri, 27 July 2018 09:23 |
James Hupy
Messages: 6806
Registered: May 2010
Karma: -62
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Senior Member |
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George, patience has its virtues. But, combine it with hearing loss and
procrastination, and we have a recipe for disaster.
When you were making your gasoline run and noticed a peculiar charging
voltage, Murphy was whispering in your ear, "Somewhere between Needles and
Barstow, If you don't fix that thing right now, I am going to make life
real uncomfortable for you!" But, you are a patient man. You ignored his
warning.
One bit of condolences here. You have lots of company. We ALL either
have been there, or soon will be again. Murphy is the REALLY, REALLY
patient one. He just sits over there in the co-pilots seat, and waits.
(Grin)😁.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Or
78 GMC ROYALE 403
On Fri, Jul 27, 2018, 6:59 AM John R. Lebetski
wrote:
> Rebuilding on your own bench with no rush is the best bet. You can address
> the issues and weaknesses. JWID.
> --
> John Lebetski
> Woodstock, IL
> 77 Eleganza II
>
>
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| Re: I'm a Patient Man [message #335701 is a reply to message #335687] |
Fri, 27 July 2018 09:39 |
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John Heslinga
Messages: 632
Registered: February 2011
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Karma: 4
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Senior Member |
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May I suggest the contents of this photo album. http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g6522-alternator-repair-27si.html It shows the rebuilding of the 27si Delcotron Alternator rebuild. It reinforces making sure the strap going to the output stud from the Rectifier is tight. A loose or corroded strap is a very common problem! Any loosness or corrosion in the connection in that strap creates heat which melts the insulator and things get progressively worse because the melted plastic allows the strap to get looser. With 80 or 100 amps going through those parts of the Alternator can create a lot of heat. The good thing is that strap can be snugged up from the outside of the alternator , using the nut on the output stud. However: once damage from heat has been done, the Alternator requires disassembly to service that connection. Here is the photo and description of that particular output strap issue (painted red).
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/alternator-repair-27si/p52671-output-strap-is-very-important.html
Remove it and brighten up the the strap with a wire wheel, then installing it with a Star washer at the output stud to help keep that connection solid. The inboard heat sink is the Positive side of the rectifier (red dots) The outboard heat sink is the negative side of the rectifier.
Here is a photo of the initial bad connection. Check out how the mounting stud is has evidence of being very hot indeed. The insulator in this case was totally destroyed by the heat.
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/alternator-repair-27si/p52659-raw-view-inside-opened-alternator.html
John and Cathie Heslinga
1974 Canyonlands 260
455, Manny tranny and 1 ton, 3:70 LS,
Red Seal Journeyman, DTE, BEd. MEd.
Edmonton, Alberta
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| Re: [GMCnet] I'm a Patient Man [message #335702 is a reply to message #335701] |
Fri, 27 July 2018 10:30 |
James Hupy
Messages: 6806
Registered: May 2010
Karma: -62
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Senior Member |
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27si DELCOTRON alternators, as they left the factory had very superior
insulators (they more than likely contained asbestos fibers) on the output
stud. They lasted extremely well. Then, comes the Orion parts group
bankruptcy and subsequent bailout. A lot of bits and pieces vanished from
the parts stream, old line companies were gobbled up by other companies and
merged with other companies who knew little about the importance of those
little bits and pieces, and rebuilders were left holding the bag, forced to
use whatever was available from new old stock and offshore produced
inferior parts. Those alternators, even in the quantities that GM used were
never cheap. Great quality seldom is cheap. When you only give up a 20 and
a 10 for a rebuilt? one, you get what you pay for.
What's the answer? I don't think there is a good one. If you really
want to get my local rebuilders motor running, just mention availability of
quality rebuilding parts. You will see smoke coming from his ears, and the
language near the shop definitely goes from G to XXX quickly.
Ask Manny T. about transmission parts. They are just about non
existent. He has had to revert to manufacturing some of his own pieces just
to be able to supply us with quality rebuilds. Not good.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Or
78 GMC Royale 403
On Fri, Jul 27, 2018, 8:05 AM John Heslinga wrote:
> May I suggest the contents of this photo album.
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g6522-alternator-repair-27si.html It
> shows the rebuilding of the
> 27si Delcotron Alternator rebuild. It reinforces making sure the strap
> going to the output stud from the Rectifier is tight. A loose or corroded
> strap is a very common problem! Any loosness or corrosion in the
> connection in that strap creates heat which melts the insulator and things
> get
> progressively worse because the melted plastic allows the strap to get
> looser. With 80 or 100 amps going through those parts of the Alternator can
> create a lot of heat. The good thing is that strap can be snugged up
> from the outside of the alternator , using the nut on the output stud.
> However:
> once damage from heat has been done, the Alternator requires disassembly
> to service that connection. Here is the photo and description of that
> particular output strap issue (painted red).
>
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/alternator-repair-27si/p52671-output-strap-is-very-important.html
> Remove it and brighten up the the strap with a wire wheel, then
> installing it with a Star washer at the output stud to help keep that
> connection
> solid. The inboard heat sink is the Positive side of the rectifier (red
> dots) The outboard heat sink is the negative side of the rectifier.
> Here is a photo of the initial bad connection. Check out how the mounting
> stud is has evidence of being very hot indeed. The insulator in this case
> was totally destroyed by the heat.
>
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/alternator-repair-27si/p52659-raw-view-inside-opened-alternator.html
>
> --
> John and Cathie Heslinga
> 1974 Canyonlands 260
> 455, Manny tranny and 1 ton, 3:70 LS,
> Red Seal Journeyman, DTE, BEd. MEd.
> Edmonton, Alberta
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
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