my #%@&*^"?>! alternator

6T5 square · June 23, 2008, 07:57:49 PM

Went out to look at the alternator tonight and got into a little geometry.

My motor sits at +6 degrees from perfect level while my alternator is sitting on top of the motor at -1 degree. This is why she is screaming.

God, I hope Ramone has that part!`

njgt-1 · June 23, 2008, 07:59:42 PM

one word...

shims ?

can it be done ?

6T5 square · June 23, 2008, 08:04:09 PM

I have a double shim I welded together a while back but its too thick. The problem is getting the shims to sit in the right place with out moving around. With the two different year fan housings I have, there is a step down on the back half. This is why I'm hoping on Ramone. He has a complete fan housing inlet. Otherwise, yeah, I'll be shimming away this week end

njgt-1 · June 23, 2008, 08:07:39 PM

Just a thought, too bad you can't have somebody machine a tapered hunk of steel with any of the contours you need to make them match up.

6T5 square · June 23, 2008, 08:09:39 PM

They would need air holes. The alternator sits on top of the fan housing so the air can come up through the bottom and cool off the alternator

njgt-1 · June 23, 2008, 08:21:44 PM

QuoteThey would need air holes. The alternator sits on top of the fan housing so the air can come up through the bottom and cool off the alternator

With the right set up that might be easy. I don't mean you should do this right now but in the future if there was a way to mock it up and get it made cheaply I bet you could make a few bucks from other T-3 owners with a similar problem. I'll have to check my links in the office computer but someplace I have a link for a machine shop in China that will make things really cheap. They work off the internet from plans you send and they will make 1 or 10,000 of something. Just a thought.

6T5 square · June 25, 2008, 05:54:07 PM

Went to Ramones today. He had the part that I needed but it was on what he said was a running motor. I felt guilty so I didn't take it. So it looks like I'll be spending my weekend in the garage cursin and shimming and fabricating whatever the hell I can to get this thing to sit still and level.

BTW- I went to Franks garage also. I saw the sample colors he sprayed on the fast back he is doing for his wife. That car, in those colors are going to look SWEET!!!

lovebus (jack) · June 25, 2008, 09:12:12 PM

You should have taken it so you can fix that POS the right way, save yourself lots of aggravation, and then keep an eye out for another one to give back to him.

I agree, that fastback is going to be sweet.

6T5 square · June 26, 2008, 05:37:10 AM

Quote from: 6d4vdub (jack) on June 25, 2008, 09:12:12 PM
You should have taken it so you can fix that POS the right way, save yourself lots of aggravation, and then keep an eye out for another one to give back to him.

Yeah, but think about it. Would you want me taking apart a working motor from your garage?

I think you need to spend more time in the love bus cause I'm not seeing the love here.

lovebus (jack) · June 26, 2008, 08:46:56 AM

That motor will sit there and rot and if he ever does use it, he will probably put in a T-1 and junk the T-3 stuff. I'm sure you will find a replacment for it one of theses days, and if he said you could have it, why not. Shhhhh.

6T5 square · June 29, 2008, 05:02:15 PM

Well, I think I got it going. I removed the air intake and the bellows so i could get a full on shot at the generator mounting area. I ground down some of the supports on the old half of the fan housing so now the alternator will sit lower. I shimmed the front of the alternator but my problem still seems to be getting enough tension on the belt.

I saw a used assembly on the samba for $30. Both halfs, so at least I know they match. Maybe wednesday, Ill buy it.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=607210

Trying to get weezer together for the 4th of July show over at silver diner in Cherry hill. Anyone else going?

6T5 square · July 04, 2008, 02:37:48 PM

Hey Jack,

to continue our discussion about switching pulleys on my alternator...

The shaft on the old generator is 7/16". The shaft on the alternator is 1/2" ( yes I used the micrometer) Meaning there is only a difference of 1/16 of an inch. So this must mean I can bore out the old pulley 1/16" more and then it should fit on the shaft. The only question is how can I put machine in a woodruff key?

I'm not going to take all of this apart until after next weekend (Merchantville) But is this something we can do at your shop?

Thanks for the info and help.

lovebus (jack) · July 04, 2008, 03:27:21 PM

We can do it at my cousins, no problimbo.

6T5 square · July 04, 2008, 09:11:42 PM

Check that!

I forgot about the collar under the threads on the original genny. When I take out the alternator, I'll get better measurements of both.

lovebus (jack) · July 16, 2008, 07:01:40 PM

Hay Johnny, whats up with alternator?