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bhartwell59 Samba Member
Joined: December 28, 2014 Posts: 788 Location: dallas, tx
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Posted: Tue May 10, 2016 6:34 am Post subject: Noisy alternator? |
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What do you all make of this noise? The video records the noise that seems to be coming from the alternator.
I replaced the fan belt last weekend, drove it around for the first time since Christmas and then noticed this whistling.
Link
Probably doesn't matter but it's a '74 Ghia auto stick, vert... new carb, new fuel pump installed last Christmas.
Thanks! _________________ '74 Zambezi green Ghia vert, autostick, 101k
'87 Jeep Wrangler, 4.2, 330k |
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sjbartnik Samba Member
Joined: September 01, 2011 Posts: 5986 Location: Brooklyn
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Posted: Tue May 10, 2016 7:52 am Post subject: Re: Noisy alternator? |
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Sounds like a really nasty ready-to-die alternator bearing.
Remove belt and spin alternator by hand. Does it feel smooth and quiet or gritty and noisy?
I wouldn't continue to run it like that, if the bearing seizes while running you're gonna have some problems. _________________ 1965 Volkswagen 1500 Variant S
2000 Kawasaki W650 |
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bhartwell59 Samba Member
Joined: December 28, 2014 Posts: 788 Location: dallas, tx
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Posted: Tue May 10, 2016 10:31 am Post subject: Re: Noisy alternator? |
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Hmmm, the bearing... that sounds right.
Is that something I can replace or is it better to replace the whole alt? _________________ '74 Zambezi green Ghia vert, autostick, 101k
'87 Jeep Wrangler, 4.2, 330k |
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sjbartnik Samba Member
Joined: September 01, 2011 Posts: 5986 Location: Brooklyn
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Posted: Tue May 10, 2016 10:36 am Post subject: Re: Noisy alternator? |
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If the alternator is electrically OK, a competent auto electrical rebuilder should be able to replace the bearings no problem (there are most likely two bearings, one at the pulley end and one at the fan end).
Just make sure high quality sealed bearings are used, like FAG or SKF.
This may be beyond the reach of a home mechanic unless you have a press to press the bearings on and off the shaft.
But check it first, pull the belt and see how it spins by hand. If the bearings are bad you will feel it and hear it.
Here's my generator with a bad rear bearing (the one closest to the pulley). It was making some noise when running on the car:
Link
In addition to being noisy when spun by hand it felt gritty and notchy. It should be silent and smooth when spun by hand. _________________ 1965 Volkswagen 1500 Variant S
2000 Kawasaki W650 |
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bhartwell59 Samba Member
Joined: December 28, 2014 Posts: 788 Location: dallas, tx
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Posted: Tue May 10, 2016 12:26 pm Post subject: Re: Noisy alternator? |
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Cool... that helps a lot! _________________ '74 Zambezi green Ghia vert, autostick, 101k
'87 Jeep Wrangler, 4.2, 330k |
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22manybugs Samba Member
Joined: March 30, 2006 Posts: 373 Location: Yorba Linda, Calif
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Posted: Tue May 10, 2016 9:48 pm Post subject: Re: Noisy alternator? |
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One other thing to check: make sure the back of the pulley isn't rubbing against the alternator body. Sometimes aftermarket pulleys do not stand up well to over-torqueing, then the rear half of the pulley starts to break away from the hub and rubs against the alternator body. _________________ Lon
1969 Karmann Ghia convertible
1971 Westfalia camper |
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sjbartnik Samba Member
Joined: September 01, 2011 Posts: 5986 Location: Brooklyn
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Posted: Wed May 11, 2016 6:32 am Post subject: Re: Noisy alternator? |
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22manybugs wrote: |
One other thing to check: make sure the back of the pulley isn't rubbing against the alternator body. Sometimes aftermarket pulleys do not stand up well to over-torqueing, then the rear half of the pulley starts to break away from the hub and rubs against the alternator body. |
Good idea! Easier/cheaper than replacing alternator bearings. _________________ 1965 Volkswagen 1500 Variant S
2000 Kawasaki W650 |
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runamoc Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2006 Posts: 5593 Location: 37.5N 77.1W
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Posted: Wed May 25, 2016 3:08 pm Post subject: Re: Noisy alternator? |
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Quote: |
replacing alternator bearings. |
NSK 6202VVC3 17mm, 40mm x 12mm
NSK 6203VVC3 15mm, 35mm x 11mm _________________ Daily driver: '69 Baja owned 44 yrs - Plan B: '81 Rabbit Diesel LS Deluxe - Plan C: '72 Ghia
Yard Art: 2 Sandrails
Outback: '69 Ghia - '68,'69,'70,'72 Beetle - '84 Scirocco, GTI - Pair of '02 Golfs-
VW Wiring = It's just wires |
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bhartwell59 Samba Member
Joined: December 28, 2014 Posts: 788 Location: dallas, tx
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Posted: Wed May 25, 2016 3:58 pm Post subject: Re: Noisy alternator? |
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runamoc wrote: |
Quote: |
replacing alternator bearings. |
NSK 6202VVC3 17mm, 40mm x 12mm
NSK 6203VVC3 15mm, 35mm x 11mm |
Thanks... where should I buy the bearings from? The alt is a Bosch AL78 (external regulator). _________________ '74 Zambezi green Ghia vert, autostick, 101k
'87 Jeep Wrangler, 4.2, 330k |
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runamoc Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2006 Posts: 5593 Location: 37.5N 77.1W
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Posted: Wed May 25, 2016 5:05 pm Post subject: Re: Noisy alternator? |
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Quote: |
buy the bearings from |
I got mine from work. EBay and Amazon have them for around $15 each. Found some with that # for $6 FS but they were DDU. Whatever that means but the picture was identical. _________________ Daily driver: '69 Baja owned 44 yrs - Plan B: '81 Rabbit Diesel LS Deluxe - Plan C: '72 Ghia
Yard Art: 2 Sandrails
Outback: '69 Ghia - '68,'69,'70,'72 Beetle - '84 Scirocco, GTI - Pair of '02 Golfs-
VW Wiring = It's just wires |
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74 Thing Samba Member
Joined: September 02, 2004 Posts: 7375
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Posted: Thu May 26, 2016 2:20 pm Post subject: Re: Noisy alternator? |
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Ebay the 6202 and 6203 bearings. |
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