Alternator Bearings Burning out.

[Itsanemergency]

Hey Everyone,

Is there a way of adjusting the Idler Pulley tension on an 84. I ask because I seem to be tearing up alternators. If they aren't going dead the bearings are wearing out.

I'm wondering if somehow the spring in the tensioner on the idler pulley has stiffend up with age. The car has about 92,000 miles on it and ever since the original alternator went out it's been pretty hard to keep a good one in there.

Thanks!

David

 

[JonM]

Their is a gage on the tentioner, the mark should stay between it on the tentioner.

Rebuilt alternators are notorious for going out early; you may want to invest in a "New" delco alternator. You may also want to upgrade the alternator to a higher amperage overall and higher amperage at idle with this one.


http://www.idavette.net/hib/reman.html

 

[Itsanemergency]

Thanks! That's a great article. I think I'm going the upgrade route.

 

[jmccloud]

Belt tensioner

Have you checked the bearing in the tensioner idler? If it's upstream (tension-wise) of the alternator, a bad bearing would produce higher drag and loads on the alternator bearings. Springs usually get weaker with age.

 

[WhalePirot]

Rebuilt is not remanufactured. Rebuilt means that what was wrong was fixed; nothing more. Likely, the brushes go first and only those are changed, while the original bearings stay.

Remanufactured means ALL new 'expendibles' were replaced, not just brushes, but new brushes, bearings and probably the regulator assembly.

BTW, I have an unused extra '84 alternator, upraded. It is remanufactured with American parts, which are obviously better than either the Chinese of Israeli ones usually chosen by remanudfacturers. I say 'obviously' as a simple visual inspection shows the better quality immediately.

It should bring about $80.

 

[Itsanemergency]

Yes, I replaced the whole pulley. It didn't need it but for 20 dollars now that it's on I'll leave it there.

Thanks!

 

[taegdh]

I seem to remember being told that when you replace the alternator, water pump, AC compressor, air pump or PS pump, that it is a good idea to replace the tensioner pulley. Something to the extent that these were designed to be a periodic replacement item, and they aren't really well lubricated.


I might be out to lunch, but I look at it as cheap insurance... (What's another $20 when you're doing all that work!)

 

[Itsanemergency]

Do you mean the arm? Because I did replace the pulley itself.

 

[Edmond]

Don't do what I did and buy a used alternator from the junk yard!:L:L:L I was short on cash at the time and had to do what I did. It pooped about 3 months later.

I got a brand new Delco for $150 and it's been fine for 1 1/2 years. Generally; I would go with OEM parts when you're dealing with electrical parts.

 

[WhalePirot]

'OEM parts when you're dealing with electrical parts'

Not bad advice on about ANY part. Remanf parts can save some money and last as long as new. OEM, new is one way to know what UR buying and may deliver real engineering beyond the looks.

 

[67HEAVEN]

Hey Everyone,

.................

Thanks!

David

With a user name like that, David, how are we gonna know when it's really an emergency?

 

[JonM]

With a user name like that, David, how are we gonna know when it's really an emergency?

ITS AN EMERGENCY!!!

 

[Itsanemergency]

It allways is!