Dying alternator?

czechsonofagun · Jan 9, 2012

My alternator - 1 wire Delco- charges intermittently. 3 seconds on 7 seconds off there is no corelation between rpms and the voltage. The wire connection is clean and solid.

Do you think the alternator is going south? I would expect more like sudden death and not this agony. Experience, anybody?

Keoke · Jan 9, 2012

Prokop, check out this thread for more info on Delco 1 wire alternators.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...perating/68372-charging-problems-mf135-3.html

cheers,

Craig Clayton · Jan 9, 2012

If this is on a tractor of high hours I would suspect the brushes are worn / failing or sticking.
There should be a brush/ regulator rebuild kit the bolts on.

I have done this on other brands of alts.

When/ if you have it apart the front bearing is a 6203 2 RS.

Craig Clayton

jinman · Jan 9, 2012

I had a alternator that would work intermittently on my '96 Dodge-Cummins with 350k miles. When it quit working, there would be a buzzing in the radio telling me that the brushes were probably arcing due to poor contact. I replaced it with a rebuilt and the problems went away. However, I don't think it is a 1-wire alternator.

jonyyuma · Jan 9, 2012

Might be Brushes bad,,,,Brush set is simple, especially if you buy them in brushholder. they are held in place by tooth pick and it is removed after you put it together..other than that the regulator is no-repairable.Replace the whole thing, but there are several charge rates for different amps. Look at bridge rectifyer to see any charred spots on diodes. Last but not least there is a diode trio,,,Never cross the leads when jumping, ie reverse polarity, this alternator is non-forgiving to such events.

czechsonofagun · Jan 12, 2012

We had a lot of rain and it started to charge. I think it is the output stud. It turns freely and it shouldnt.
As of now i keep it on battery floater every so often and will dig into it on the weekend.

czechsonofagun · Jan 16, 2012

I split the alternator, tightened the nut on the end of the output stud and it works like new. In case you ever face similar situation, it is 30 minutes job. Hardest part was to get the alternator out and pur it back in.