Alternator??

[staglad76]

After taking my dolomite 1850 out of the garage for its first drive this year, I noticed that the voltmeter was reading just 11volts. When we got home after an hours drive the battery was pretty dead.... <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START : --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... ohwell.gif ALT=":"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
<br>
Checked the tension of the fan belt and it seems good. Before I pull the alternator off, has anyone got any suggestions as to what else might be causing the battery not to charge?<br>
<br>
The battery itself was bought new last November... so that is not the problem.<br>
<br>
Is the alternator shared across the whole dolomite family, as a friend has a spares 1300 & sprint with one available?<br>
<br>
Many thanks in advance for any advice anyone might have.<br>
<br>
Chris

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[Malc]

sounds as though your unit has gone west. You can use the unit of any of the Dolomite range. Originally, the Sprint unit was a tad more powerful that the units of the lower rent models, but, with the passage of time most recon units seem to be rebuilt to a similar spec. You could upgrade to a Lucas A127 unit of a Montego Diesel or a number of other vehicles. Check the pulley, as some later A127 units had a diff pulley (V belt modern thingy)

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[MaddMart]

Malc, is the A127 a direct replacement ie. no special brackets to make up or anything. Are the pulleys interchangeable with the original Sprint alt.<br>
<br>
Martin

<p><!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.aqpd91.dsl.pipex.com/" target="top">Mad Mart's Website</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--></p><i></i>

[Malc]

The Lucas A127 unit drops straight on. No changes to wiring plugs. It is best if you go for a unit of a Maestro or Monty Diesel with the std 1 groove pulley. some Sierra's also had this pulley. You will ideally need the metric fixings but not essential, as long as you have a metric bolt to fit the alternator lug, the long bolt can be std Dolly. You might need to use an 850mm belt v std 838mm belt if you use the Monty alty cos the pulley is fractionally bigger diameter. Have a look in DM Issue 100, Page 40 'Techy Talk' gives the full text. The A127 unit actually fits the Sprint better than the Std ACR unit. Cos it is a tad shorter & fatter, you get more clearance between bottom rad hose and back of alty <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START ;) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/wink.gif ALT=";)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

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[SMIFTER]

Mart<br>
<br>
I've got the Monty one on my car - like Malc says it fits better than the standard alternator.<br>
<br>
You can have a look when you help me clear the junk out my garage<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START ;) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/wink.gif ALT=";)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START ;) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/wink.gif ALT=";)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

<p><!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.smifter1971.pwp.blueyonder.c ... >Smifter's Dolomite Sprint Website</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--></p><i></i>

[MaddMart]

Shall I come up this weekend sometime, I've nothing planned.<br>
<br>
Friday I drove the track Sprint to work & the viscous coupling decided to come away from the pulley wheel & knackered the rad. I have a spare rad. & have ordered a Kenlowe fan. Whilst I'm at it I may as well get a new alt. Did you have to change the fan belt or is the belt that comes with the Kenlowe OK.<br>
<br>
Martin

<p><!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.aqpd91.dsl.pipex.com/" target="top">Mad Mart's Website</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--></p><i></i>

[staglad76]

Thanks for the info. I've got the alternator of the spare 1300 which was easy enough.<br>
<br>
However, it appears that the only way to change it on the 1850 is to remove the radiatior assembly and drain cooling system..etc<br>
<br>
Does anyone know of a crafty way of avoiding this?<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :b --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... tongue.gif ALT=":b"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
<br>
Cheers<br>
<br>
Chris

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[MaddMart]

I assume it's similar to the Sprint. I expect your talking about the long bolt on the top of the alt. which is in the wrong way round. It should be inserted from the rear of the car. If this is your problem there's no way around it except for cutting the bolt in half. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :eek --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... ns/eek.gif ALT=":eek"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

<p><!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.aqpd91.dsl.pipex.com/" target="top">Mad Mart's Website</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--></p><i></i>

[staglad76]

Yep!<br>
<br>
Same as the Sprint ...<br>
<br>
Looks like I'll have to get some Anti-Freeze! <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START >: --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... ns/mad.gif ALT=">:"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
<br>
Cheers

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[alun n]

Inserting from the rear is only a successful alternative if the angle of the dangle of your waterpump cover is enough to allow the bolt head to pass. Until recently I wrongly assumed it was only the 12v covers that allowed this, but have now discovered 'later' 6v have a more 'erect' output pipe also.<br>
<br>
Previously I have cut the bolthead off to save draining the rad and then used a piece of threaded bar and two nuts as a replacement bolt.

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[Malc]

<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :lol --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /laugh.gif ALT=":lol"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> Alun is correct as usual, if you dangle at the wrong angle, dressing to the left will not solve your problems, infact it could make them decidedly worse <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :o --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... rassed.gif ALT=":o"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> . Helping a fellow Sprint owner with some engine work earlier today, I couldn't help but notice he had dressed to the rght with no apparent need to do so. Needles to say, with the rad out and the said bolt removed, a quick check to test 'left dressing' confirmed that this would indeed be more comfortable in the future, was 12 vane after all. Awkward subject to broach though <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :rollin --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/roll.gif ALT=":rollin"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

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