Spacer between fan and alternator?

[scottb]

I got my dead alternator back from the rebuilder, and went to install it today. After snugging down the pulley nut, I heard rubbing, and after about 20 minutes of looking at the clearances between the fan and the housing, I determined that the fan wasn't hitting the housing, so I removed the fan from the alternator. Once I did that, I could see that there were marks along the raised portions inside the fan hub. Here's a picture:



(There were also some marks on the alternator, but they didn't show well in my pictures so I'm not posting them.) After reading a bunch of threads here in Pelican, it appears that I should have a spacer between the alternator bearing and the fan. I'm looking at this kit in Pelican's catalog: http://tinyurl.com/o3hanj. Apparently either the slotted washer or the stepped washer is what I need (the various threads I've seen have conflicting info.)

I have a Paris Rhone alternator. The Pelican kit lists it as fitting a Marchal. Is this the kit I need? Will one of those two spacers do the trick? If not, can someone steer me in the right direction?

Thanks, guys. Much appreciated.

[scottb]

Bump for the morning crowd. Anyone?

[Grady Clay]

Scott,

Can you lay your hands on the old alternator?

There are several different depth fan housings that correspond to the increasing wattage and physically longer alternators over the years. You want to compare the axial ‘thickness’ of your original alternator to the replacement.

Best,
Grady

[scottb]

Grady:

I believe that my original alternator was rebuilt and returned to me. I don't think it was an exchange unit. Given that it's been about two weeks, though, if it was an exchange I think it's going to be difficult to find the original core.

So, assuming that mine was returned to me, what should I do?

Thanks, Grady. I really appreciate your help.

[Grady Clay]

Scott,

I would ask the rebuilder first. It may just be sitting there if there was an exchange.

We need to investigate what is touching. I think I see your contact points on the back of the fan. Where are the ‘mating’ contact points?

Is everything in this area standard ’84 Carrera? Original matching engine?

Best,
Grady

[scottb]

Grady: I'll check with the rebuilder.

The car is bone stock. As far as I know, the engine is the original engine.

The fan was rubbing on the front of the alternator itself. Unfortunately, the pictures didn't show the marks on the alternator.

Thanks again for your help!

[Hendog]

I don't know if I have an answer for you, but I do have some pictures of my fan and alternator from earlier this year when I polished my fan. Here's some that MAY help you.



Make sure the Alternator Key doesn't fall out like it did to me. Luckily I heard it and went looking for the cause of "that thing that fell out".

[scottb]

Henri: Thank you for those pictures. They were very helpful.

Here's what I have now.





The first picture shows the shaft and also the areas where the fan was rubbing. The second picture is just of the shaft. To my eye, it appears I am missing a spacer.

Thoughts? Comments?

Thanks, guys!

[SCrescue]

Scott,
Your assumption is correct, you're missing the removable spacer shown in Henri's pictures. I have a few different alternators and they all have a similar spacer that will definitely cause rubbing (as indicated in your first pictures) if not installed. Each of the alternators have slightly different spacers in appearance/configuration, but they seemed to me to be interchangeable.

I'll bet you left it on when you took it to the rebuilder and they neglected to slide it back on the shaft before returning it to you. Try asking them if they have it, or another one to replace it.

Mike...

[scottb]

Originally Posted by SCrescue

I'll bet you left it on when you took it to the rebuilder and they neglected to slide it back on the shaft before returning it to you. Try asking them if they have it, or another one to replace it.

Mike: I think you're correct. I'll go visit the rebuilder tomorrow.

Thanks!

[scottb]

I visited the rebuilder, but he didn't have the spacer, so I ordered a kit from Pelican with the spacer, a new nut, new woodruff key, and some other bits ($10 delivered). I installed the alternator yesterday, and everything seems to be OK. The fan isn't rubbing, the belt has about a 1/2" of deflection, the pulleys are in alignment, and the alternator is charging the system.

Thanks, everyone, for your helpful comments and pictures. This board rocks because of people like you!

[gsxrken]

I figured bumping an older, somewhat related thread might help. I've searched for a while and see all sorts of references to the six shims and the alternator spacer, but not one for a washer with a slot in it.

I ordered kit 928-603-904-00-M262 and it came with several washers/spacers. One of them- the one with the woodruff key slot- is not found on my car. But since my fan pulley just loosened and oblonged itself and the fan in the process, I don't entirely trust that what I had was a good reference.

Here's the kit:


Here's what I have ready to be installed, but for the question of the slotted washer:


Can anyone verify that I do or do not need the slotted one? Is it only for some years or all years?

[maui44]

Did you place the washer that gsxrken shows in his picture. It's the one on the right that kind of looks like a "top-hat". This spacer washer must be placed on the side of the alternator key or you will get rubbing.

[Uligan]

Bringing this back up - can someone please answer gsxrken's question on where the 4 parts to the right of the nut exactly go?

I have an 88 Carrera and installed a new fan today and it did not turn as I must have forgotten a spacer between alternator and fan.

[Uligan]

Found the answer - you really don't need all parts of the kit which is sold.

Below picture shows the spacer needed to put between fan and alternator.



Just placing this here if someone gets caught in this thread.