Alternator removal help

[don911]

I'm trying to get the alternator off the fan housing. Did a search and have tried JW's method of tapping on the housing. Any other suggestions?

Thanks

[BGCarrera32]

Hi-

I did it on my '84 and mine definetly took a few good strategically placed whacks to get it off. Do you have access to a small deadblow hammer (has a sand filled head, usually orange, most hardware stores have them)? Sometimes that helps budge it free.

All assuming of course you popped off the 6 hex nuts on the backside...

Good luck-
BG

[126coupe]

When you re assemble smear some anti-sieze on the area where the alt. mates to the housing. the next guy that works on it will say " geez the previous mechanic knew what he was doing"

[don911]

I'll probably be the next guy so anti sieze will be going on....assuming I get it off.

I'm using a rubber hammer. I was able to get a small gap but it seems to be stuck now. I don't want to wack it too hard. All I need is a broken fan housing.

[126coupe]

If you had a press that would be the way to go. Try a little heat

[brcorp]

Set the housing (with the alt down) up on a couple of pieces of wood, put the nut on the alt shaft, place a piece of wood on the top of the alt shaft and band away with a rubber mallet.

[Eric Coffey]

JW's method is usually the quickest/easiest. Just pick up the whole housing, and give it a couple good whacks on the ground (padded with cardboard, and/or a bunch of rags. Turn in 180 degrees and repeat as necessary.

[don911]

I've been repeating as necessary for way too long. I'm rapping on the inner ring of the fan housing that "cups" the alternator. Am I hitting in the right place? This isn't working at all.

[Jeff]

Don, I removed mine by turning it over and slightly tapping the alternator shaft down on a padded work bench while holding the fan (not the blades). A few good taps and it worked its way off.

[masraum]

Sometimes these things can be a real b!tch. The mag housing corrodes from the inside out causing the housing to swell/blister and to grab the alt. You may have to hit it harder. Make sure everything is wood, supporting the housing, supportind the alt, under the alt for when it lets go, etc...

[carreradpt]

Don, I just did this the past summer and it was a pain in the butt. Just takes some patience. My fan came off first, then I had to work on the housing. Just be careful not to let either drop too far when it does break loose. I did a combination of the JW style, resting one edge on my foot and tapping the other edge on the ground and "banging" on 2 pieces of 2x4's. I attached a couple of pics to show the wood. Good luck.

[tsuter]

Excellent picture - that's how its done. Now use a rubber mallet and bang on those six bolt ends working your way around it until you push it down. No rubber mallet, use a piece of wood and a hammer so you don't damage the threads. I wouldn't bang on the alternator shaft/bearing itself.

[Wil Ferch]

I have a R&R article on this topic in the Pelican Tech article area...I used a wodden box and wedged the alternator in the corner, and similarly whacked ( somewhat gently) away. Yep...use wood or a plastic mallet, otherwise if you hit the screw stud ends, the may flatten a bit.
---Wil Ferch

[john walker's workshop]

i don't recall my method ever failing me. knock the outer curved lip of the housing downward onto a few folded shop rags on the floor, kind of firmly, several times, then turn 180° and do the other. should inertia itself right out. you're probably not doing it hard enough.

[brcorp]

This should not be that difficult. Here is a dumb question, you removed the 6 nuts correct? Now tap/bang on the rear of the alt housing (center).

Bill

[Eric Coffey]

Originally posted by brcorp
......Now tap/bang on the rear of the alt housing (center).

Bill

That method usually gets you nowhere. Listen to JW!!!!!!!

[don911]

DONE!! Thanks for all the help. The problem was, I was doing all wrong. BTW, tapping on the back of the alternator housing does nothing except put in dents.

Anyway after I figured out what I was suppose to be doing, the alternator dropped out in about 30 seconds.
I set up two 4x4's on each side of the alternator with rags on the ground in the middle. I just lifted one end of the housing up about 4 inches and dropped it on the wood. Flipped it 180 degrees and did the same. I think on the 3rd drop, the alternator fell onto the rags.

[greglepore]

Just had to revive this to say, as usual, JW's method rocks. I tapped and tapped as per 101 Projects, then came in and got the keyboard dirty with a search. After a half hour of frustration, JW's method worked in about 30 seconds.

I pulled it to paint fan and housing. Have a Paris/Rhone-should I just replace brushes while I'm in there (they look to be about 50%)?

[Lorenfb]

John Walker & Eric Coffey have the right idea, i.e just use one wood block
and tap the housing a couple of times and then rotate it and repeat. This
will shake the alternator out of the housing.

Never, never hammer on the studs or the housing. Only butchers do things
like that. Also, never use a hammer on the alt. shaft. Try and use a press.

Good Luck
Loren
'88 3.2