Replacing Alternator, a few questions.
 

I am in the process of replacing my alternator on my '74 and I have a two questions.

#1) What's the deal with the ground strap? I'm not sure it was installed properly, and I don't know where it it supposed to go. Does it run through the back of the air duct? It wasn't when I took it apart...

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1287972956.jpg


#2) Is this ground strap in usable condition, or should it be replaced?

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1287973012.jpg

Thanks!

ground
 

my ground strap connects to teh back of the alternator after the deflector is installed,, your looks like it may need replaced.

To one of these?

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1287973743.jpg

It's been a long time since I've taken an externally regulated 911 alternator apart, but every alternator of every year I've touched for a 911 has all the wires running through the deflector onto the back side of the alternator, including the ground.

By the way, that ground is toast.

angela

The ground lead is connected from the alternator to one of the engine case bolt/nut. Tne ground strap shown is toast.

DriverX, yes to one of the studs in your last picture(right lower side).

John

ground on mine
 

My ground is on one of the deflector nuts. That is how it was when i took it apart the first time....
Where would it connect if you go through the center of the deflector?

Excellent question 47Silver!

I couldn't see where you would hook up the ground strap to the alternator, but connecting it to the deflector makes sense to me.

it can hook to any of the studs in the back of the alternator. if you look carefully some of them are insulated from the body of the alt (dont use those). if yours was not grounded properly, i would ground it and test it before buying a new unit. it may be the only thing wrong with it.

\
this would work fine. probably not the way the factory did it..but the alt case is grounded all the same.

A more "certain" ground is as mentioned....run thru the center of the air deflector and solidly to one of the upper case-half-studs. Use a large diameter wire. IIRC, my 85 Carrera used a large, insulated style cable to an upper engine stud. Attaching it to the alternator air deflector stud may still "show" ground, but IMHO would be a more indirect method of high-current-handling-capability contact.

Where wiring is concerned...cleanliness is AHEAD of godliness.
If you are not willing to lick the end of the wire and the stud on which is about to be installed (not actually licking it) then the wire and the stud are NOT clean enough!!!
If there is any resistance in the connection, there will be heating at the joint.
This will throw all the controls and guages off, make lights dim, play havoc with engine control boxes, create stutters and stalls in the ignition, and anything else bad that could happen to electrical things.
I cannot count the number of times I have fixed friends cars and bikes by simply cleaning and repairing the main and aux grounds on the machine.
If it ain't shiny .... it ain't gonna work right.....LOL
Bob

Tru dat, I drove a '66 Beetle w/6v system every day for 3 years so I'm familiar with potential for corrosion and it's effects. I degreased the area today and I'm going to see if I can shine up that ground strap. Actually doesn't look that bad without all the grease on it....