Marchal alternators: bad news and maybe good news

[74-911]

After a complete front suspension overhaul, new airbox and CIS overhaul, updating fuel filter and other miscellanious work over the past 6 months, yesterday afternoon the #%&^ alternator light came on full bright. Multimeter indicates bad alternator (it is the original). Somewhat discouraged after a lot of searching here that getting a rebuild or rebuilt Marchal unit was a long shot so going with a unit with internal VR might be it.

However, found a place in Houston that says they can rebuild it with a 1 day turnaround and he thinks he already has a rebuilt unit on the shelf. $155 to rebuild my unit or exchange my core for a rebuilt.

Questions:

Outer fan housing came right off. How do I get the fan itself off? What kind of puller or ?? would I use? Definitely do not want to damage that fan.

Fan housing and fan are major ugly. Don't want to powder coat or polish. while researching alternators yesterday I saw a thread where someone had soda blasted, etched and painted the fan and fan housing with engine paint and it looked good.
Can't find that thread now but anyone else done this? and how did it hold up?

This is the usual suspect:

[Targalid]

I was able to get a three jaw puller onto the fan hub and pull it out that way. I see you still have a five blade fan. You might want to replace it with an eleven blade fan for better cooling of your engine, unless you wish to retain the authentic original.

[Targalid]

OOps. Sorry. I just looked at the photo again and realized I was looking at the air deflector on the back of the alternator. The same advice with respect to fan removal. Get some kind of puller onto the center fan hub and push against the alternator shaft. I was able to use a three jaw puller.

[kodioneill]

Set two 2x4's on their sides and drop the housing on them a few times and it will fall out.

[drtyler]

This method works like a charm! Too easy!

Originally Posted by kodioneill

Set two 2x4's on their sides and drop the housing on them a few times and it will fall out.

[74-911]

Originally Posted by kodioneill

Set two 2x4's on their sides and drop the housing on them a few times and it will fall out.

I've already got the outer housing off using that exact method. My questions was about getting the fan itself off of the alternator shaft. I thought maybe there was some kind of special puller as I definitely do not want to take any chances on damaging the fan (and yes, it is 11 blade as I think all '74s are). Guess I will be off to HF to get a puller.

[drtyler]

Post #8 in this thread worked for me.
Fan hsng, alternator removal

Good luck.

Originally Posted by 74-911

I've already got the outer housing off using that exact method. My questions was about getting the fan itself off of the alternator shaft. I thought maybe there was some kind of special puller as I definitely do not want to take any chances on damaging the fan (and yes, it is 11 blade as I think all '74s are). Guess I will be off to HF to get a puller.

[74-911]

After reading John Walker's method and Wil Ferch's write up, I ended up using basically the same method used to remove the fan housing. WD-40 around the threaded shaft and key. Screwed the nut down on the shaft until even with the top of the threaded shaft. Turned the fan/alternator upside down and using fingers and thumbs to hold the fans edges (didn't touch the blades) I just slammed the shaft/nut down on a 2X4 a couple of times and voila, the fan loosened and slid off of the shaft.

Thanks for all the responses.

Any one with any experience bead/soda blasting the fan and housing, etching and then painting rather than powder coating ?? Now is definitely the time to do something with them.

[Jack Stands]

Painting the fan red will help if you ever want to sell it !

Seriously, I think that powder coating will probably last the best. When I rebuilt one years ago, I had the fan housing and fan polished so they looked beautiful, but within a year they looked very tired once again.

[doswald]

74-911, I need to have my Marchal rebuilt also. Would you mind sharing the contact info for the Houston outfit?

Thanks.

dho

[74-911]

Originally Posted by doswald

74-911, I need to have my Marchal rebuilt also. Would you mind sharing the contact info for the Houston outfit?

Thanks.

dho

here you go:

Alternators | Houston Alternator | (713) 869-0502

[Porboynz]

Probably only needs a set of brushes, easily checked now its on the bench, you are only one small screw away. Mind you $150 rebuilt with new bearings is sensible.