Mk1 alternator advise please

[NogE]

Mines really noisy.... is it worth fitting a new bearing maybe?...or can someone point me to a good unit to purchase please

[Soren]

Hi
new bearing for sure
Søren

[NogE]

Cheers....
I'm guessing I'll need to take apart to get bearing sizes..or is tgere a make/model number to relate to order straight off...
But....recon we hv all been there..best get old ones out first..

Mutleymk1s a thief ....don't deal with him.people...just a reminder

[DougT]

I think it would be worth trying to identify the alternator type first. Looking at the picture on the resto thread, it looks like a big old style unit. I don't recognise it and the size might mean that it is big and powerful, or it might mean that it is just big, original and being old, therefore not very powerful. Is there anything written on it anywhere ?

The reason for tracking the model down is to see whether the regulator parts are available. You can dismantle and likely get the bearings by size, but if you cannot get the regulator parts then the question is whether to replace the bearings when the regulator may fail. I have had a few regulators fail, but as yet not had to replace bearings, so I am biased toward worrying about regulators. Bearings usually fail because of overtightening against the drive belt.

Another consideration is that the van is a camper. Are you going to install a separate leisure battery to run lights etc ? I guess these days with LEDs etc, the lights take less power than they did but I think it is nice to keep camper power and engine starting separate. But if you do want to eventually do something like this then you may get into split charging between the 2 batteries. But even if not, you might want a more powerful alternator. If yours is original from 1968, then it may only be 35amp and more modern ones can be 120amp at least. Bear in mind that most alternators are handed, so from your picture it seems that the tensioning lug is mounted on the right side of the unit when viewed from the front and compared with the saddle mount at the bottom. Some alternators have the tensioning lug on the left side so take care to get the right mounting.

Replacing the bearings will be the cheapest option without doubt, and you may need a hub puller to get the pulley off if it is stuck, and then undo the long bolts to get at the bearings from inside. On reassembly, it is always a fiddle to get the carbon brushes back, which are another part that wears although replacements can usually be found.

Doug

[NogE]

Brilliant Doug.. I never really thought about any of this as I'm not intending on using much in the camper side regarding lights,cooker,water etc... it's tgere tho show...I'll always set up a tent I rec....but worth the thought...
Yes I'd like to get a smaller more amps unit...see my remote servo was fitted very close to positioning of the alt....the copper line is rather close... yeah I look at make and try see if I can purchase a smaller unit...this old style is rather bulky..

[MinorMatt]

Can you show us a picture of whats fitted?

[NogE]

Hi Matt...I only hv this at mo...Will try get more on tomorrow

[Altransit]

Looks familiar, isn't that a Lucas ACR unit

[conrod]

That is not a Lucas ACR. Might be an 11AC, which was its predecessor. These had an external regulator, were bigger, not very powerful, and even less reliable than an ACR! A good upgrade would be one of the new ACR replacements, max amps used to be 42 for the 18ACR, but I see some of the replacements can do 50 or 60 amps. usually not expensive either, seeing as they are usually made in PRC

[DougT]

Great spot Conrad,

I have found pictures of 11ACs and that lug in the middle of the picture is the giveaway. One one site they said they were fitted to Jag 4.2s and were claiming 60amps but that could be an upgrade. I would guess that means spares are available.

The other thing about them is that with the 3 bolt arrangment between the front and back part, they should be able to be swapped from LH mount to RH mount by turning the front cover.

But they still look like a bulky unit.

Doug

[dumper]

We used to swop them from left to right by removing the bolts holding it together and spinning the front plate 180 deg and drilling the threads out and using a nylock nut and bolt on the adjuster bar 13 acr seems from memory what they had fitted but we used to fit a 17 acr to standardise the fleet .

[Altransit]

I have an ACR on my Mini, and now that I've looked, you can see that the OPs unit is bigger, and possibly a bit shorter due to no regulator.
The ACR was a good replacement as it was self contained, and could be fitted to almost anything. I replaced the standard dynamo with this unit (wayyyy back )

MiniVan300915 009.jpg

MiniVan300915 009 (2).jpg

[dumper]

Changed loads of dynamos to 17 acrs on construction plant that must have cut down flat batteries on site by probably 90% a very good conversion job small wire to the changing light and a heavy duty wire to the starter motor main battery feed .unless you had a earlier acr that needed both heavy duty wires of it to the starter.

[NogE]

Lots of great info as always...many thanks...anyone have a link to a replacement...so looking for max amps..three bolt unit that has built in regulator and...smaller....

[DougT]

it seems that the higher amp rated standard Lucas alternator is the a127 at 75 amps.

I found these guys who also do the 18ACR. Not sure how good they are but it is a start:

https://www.bowerspartsonline.co.uk/veh ... -left-hand

They also provide a useful diagram of A127 dimensions. I managed to get a bigger diagram from the Bowers site for you to compare and check the mounting spacings. It may be deceptive but the A127 still looks big to me compared to the Bosch units on things like VWs and some GM stuff like Astras.

Also I notice that Bowers refer to this as a LH unit as it would normaly be mounted on the other (LH) side of the engine from your unit and with the 2 lugs on top and the single lug underneath.

BAO3001 Schematic.jpg

If the A127 is too big or the mountings don't fit then It depends how much you want to fiddle around. But if knew someone with a VW/GM Bosch unit to park alongside, I might want to make comparisons of sizes and mounting dimensions to see if it could fit. I have never tried the swap so I don't know but used 120amp Bosch units seem readily available. Has anyone done that swap ?

There are 60amp 18ACR units on ebay etc but is this just PRC being optimistic ?

Whichever one you get, don't forget to order the plug as you will need to re-do and simplify the wiring to cut out the external regulator and relay.

Doug