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aeronca65t
Great Pumpkin
Offline
Wednesday, I drove my MGB into work.
As I pulled into the staff parking lot, I heard a "SKREEEECH" and then the charge light went on.
And I could smell burning rubber.
It's been making a funny, clicky sound in the front for a while so I figured the alternator or water pump was on the way out.
Turned out to be the alternator. Front bearing was frozen solid.
So I coasted into a parking space.
After work, I took out a 1/2" and 9/16" wrench and loosened the belt just a bit. And sprayed the belt with silicon spray to encourage slipping (doesn't everyone carry stuff like this in their trunk?).
And drove it home (just 3 miles and with engine off when I could coast).
I found three old alternators in my junk box.
One I knew was bad electrically (but turned OK), one with an "ear" broken off and one that looked terrible. I had no idea of the condition of the second two.
The MGB (a '69) has the old style 5-wire alternator, which is no longer available.
The alternators in my junk box were all 3-wire Lucas jobs (probably all from Midgets).
So I took apart the 5 wire and one of the 3 wire units and put the front half of the 3 wire on the 5 wire unit (so I could keep the wiring as-is).
Worked, but poorly....charged at about 1200 rpm and then kicked out (light on) at about 2000 rpm.
So I took one of the unknown 3-wire jobs, made up an adapter cable (as per instructions from Moss Motors) and tried it. No go.
Then I took two of the 3-wire jobs apart and tried to make the best of those. Again, no go.
So I took part of the electrics from the last 3-wire and put it in to a unit that was now cobbled up from all three of my 3-wire units.
Installed it in my 5-wire MGB with my home brew adapter and.....success!
Drove it to work yesterday.
I love it when a plan comes together!
5-wire to 3-wire alternator conversion from Moss
As I pulled into the staff parking lot, I heard a "SKREEEECH" and then the charge light went on.
And I could smell burning rubber.
It's been making a funny, clicky sound in the front for a while so I figured the alternator or water pump was on the way out.
Turned out to be the alternator. Front bearing was frozen solid.
So I coasted into a parking space.
After work, I took out a 1/2" and 9/16" wrench and loosened the belt just a bit. And sprayed the belt with silicon spray to encourage slipping (doesn't everyone carry stuff like this in their trunk?).
And drove it home (just 3 miles and with engine off when I could coast).
I found three old alternators in my junk box.
One I knew was bad electrically (but turned OK), one with an "ear" broken off and one that looked terrible. I had no idea of the condition of the second two.
The MGB (a '69) has the old style 5-wire alternator, which is no longer available.
The alternators in my junk box were all 3-wire Lucas jobs (probably all from Midgets).
So I took apart the 5 wire and one of the 3 wire units and put the front half of the 3 wire on the 5 wire unit (so I could keep the wiring as-is).
Worked, but poorly....charged at about 1200 rpm and then kicked out (light on) at about 2000 rpm.
So I took one of the unknown 3-wire jobs, made up an adapter cable (as per instructions from Moss Motors) and tried it. No go.
Then I took two of the 3-wire jobs apart and tried to make the best of those. Again, no go.
So I took part of the electrics from the last 3-wire and put it in to a unit that was now cobbled up from all three of my 3-wire units.
Installed it in my 5-wire MGB with my home brew adapter and.....success!
Drove it to work yesterday.
I love it when a plan comes together!
5-wire to 3-wire alternator conversion from Moss
