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Where to send AH 3000 Generator for Rebuilding?

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mrdibbles

mrdibbles

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Hey Guys-
My Generator is giving up the ghost. It sounds like a front bearing is going out? I pulled the fan belt and spun the generator (and water pump for that matter) and confirmed that the generator is the source of a real sour sound. The pully on the generator seems sluggish when turning (by hand) too. Not the smooth free turning I'd expect. This may have also be leading to hard starts (given the resistance)? Anyway I had this generator rebuilt 6-8 years ago in Southern California. At most I have put maybe 2,000 miles on it. Regardless of miles that front pully is screaming like no tomorrow. Do you guys have a recommendation on a reputable rebuild service?
Thanks,
Matt-
 
Healey generators have a bearing that needs to be oiled periodically. Have you oiled it regularly?
 
Apparently not regular enough. Sure I've oiled it but it wasn't part of my consisent PM's on the car. Especially given that I've only put ~200 miles a year on it since the generator's rebuild. My bad I guess. I've had this Healey since 1976 though so I think I've done pretty good keeping on on the road. I would rather keep the car original so converting to an alternator isn't something I'm considering.
Any recommendations on rebuilders of these generators?

Capture17-6.png
 
Hi, Matt I send you a PM with some information to help you with the refurbishing of your generator. Check your PM.

Best regards,
Mike3
 
Hi, Matt I send you a PM with some information to help you with the refurbishing of your generator. Check your PM.

Best regards,
Mike
 
Re: Where to send AH 3000 Generator for Rebuilding

Hi Matt,

It would be convenient to find a place in Texas.
Here in California, I sent mine to:

RITE-WAY ELECTRIC
261 6th Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
415.882.4444
800.732.8863

Here's what they wrote on my invoice:
12V neg. ground lucas
Generator repair 15036
Long case

$112.90

I repaired mine 09.22.08
I dropped it off and picked it up a 3-4 days later.

Best of luck with your repair.
Roger
 
Any good generator/alternator shop can fix it for you--ijn a town as big as yours there is bound to be one left and you can find them in the yellow pages.

I live in Southern Maryland, not exactly a bustling metropolitan area and there is one of these located the next county down. They had or found the correct bearing and repaired my generator--which lasted until I ultimately replaced it with an alternator.

As long as the unit is going to be apart have them check the back bushing and also examine the commutator and brushes.
 
Thank you for the advice guys! I'll check into my options and also see if there's a local repair shop that can take this on.

Michael that is one beautiful looking Healey! I love the excess space in your garage too. I keep 4 cars in a 3 car garage so working on my cars is like working in the confined space of a WWII submarine :frown:
 
mrdibbles said:
Apparently not regular enough. Sure I've oiled it but it wasn't part of my consisent PM's on the car. Especially given that I've only put ~200 miles a year on it since the generator's rebuild. My bad I guess. I've had this Healey since 1976 though so I think I've done pretty good keeping on on the road. I would rather keep the car original so converting to an alternator isn't something I'm considering.
Any recommendations on rebuilders of these generators?

Capture17-6.png
Click to expand...
You might try the local Healey club there in Austin for recommendations.
Patrick
 
BCS sells, I believe, a replacement sealed bearing for the front of the generator. I replaced mine myself, without too much difficulty. You do have to drill out the rivets holding the bearing retention plate, and find the appropriate length rivets for replacement, but the sealed bearing eliminates the periodic oiling issue.
 
When I used to have a generator instead of an alternator I had a few problems that were not fixed as easily as replacing the front bearing. It was the rear bushing giving me the problems and I had to take it from one "quality" shop to another who built of the rear shaft and recut and then installed a new bushing. After that I never had a problem. Before the rear was correctly repaired I was getting 50 to 100 miles before the "warning" light came on.

I used a local Dallas, TX rebuilder to fix it.
Patrick
BJ8
 
Ok so I never thought I'd say this but I am considering converting to an Alternator. I run fog and driving lights and with the draw those put on my electrics the generator never really lived up to the job. Perhaps that's because the generator was going out though so can't really say if a rebuilt generator would do the same. I am also considering the option of the stock looking generator with the alternator guts. I hear some company(s) is doing this? Do you guys have recommendations on where to go for the best generator to alternator conversion and what do you guys know about the stock option (with alt. guts inside)? Thanks!
 
mrdibbles said:
Ok so I never thought I'd say this but I am considering converting to an Alternator. I run fog and driving lights and with the draw those put on my electrics the generator never really lived up to the job. Perhaps that's because the generator was going out though so can't really say if a rebuilt generator would do the same. I am also considering the option of the stock looking generator with the alternator guts. I hear some company(s) is doing this? Do you guys have recommendations on where to go for the best generator to alternator conversion and what do you guys know about the stock option (with alt. guts inside)? Thanks!
Click to expand...
I understand what you want to do but I think you're going to the extremes of trying to make it look stock and yet have plenty of elec. power. I installed an alternator with a specially made bracket that also serves as a mounting point for my AC compressor. It looks very period like and natural. The altenator is a typical GM and is available anywhere and that's what you want if you plan on driving your Healey any distance at all <span style="text-decoration: underline">with reliability</span>. I converted to neg. grd.

Stay away from very speciality components unless you have spares and/or can repair them and dopn't mind waiting for replacement parts to fix them or to have them sent back & forth via UPS, etc.

Relays are a must for your lights, etc. and can be hidden somewhat. I think most Healey owners will agree with me and that is most Healeys are not stock and have "little things" done to them so we can drive them to Meets, etc.
My 2 cents,
Patrick
 
Thanks Patrick. That's a good point about the highly custom option of going with a specialized generator with alternator insides.

So I called British Car Specialists and inquired about the Generator to Alternator Conversion and their price was $410.00. That price was for the "Kit" that included the brackets, instructions, etc...

I have also seen kits for sale through companies like Hedrix Wire Wheel (and I am still looking for others) that seem to be in the mid to high $200's.

If I make this move I'd like the highest quality best kit option available so your recommendations on which supplier is best is much appreciated.
Thanks,
Matt-
P.S. I really feel like I'm going to the dark side on this one... I've never considered straying too far from original but the extra amps of an alternator would seem to offer some serious upside.
 
I bought the kit from Hendrix minus the actual alternator, which I picked up locally. I believe this is the same kit that was first available through the North Texas Healey Club. I think the kit works well, but I haven't seen BCS' one to compare. The alternators disguised as generators are silly expensive, but maybe price is no object. Here are two links for those. racemettle gener-nator

One more: Holden
 
:rolleyes: Most auto electric repair shops won't rebuild a generator. The job isn't that difficult just labor intensive. They would rather replace your generator with a alternator. So, always call first before you go hauling your generator around from shop to shop. Maybe you'll get lucky. All the parts are readily available, be sure and replace brushes, front and rear bearings, the job isn't that hard. Check the wire wound fields as well. I put a coat of varnish on them anyway just to seal them up, their usually just tape wound.

good luck
 
Norman Nock's Tech Tips talks about too much tension on the fan belt causing bushing failure and gouging of the armature. Was your fan belt too tight?
 
TimK said:
Norman Nock's Tech Tips talks about too much tension on the fan belt causing bushing failure and gouging of the armature. Was your fan belt too tight?
Click to expand...

I would venture to guess it was. I will be much more careful on this next one.
 
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