ChrisT
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,637
Club RR Member Number: 225
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As, title - any tips on degreasing an alternator. Stripping the engine down and the alternator's covered in oil from a leaking cam cover above, any other part I'd just soak in degreaser and wash off but not so sure with the electrickery inside them. Would giving it a good blow out with an airline afterwards work, bearing in mind it may be sat for a few weeks afterwards... Have a big shiny engine....  |
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Last Edit: Apr 2, 2011 16:04:52 GMT by ChrisT
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What alternator is it? some are pretty easy to strip apart.
Using a lot of liquid degreaser (petrol, thinners etc) could rinse the grease out of the bearings, and could foul up the brushes or even break down the resin/insulation on the windings. It'll probably be okay as long as you don't absolutely soak the thing (and if you have access to a compressor, you blow the thing out nicely afterwards)
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ChrisT
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,637
Club RR Member Number: 225
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It's off a vauxhall C20XE, not sure of the make but it's all enclosed, as in not having the 'fan' bit on the outside with the pulley - delco remy perhaps?
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contact cleaner would work no??
was it working while the oil was leaking on it??
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2001 HONDA CT110 (NOT RCV)
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ChrisT
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,637
Club RR Member Number: 225
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Yeah, it's working fine, just want it clean for when I put the engine back together
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The old FTO developed a serious crankshaft oil seal leak and fired about a litre of oil all over the alternator....I just emptied a can of brake cleaner into it*,and it still worked. I think they're pretty robust
*not my fault if you do it and it dies
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MrSpeedy
East Midlands
www.vintagediesels.co.uk
Posts: 4,786 
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Petrol or brake cleaner. I do it all the time before painting them !
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the elctrical parts, are a collection of diodes pressed into ally plates (tough as old boots) and a usually sealed voltage regulator, which is just 3 pins.
Spray with your fave degreaser, scrub, rinse off, and leave to dry
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You're like a crazy backyard genius! |
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ChrisT
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cheers for the replies - I'll just clean it like any other engine part then.....
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Was going to say.... These things take a pretty severe beating in their daily dutys. A little bit of de-greaser wont hurt it. Think of all the water / sleet/ salt that hits it coming thru the grille and up from the road on a wet day.  |
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ChrisT
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,637
Club RR Member Number: 225
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Just an update, degreased the alternator, painted it and got the engine back together today, connected the battery to find the alternator light on with the keys not even in the ignition - something's not right???
Seem to be getting a constant 12V at the light terminal.
Haven't checked to see if it's charging with the engine running yet.
Could it be related to degreasing it?
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