Tips For Securing Your Alternator
Luckily for us the manufacturers of most normal or “ear” mount alternators have seen fit to add moveable mounting sleeves in the mounting brackets which gives the alternator flexibility when it comes to the various engine makes and models it might be attached to. Not every mounting point is the same so having the ability to make small adjustments to match any particular engine means we can get a tight fight.
It’s very important these sleeves are as right as possible and they should always be moved in as close as possible to the engine’s mounting brackets before the bolts are pulled tight. A handy way to make sure this is the case you can gently tap the sleeve while the alternator bracket is held in a vice. This means you can get the sleeves flush and check completely around the alternator for any gaps before fastening. It also reduces the chance of damaging the alternator while you are securing it.
Taking this step is recommended to avoid damaging the alternator. If you decide to skip this and just use the bolt to pull the sleeve in the bracket that’s on the alternator might snap off. We see this a fair bit and as mentioned above you will void your warranty if this happens. Another potential issue: the housing for the alternator might become distorted. When this happens the rotor can start to damage the stator which will result in failure.
Depending on your type of engine you may be more susceptible to issues relating to poor mounting when it comes to your alternator. Diesel engines are exposed to the most risk and making sure the correct bolts, buts and hardware are used is paramount to keeping everything running smoothly. It is well worth it to ensure the correct diameter of bolts are used and the right amount of tension is applied and doing so will save you in the long run.