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I believe the diodes you are referring to are called "pellet" diodes, and while I don't know of a source for new ones, I have repaired a number of battery chargers by salvaging the "pellet" diodes out of the rectifier heat sinks from Delco internally regulated alternators. Often, one of the 6 diodes fails, and the whole assembly is replaced, leaving 5 good diodes chucked in the trash. There are 2 finned heat sinks held together with a dovetailed insulator. Remove the insulator, and heat one of the heat sinks quickly with a propane torch until the solder holding the diodes to the aluminum softens, and the diodes can be "flicked" off the heat sink. Have them drop off on a wet rag and quickly cool them so they are not ruined internally. Unsolder the copper straps from the other side of each diode, again working quickly, and keeping the actual diode as cool as possible. The diodes are the same on the positive and negative half of the rectifier, it is just a matter of what direction they were soldered to the aluminum heat sinks. Often, but not always, the diodes are marked with a band on the cathode end. Carefully sand off any excess solder from the contact pads on the diodes, and test them. You may "kill" some from the unsoldering process, but the majority will work just fine. You will, of course, have to test them, and mark them, or at least be sure to keep track of which end is which, and install them in the clamp plate mechanism in the proper electrical orientation. Presto... a "free" repair for your charger.
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