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Alternator

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brentb

Member
I have a David Brown 1390 and the alternator is not charging. I was just wondering if you rebuild your alternators or take them to the shop. It looks like the rebuild kit is around $40 and I was quoted between $180-$220 at the shop. Thanks for your opinions
 
I'd put a kit in it and see if that fixes it, IF the guts look OK. Pull it apart first to check the commutator, and look over the windings. You may find a brush hung up, and that's all that's wrong with it. If its chewed up where the brushes run, or the windings show signs of being hot, take it to a shop, or replace it. The shop can assess the windings and commutator. Make sure the kit includes the bearings, too, and not just the electronics. steve
 
three solutions: I rebuild them because I can do it easily. The rebuild might just be a set of brushes and a smoothing of the commutator rings with fine emery cloth. The rebuild could also include other things like a regulator (if internal) or rotor if open. so the rebuild from a store includes major replacement of components so they can warranty it. a repair at home might only take small parts at low cost, but require expert knowledge to diagnose fault.
Replacing with a Delco 10SI with a light on the dash is cheap and easy. The same goes for a Hitachi 14231 replacement if space is tight. Both have internal regulators and wire the same. Jim
 
I stopped rebuilding starters and alternators after I could buy lifetime starters and alternators from Autozone decades ago.
 
Emery is electrically conductive, which makes its use to clean electrical slip rings or commutators unwise. Such jobs should be done with aluminum oxide abrasive; aluminum oxide is so non-conductive that it is widely used as a high-temperature electrical insulator.
 
I'm assuming that's a Lucas 127 though I don't know for sure... If it is, and I had the kit, and the windings were good I'd rebuild it. For the numbers you quote on repair I think I'd just buy new vs taking to a shop.. The 220 at the shop is just to put the 40 buck kit in it assuming the winding is good.

Rod
 
Usually they can be repaired, but just replacing the bearings and brushes without doing some diagnosis may not solve the problem.

With a close visual inspection, an ohm meter, and reading/watching some how to material it can be done.

But chances are if a problem is found, replacing it with a Delco will be the most economical solution. It would take some minor wiring and maybe the mount adjusted.
 
Jim, I see the Hitachi mentioned a lot when space is limited. Other than cost and size, are there other things, like longevity, that would lead you toward that or the Delco? steve
 
Had eshop quote me $180 for a rebuild on a car alternator. Diagnosed it myself and all it was wrong was a $2 brush.
 
I've replaced the Lucas alternators with 1 wire Delco on the 3 David Brown tractors I run regularly at a cost of around $70 each.Mounting takes a little engineering but not difficult and get a double pulley on the Delco makes lining things up a lot easier.
 
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