2007-04-23 20:11:02 · 12 answers · asked by help! 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Boats & Boating
If it seized up then there is all likelyhood that if you did free it up it will only fail sometime in the near future. The best thing you can do it take it to a professional rebuild shop and have it serviced. Unless you are familiar with rebuilding alternators, which it doesn't sound like you are, you probably shouldn't attempt to do it yourself.
2007-04-23 23:15:57 · answer #1 · answered by Wally T 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I assume you are talking about an inboard engine with normal automotive alternator, since you said boat not outboard. In either case the cause will be most likely to be corrosion of the steel parts of the rotor and stator, the clearance is very small. I have seen this several times and it is far more common than rusted bearings. If you successfully free it with a spanner, even after using WD40, there will still be all the rust left inside which will cause wear and will also result in a reduced clearance. As the alternator heats up in use and the rotor expands it may seize again, causing the belt to slip and break, if it also runs the water pump you may fry the engine before you realise it.
If you do not then you will have sheared or stripped the thread and wrecked the alternator.
The only sensible thing to do is have it stripped and cleaned, then relacquered to resist premature corrosion. If that was the only problem then there is no need to renew the brushes and diodes , they should obviously be checked to save another strip down too soon.
If the alternator is a common type, new ones are quite cheap and may be cheaper than the labour charge (or from a breakers yard) if one of the odd Japanese type or very high output it may be worth the cost of stripping.
2007-04-27 18:40:48 · answer #2 · answered by outboardfixer 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the alternator is seized then the only thing to do is to remove it and have it serviced, this will include new brushes, diodes and bearings. Service replacements can be obtained for about £30. Pulley exchange can be carried out at the same time.
If you did manage to free the shaft with a spanner it would only be a short term remedy and being a boat there would a reliability problem.
2007-04-24 16:06:08 · answer #3 · answered by Web Foot 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Personally,I would put it in at the local agents (Lucas,CAV,Bosch,whatever.) against a service\exchange replacement. Check the pulley size- some marine engines have a smaller pulley,due to running at lower continuous revs.
2007-04-24 15:09:39 · answer #4 · answered by mactheboat 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
you could and it may come loose maybe spray it with some penetrating oil on both ends around the bearings
but that means that the bearings have rust in them
it may work and charge
but (soon) it will fail
are you brave enough to see where on the water it is going break
i think i would rather replace it than wonder
2007-04-24 03:32:25 · answer #5 · answered by re2345 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Try all of the above and if this does not work get a professional to have a look.
2007-04-25 06:09:02 · answer #6 · answered by Mark J 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The answer is actually obvious: if you can, yes! You can.
If you can't, then no!
(You can always carry a spare! They are not too hard to come by!!)
2007-04-25 22:33:18 · answer #7 · answered by Girly Brains 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Try putting some WD40 on it first and tapping the shaft. This should be enough to dislodge it.
2007-04-24 03:22:56 · answer #8 · answered by Jambo 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋
NO. you might get it to turn, but the ballbearings will be damaged and will fail disastrously if you continue to run it. Get it off and strip it on the bench.
2007-04-24 03:54:08 · answer #9 · answered by The original Peter G 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
remove check bearings don't try and free by force, was sea water your last use ? if so with a ally case you may have a fair bit of corrosion in it
2007-04-24 03:34:08 · answer #10 · answered by ufo18 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋