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  #61  
Old 12-23-2011, 02:59 PM
frankh's Avatar
frankh frankh is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Corvallis Oregon
Posts: 3,547
Default Alternators that work pt2

I used the Belt NAPA 3L360W belt..slightly longer than listed.

I also ended up re-using the PP mounting bracket and some stacking washers to take up the distance between the bracket and alt.. You actually want the mounting bracket about an inch taller than the Vans backet as this will actually allow the alt to snug up closer to the engine giving you more cowl clearance...Yes I know this sound counterintuitive but its true. I used the Vans dimension when making my original brackets and the alt ended up way too close to the cowl.

Maybe somebody has a PP mounting bracket and can give us the dimension from the engine block to the center of the hole on the lower bracket..It should be about 1.5 to 2".

Use this dimension when making your own monting bracket as it works perfectly.

The Vans tensioning arm bracket can be used, I had to shorten mine by an inch from memory.

Frank
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  #62  
Old 12-23-2011, 03:05 PM
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frankh frankh is offline
 
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Location: Corvallis Oregon
Posts: 3,547
Default Drop in PP replacement

Quote:
Originally Posted by allbee View Post
i would like to know of a drop in replacement for the PP.
Well it has to be automotive, the innards look identical to all the other ND alts so clearly its a ND alternator thats repackaged somehow.

Frank
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  #63  
Old 12-23-2011, 06:15 PM
odlee odlee is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Greensboro,NC
Posts: 152
Default What about the brackets?

Has anyone evaluated a substitute alternator which utilizes the PP mounting arrangement. I have replaced one PP and not looking forward to re-engineering the alternator mounting, if there is another failure. Not sure I want to continue down the replacement road.

Thanks for any advice!

David
RV 7
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  #64  
Old 12-23-2011, 06:43 PM
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frankh frankh is offline
 
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Location: Corvallis Oregon
Posts: 3,547
Default YES

I reused the PP bracket with the Toyota alternator.

I simply used a cople of stacks of flat washers to take up the gap and used the same bolt.

The top bracket I was using the Vans tensioner bracket in any case.

Frank
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  #65  
Old 12-23-2011, 09:11 PM
Gary Bricker Gary Bricker is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 371
Thumbs up Auto Zone Trash

AZ will not replace them as many times as you like. I would not buy anything from the wal mart of the parts business. Everything they sell is trash. I am in the Auto Parts business and all they have is price. Poor quality. At least if you are going to use a ND alternator get a good one.
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  #66  
Old 12-23-2011, 09:46 PM
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AltonD AltonD is offline
 
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Location: Dothan, Alabama
Posts: 1,487
Default

I have to agree. I have never had good luck with electric components that came from AZ. YMMV.
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  #67  
Old 12-23-2011, 10:06 PM
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L.Adamson L.Adamson is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: KSLC
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Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gary Bricker View Post
AZ will not replace them as many times as you like. I would not buy anything from the wal mart of the parts business. Everything they sell is trash. I am in the Auto Parts business and all they have is price. Poor quality. At least if you are going to use a ND alternator get a good one.
And I just read the entire thread again................to find out how many failures there are; versus how many Plane Power units have been sold. I would guess that the percentage is small; but since the people with complaints are usually the ones who respond to threads like this.........it tends to look like an epic problem. That IS one trouble with the internet. In reality, we need actual numbers. Complaints from 10 or so individuals, might really mean nothing, when compared to possible thousands in service.

And then of course, there really IS a chance of possible installation problems, such as belt alignment, excessive vibration, belt tension, cooling, and clearance from the cowl.

I'm just stating the case from a position as a devils advocate, because it's happened with comm radios etc. The vendor gets blasted, when it was really owner wiring problems. In this case, it could be premature failure, or installation problems. But never the less...........what's the actual percentage failure?

In my case, the Van's unit failed early. It's replaced with a Plane Power, that had a better mounting bracket to keep the belt in perfect alignment. I also like the idea of built in "over voltage" protection.
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  #68  
Old 12-23-2011, 10:08 PM
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Walt Walt is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Dallas/Ft Worth, TX
Posts: 5,686
Default

My personal opinion only: If you want a reliable alternator, get a B and C.

AZ parts and wiring from Radio Shack... my worst nightmare!
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Last edited by Walt : 12-23-2011 at 10:12 PM.
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  #69  
Old 12-24-2011, 02:53 AM
rhill rhill is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Valley Forge, Pa
Posts: 636
Default $.02

I've been down this path and concluded :
1. Nippon-Denzo 40amp small frame 5lbs,new from the factory in Taiwan (Its where they all are made) the older ones have round plugs,newer ones a T plug, get the one with the cast pulley not the stamped one or you can buy a larger pulley to reduce the speed (recommended with the large lycoming ring gear) you want 1 to two threads exposed above the nut add inspection lacquer to the nut/shaft.the back shield needs some high temp red silicone added in drops under the aluminum heat shield for vibration.Brand new $80,Sears Hardware has steel spacers to fit these to the Boss mount bracket,PP has a very nice mounting kit there pitch has to do with a better brush materiel for high altitude and inverted fans for correct rotation,the Vans mounting kit works just fine.I recommend running a dedicated ground wire from the alternator to the block and then the negative terminal of the battery,you can add a capacitor to the back of the alternator for noise if you like.At 5lbs a spare in your tool kit along with a set of tubes for the tires make this a no brainier. IMHO

I find it best not to lie,When asked what is this for? It's for my RV!

Last edited by rhill : 12-24-2011 at 03:01 AM.
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  #70  
Old 12-24-2011, 09:15 AM
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Caveman Caveman is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 672
Default Getting close

Quote:
Originally Posted by allbee View Post
i would like to know of a drop in replacement for the PP.
I'm one of the ones who had a PP failure described earlier in this thread. I performed many image searches on the net trying to match up the PP unit with an off the shelf auto replacement. Some of the pictures seemed very close but it appears that this may not be an auto alternator. Instead the closest I could find seemed to fit fork lifts or tractors. The chance of finding a replacement locally when you break down is not good if that is the case. I came across a thread a month or so ago where someone recommended this...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-ALTERN...item20bd9dc068

Since that is a UK link I searched E-bay and found what I thought was the US equivalent. At $107 I ordered it and it appears to be a perfect match except for the mounting ears and pulley. I am waiting for an oil change to pull the cowl and do a comparison. I may be able to use a washer stack as spacers to make it fit the PP bracket and align the pulleys. Or, I may try and get some spacers machined and carry it as a spare on long cross countries. I'd have to find a puller and exchange the pulley while traveling or carry a puller. Or if someone can match a pulley from one of the racing shops we could pre-order and install.

Still searching. I'm sure there is a perfect match out there.

p.s. DanH posted about fan shroud problems with his PP. And of course the E-Bay unit won't have the safety wire.

Merry Christmas everyone!
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