Jim Ellis
Well Known Member
My Plane Power 70-amp alternator died after only 89 hours of use. Of course, it is 4 years old so no warranty. When I tried to buy a replacement, I found that the current price for the AL12-EI70/B was over $700 plus a $200 core charge. Unfortunately, that includes the install kit which I don’t need. The alternator alone, Hartzell Part Number 99-1006-1, was nowhere to be found at the places I checked.
Well maybe I could repair the broken one if I could find the parts. Aircraft Spruce has a long list of Hartzell (Plane Power) parts but when I contacted Spruce, they told me that none of the parts listed were for my alternator. Only a new replacement unit was available.
I did a long search of the internet and finally found a (Nippon)Denso “First Time Fit” Starter and Alternator Catalog that listed all their alternator variants along with pictures. After matching the plug style and the amperage output along with a photo, I determined that my Plane Power 70-amp alternator started out life as a Denso Part Number 210-0213 (Lester # 13509). (Bottom of Page 335)
Now I began a search for repair parts and quickly found parts for 1992-95 Honda Civic and 1993-95 Honda Civic del Sol. I found part numbers and sources for replacement bearings, regulators, brush holders, rectifiers, stator field windings and other miscellaneous parts.
The aftermarket replacement internal voltage regulator does not have the built-in overvoltage protection that comes with the Plane Power brand alternator. I didn’t need this in my case since my Vertical Power VP-X Sport already provides overvoltage protection. If you do install a replacement regulator and want overvoltage protection you can add something like a Perihelion overvoltage protection device.
After removing the rear cover, I pulled the brush holder, the regulator and the rectifier plate.
To my surprise I found three of the four wires connecting the stator field to the rectifier plate were broken off at the base of the terminals.
The breaks may have been from overheating or vibration or both. I replaced the damaged stator field winding with a new unit and reassembled the case with all new parts.
It took me thirty minutes to install the new parts and return to a fully working alternator. The total cost of all the replacement parts was $98.00. The cost of parts that I probably didn’t really need was $50.00, but I ended up with a completely new rebuilt alternator (except for new bearings). If you want to see someone else’s video showing how to install the parts I replaced click here.
If you are not inclined to repair your Plane Power alternator you could just buy a rebuilt Denso 210-0213 alternator for around $150.00 plus a $30-35 core charge. You would need to swap the drive pulley from the P-P alternator to the new rebuilt alternator with an impact wrench. (85 foot/pounds)
It is not my intention to be critical Hartzell or Plane Power. They are nice folks and their business model is what it is. My only goal here is to provide some other possible options when, as it will, your P-P alternator dies an untimely death.
Well maybe I could repair the broken one if I could find the parts. Aircraft Spruce has a long list of Hartzell (Plane Power) parts but when I contacted Spruce, they told me that none of the parts listed were for my alternator. Only a new replacement unit was available.
I did a long search of the internet and finally found a (Nippon)Denso “First Time Fit” Starter and Alternator Catalog that listed all their alternator variants along with pictures. After matching the plug style and the amperage output along with a photo, I determined that my Plane Power 70-amp alternator started out life as a Denso Part Number 210-0213 (Lester # 13509). (Bottom of Page 335)
Now I began a search for repair parts and quickly found parts for 1992-95 Honda Civic and 1993-95 Honda Civic del Sol. I found part numbers and sources for replacement bearings, regulators, brush holders, rectifiers, stator field windings and other miscellaneous parts.
The aftermarket replacement internal voltage regulator does not have the built-in overvoltage protection that comes with the Plane Power brand alternator. I didn’t need this in my case since my Vertical Power VP-X Sport already provides overvoltage protection. If you do install a replacement regulator and want overvoltage protection you can add something like a Perihelion overvoltage protection device.
After removing the rear cover, I pulled the brush holder, the regulator and the rectifier plate.
To my surprise I found three of the four wires connecting the stator field to the rectifier plate were broken off at the base of the terminals.
The breaks may have been from overheating or vibration or both. I replaced the damaged stator field winding with a new unit and reassembled the case with all new parts.
It took me thirty minutes to install the new parts and return to a fully working alternator. The total cost of all the replacement parts was $98.00. The cost of parts that I probably didn’t really need was $50.00, but I ended up with a completely new rebuilt alternator (except for new bearings). If you want to see someone else’s video showing how to install the parts I replaced click here.
If you are not inclined to repair your Plane Power alternator you could just buy a rebuilt Denso 210-0213 alternator for around $150.00 plus a $30-35 core charge. You would need to swap the drive pulley from the P-P alternator to the new rebuilt alternator with an impact wrench. (85 foot/pounds)
It is not my intention to be critical Hartzell or Plane Power. They are nice folks and their business model is what it is. My only goal here is to provide some other possible options when, as it will, your P-P alternator dies an untimely death.