IowaRV9Dreamer
Well Known Member
This is the AL12-P70 alternator from my Beech. It was bought new from PP in 2008 (before Hartzell) and lasted 480 hours. The alternator still spins perfectly and alternates fine but the casting has failed.
The mount design is such that the alternator pivots on the steel bushing shown. Over time and vibration, the hole in the casting has widened out such that the alternator rocks significantly on the bushing and cannot remain straight with good belt tension.
I"m grumpy because I have to buy a new alternator for about $600, and I also have to pay a $200 core charge. I've never heard of core charges on new/outright parts. Hartzell told me they require them on every purchase.
I was originally planning to keep this alternator, fix the casting (machine for steel insert) and use it in the RV... but forget it. For the price of the core charge I can buy one or even two of the Suzuki rebuilds...
I've experienced failures of both my Plane Power alternator and Sky-Tec starter due to vibration. I don't think they are as sturdy as you'd think....
The mount design is such that the alternator pivots on the steel bushing shown. Over time and vibration, the hole in the casting has widened out such that the alternator rocks significantly on the bushing and cannot remain straight with good belt tension.
I"m grumpy because I have to buy a new alternator for about $600, and I also have to pay a $200 core charge. I've never heard of core charges on new/outright parts. Hartzell told me they require them on every purchase.
I was originally planning to keep this alternator, fix the casting (machine for steel insert) and use it in the RV... but forget it. For the price of the core charge I can buy one or even two of the Suzuki rebuilds...
I've experienced failures of both my Plane Power alternator and Sky-Tec starter due to vibration. I don't think they are as sturdy as you'd think....