Thread: Series alternator options pls

Had a look at my lucas 15 ac alternator and tried to take the back half off undoing the 3 long bolts that hold the piece together. Unfortunately, all the components (regulator, brushes etc) are all bolted to the back casing and there are wires soldered to them from the coil. I cannot see how these units can be taken apart. The later ones have a plastic case that once removed exposes these components without needing to split the alternator.

mine looks like this



Can these alternators be pulled apart or are they non-serviceable?

it comes apart from the front...

pully off fan off, slide the front off, slide the rotor out, remove the mounting bolts for the reg and rectifier the bushes come out last.

2 flavors of bushes, pin retained ones and clip lock ones.

pin retained ones you need to insert a service pin in the brush frame with the brush pushed all the way back. they pull out through either the small hole in the back of the alternator or one of the cooling vents. Clip lock ones have a latch built into either the front or rear of the holder that you simply lift with a small screwdriver..

Well, here I go with another embarrassing admission re miss-diagnoses... how many is that now - lost count. Anyway, this is another one of those 'cant see the forest for the trees' moment. I had a mate come over and we discussed the alternator not charging, so he said that the alternator need a 12v in. I said I got it wired up, however when we tested it there was no power!

Long story short, we traced the wire to a blown charge light... yes he light was not working all along with power to ignition and yet I didnt pick this up!

So a quick change of the plug, on ignition, globe is on and after starting alternator charging at around 14v.

SO anyone who is new like me to Series wiring, a blown fuse should'nt be ignored as it is part of the circuit, something I didnt realise. So if you got a blown globe, your alternator ISNT charging.

Cheers,

That is why you need to check that the battery light comes on when the ignition is turned on, but before the engine is started.

If you want to change the alternator to a modern unit, Bosch make a replacement with the same mounting pattern and offset as the Lucas 15ac

Aaron

Sorry to drag up an old post. I’m looking at one of these at the moment. Was there any need to change to pulley? Why did you go this one over the 36 amp one that they also stock? Was the wiring up to it?

Originally Posted by whitehillbilly64

I fitted one of these. LXA119
Straight swap.
Gut mine off the shelf at Repco, if all else fails.

whitehillbilly

Hi Matt.
Several others had fitted that Type without any issues.
Straight swap, no pulley change.
Been on my S3 Daily for 4 years, 35,000klms so far without a problem.'
I had fitted a new Autosparks loom, Head lights went through a replay, to H4 Globes.
Was an over the counter buy so no waiting.
Ask how much, then ask if any better price can be done, Please.

whitehillbilly

Thanks mate, I’ll think I’ll try one then. I’m just about to order a new Autosparks loom, which is why I needed to decide whether to order one to accept an alternator, or the dynamo/regulator setup (to save butchering it later).

Repco had it for $229 yesterday, but today it has gone up to $243!

Cheers, Matt

Originally Posted by whitehillbilly64

Hi Matt.
Several others had fitted that Type without any issues.
Straight swap, no pulley change.
Been on my S3 Daily for 4 years, 35,000klms so far without a problem.'
I had fitted a new Autosparks loom, Head lights went through a replay, to H4 Globes.
Was an over the counter buy so no waiting.
Ask how much, then ask if any better price can be done, Please.

whitehillbilly

Online or over the counter?

whitehillbilly