[C320-list] 4 D Battery Replacement

[Pete Herron]

I get that black dust from my measly 80A Balmar, but it's caused by the 
misalignment of the pulleys.  Trying to align then with a 1" dowel/pry 
bar and a wrench doesn't work.  Maybe it would if I had two more arms.  
Using slightly different bushings in the two alternator feet might 
work, too.  I called Balmar and the guy seemed surprised that it works 
as well as it does - he said they often have a misalignment problem 
with their stuff as it's designed for a range of installations and not 
just the one I have.  There is no visible wear on the belt.  I have a 
spare, anyway.

Pete


On Apr 20, 2008, at 7:07 AM, Jeff Hare wrote:

> I have a single belt 125A alternator using the same belt width as the 
> stock
> yanmar one.
>
> I replace the belt every year and keep the old one as the spare.  
> Costs me
> ~$10 for a high end Gates Green Stripe belt and the engine certainly 
> notices
> this when the batteries are drawn down, but the belt would easily go a
> couple seasons if I let it.  It does produce a bit of black dust from 
> the
> load, and I do re-tension it mid season.
>
> -Jeff
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
> [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Stephen 
> Cox
> Sent: Saturday, April 19, 2008 7:57 PM
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] 4 D Battery Replacement
>
> The Balmar Alternator Regulator Guide suggests you will struggle with a
> single belt pulley on that size alternator.  You would need to check 
> its
> width at the very least.  Is it 1/2" or 3/8" and what is fitted on your
> engine now?
>
> Extract from Guide:
>
> 	When  replacing an alternator  in  the stock engine position,
> 	you're  really  facing  the  issue  of  physical  limitation  on
> the
> 	belt and side load on the water circulation pump. We don't
> 	drive more than a 75 amp high output Balmar marine alter-
> 	nator on a single 3/8" undedicated belt, or a 100 amp on a
> 	7/16"-1/2"  undedicated  belt.  Even  though  the  numbers
> 	might not seem much higher than say a 55 amp stock auto-
> 	motive  type  alternator, most  people  see  a  huge  improve-
> 	ment in performance between the two. That is because the
> 	alternators are designed to perform two very different jobs:
> 	the stock alternator  is designed  for handling  light constant
> 	loads (such as lights, fans, radios, etc.) and the high output
> 	marine alternator is designed to charge banks of batteries.
> 	To move up to our 150 amp alternator, a dual dedicated belt
> 	is required.
>
>
> Stephen Cox
> Tegwen #1141
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
>> [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of
>> crashley at gte.net
>> Sent: Sunday, 20 April 2008 3:04 AM
>> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] 4 D Battery Replacement
>>
>> Pete,
>>
>> The Balmar 120A 60 series alternator I got came with a single
>> belt pulley. I haven't installed it yet but it looks like it
>> should fit okay. It also looks there's an adjustment in the
>> external voltage regulator to reduce the output current if
>> the load is too great for the engine.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> CRA
>> Rosebud #882
>>
>
>