[C320-list] 4 D Battery Replacement

[Warren Updike]

We have the Perkins M30 so this may not work for a Yanmar; but, I solved the 
problem of alignment by having a machine shop elongate the bolt holes of the 
alternator bracket so that the whole affair could be moved fore and aft some 
distance (I forget how much.)  This resulted in one of the holes opening 
completely, but it's not a problem.  Then I used a straight edge on the 
water pump pulley to roughly align the alternator.  The pulleys are not the 
same design so this may not give an exact alignment.  I then checked this 
with a wood dowel held tightly in the water pump pulley and rotated it down 
and into the alternator pulley.  It takes some effort to get the alignment 
just right.

Some dusting is, apparently, inevitable.  However, if excessive or if more 
than dust is being seen than either alignment or tension needs adjusting.  I 
found that for adjusting, a belt tension tools is essential, otherwise you 
have to use a long thick screwdriver to put tension on the alternator case 
whilst you tighten all the bolts: a neat trick if you can do it alone.  The 
tensioning tool makes this a piece of cake.  It fits between the water pump 
pulley and the alternator pulley and expands on a threaded shaft.  This 
allows you to obtain the proper tension and hold it while you tighten all 
the bolts: a one-man job.  Then, simply unscrew the tool and save it for the 
next time.  For me, the tensioning tool is absolutely essential.

I was not successful in finding the tensioning tool in any of my local auto 
stores.  I only found it at jcwhitney.com.  I didn't try Sears.

Warren & Pattie Updike
C320, #62, 1994, "Warr De Mar"
Frog Mortar Creek, Middle River
Chesapeake Bay

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Pete Herron" <peteherron at mac.com>
To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Sent: Sunday, April 20, 2008 11:51 AM
Subject: Re: [C320-list] 4 D Battery Replacement


>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
>>>
>>
>>
>
>
>