[C320-list] High Output Alternators

[Larry Frank]

I just reread my post.  It is not the ³original².  Just the same part
number. 23 years on a fan belt is just a little too long.

On 11/23/18, 4:08 PM, "Larry Frank" <WindSwept at stx.rr.com> wrote:

>WindSwept has a 100 AMP Balmar driven by the original Westerbeke belt.  I
>monitor the belt tension and get some dusting, but have never had a
>problem.  I did put a slightly larger diameter pully on the alternator
>which may help to give the belt a better grip.
>
>On 11/22/18, 10:58 PM, "Gerald Rouillard" <pearson39b at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>>Now that I have access to some Catalina 320 focused experience, I want to
>>solicit advice on a couple of issues that I've been wrestling since I
>>bought it this past summer.  The first one is the alternator arrangement
>>I inherited.
>>
>>Wind Song is Westerbeke powered with a Powermax, 125 amp High Output
>>Alternator.  It's driven  by a single belt, and that causes me some
>>concern.  On a previously owned boat, I had upgraded my 30 HP Yanmar to a
>>125 amp alternator, and had to change back to the original 55 amp
>>alternator when the single belt configuration failed to drive the
>>alternator once we reached 1400 RPMs.  The belt would just start slipping
>>and sloughing off belt material.
>>
>>My mechanic advised me that the higher output alternator needed two belts
>>to work well, and that's what causes my concern with this set up.  During
>>the purchase survey this summer, we noted some looseness in the belt and
>>some powdered belt debris in the engine compartment.  I replaced the belt
>>with a Westerbeke part and tightened it up.  So far it seems to be
>>working OK, but I'm wondering if anyone else has any problems with one of
>>these high output units driven by a single belt.
>>
>>Sailor Jerry
>>Wind Song, Hull #283
>>Shoal Draft, Wing Keel
>>
>>Sent from my iPad
>
>