[C38] Alternators

[Larry Malmberg]

Thanks for the input Tom T, as always it is appreciated.  I have seen "kits"
out there for just this project but they are very expensive.  I'll probably
wait until my Rich Uncle gets out of the Poor House to do this.  LOL  Oh the
other hand though, it does look like something I will strongly consider.
Take a look at this:
https://store.electromaax.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=38_133
and let me and the list know your opinion please. 






Best regards,

Larry Malmberg
Team Hassle


-----Original Message-----
From: listserve-bounces at catalina38.org
[mailto:listserve-bounces at catalina38.org] On Behalf Of tdtron at earthlink.net
Sent: Tuesday, November 08, 2011 6:43 AM
To: Catalina 38 forum
Subject: Re: [C38] Alternators

Hello Larry and group,

I am retired from the automobile business and was a technician (mechanic) in
my earlier years.

When the serpentine belts first became popular on cars, they drove us crazy
with squealing problems.  Unlike a v-belt, a serpentine must be have perfect
alignment from all pulleys. The car makers were used to getting it close
with v-belts but close was not good enough when it came to the serpentine
belts.

We had factory recalls using shim kits to move various components of the
system so the belts would line up right correctly.  A v-belt is extremely
forgiving but not so with the serpentine.

That being said, as you know there is no comparison in efficiency using a
serpentine belt and I see your argument for a conversion to serpentine. 
There is very little horsepower waste with a serpentine belt where a v-belt
robs a lot of horsepower.

I think your idea of a conversion to serpentine would be a great benefit but
at what expense?  If there was already a kit on the market to replace the
pulleys and also shim the components for perfect alignment it may make a
good project but going it alone may be more of a project than can be
justified.  I expect you would have to fabricate the pulleys from welding
serpentine rims to the existing pulleys, etc.,  making this endeavor more of
a career than a project.  Keeping the existing pulley ratios would also
complicate the procedure.

If Kabota uses serpentine belts on their current crop of tractor engines and
the pulleys would fit your engine and components, your project just may be
feasible, but again, at what expense?  The reference it Kabota is assuming
you are using a Universal engine.  Any other engine would present the same
logistics for pulley replacement.

Anyway, that is my opinion.  I am always a fool for jumping into this type
of project but thankfully I sold my boat or I would be trying to figure out
how to make this worthwhile upgrade.  I have a simple machine shop and weld
shop but having these capabilities and equipment can be a curse.  Smarter
people than me know when to say no or they pay someone else to do the dirty
work but I was never that smart.

Tom Troncalli
Recovering ex-38 owner





> [Original Message]
> From: Larry Malmberg <Larrypi at roadrunner.com>
> To: <hlhowell at pacbell.net>; Catalina 38 Listserve
<listserve at catalina38.org>
> Date: 11/8/2011 8:59:41 AM
> Subject: Re: [C38] Alternators
>
> I have been considering going to a serpentine belt system.  Has anyone
done
> this?
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Best regards,
>
> Larry Malmberg
> Team Hassle
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: listserve-bounces at catalina38.org 
> [mailto:listserve-bounces at catalina38.org] On Behalf Of les
> Sent: Tuesday, November 08, 2011 3:30 AM
> To: listserve at catalina38.org
> Subject: Re: [C38] Alternators
>
> Also, with higher amperage, dual belts are recommended starting at 
> about 100A.
> On JACE, the original 5424 frontplate cracked, probably from the
alternator
> load when I put the 91A presto lite on it.
>
> On the original engines the lower bolt hole is cast into the front 
> housing of the engine, which is cast metal, and quite brittle.
>
> Regards,
> Les H
> On Sun, 2011-11-06 at 21:57 -0800, Steve Smolinske wrote:
> > One cautioin on higher load alternators or dual is they will put 
> > more
> mechanical load on the mounting bracket and engine and can fail as a
result.
>
> >  
> > 
> > 
> > ________________________________
>
>
>
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