[Healeys] Dynamator comments - misc

[Oudesluys]

Steve,
The old Lucas 16 ACR/18ACR/LR100 alternator as fitted to most British 
and quite a few other cars in the late 60's-90's is a good rugged 
alternative. So is the AC Delco DN460 which was fitted to 
Vauxhall/Bedford/Jensen-Healey cars. The max. output is about 35A and 
the output when idling is very reasonable. They show up NOS in fairly 
large numbers, usually costing between $25 and $75 over here and seldom 
give trouble. However there are a few new cheap imitations around!!!!
Could also be found used in scrap yards with British cars. Saab and I 
think Volvo fitted Lucas as well. Opel, Vauxhall, small Chevrolets and 
other small GM cars generally had the AC Delco unit. They are quite 
trouble free and no regulator box is needed. It is rather seldom that 
the diodes give up unless there is a major electrical fault in the car 
itself and the only wear will be in the brushes and front bearing after 
many many miles. If they go wrong they are imminently repairable.
Why fitting an original generator Look-a-Like (more or less) alternator 
that is expensive and often troublesome? Show your mods, don't hide them.
I have heard of the problems several people had with them, which was 
confirmed by Joseph's comment.
Kees Oudesluijs


Op 27-12-2016 om 2:39 schreef Steve B. Gerow:
> Kees -
> We went with the DynamAtors because they're the most inexpensive. Around $250. USD including shipping.
>
> The US-made DynamOtor is >3x that expensive but may be better built - they have been in business for many years.
>
> The former advises using your stock pulley/fan setup, rather than the usual smaller (higher speed) alternator pulley. This may also have something to do with overheating and low-output problems.
>
> When I recommended them, I had no idea of the high percentage of problems encountered by Josef -- my friends and I will be watching these very carefully, before trusting them to long trips.
>