Good quality alternator?

[mutley]

I made the mistake of buying a cheap alternator from Robsport which has now failed after under 3 years. Any suggestions for a quality replacement?

[jakesmig]

I buy mine out of scrapyards.

[jbuckl]

My alternators from an almost identical location lasted 1.8 miles…. Each. Warranty turned out to be no warranty at all. Price of 2 got me about 4 miles.
Gave them an opportunity to remedy. But they chose not to…. So I share the tale…. Caveat emptor.

Took the original Lucas one to get it rebuilt at an auto electrical place that wanted £65 to rebuild. (No longer trading … sold up and retired)

They talked me into buying a new low cost country copy for £55…. Been fine ever since.

imagine that an online part would be similar to that low cost country item.

expect bearings to be not quiet…. Just as per Lucas ones were!

[DJT]

I bought a reconditioned alternator (QX Vectron branded) from a local motor factors in November 2014. It failed in July 2016 - 7000 miles - out of warranty. Replaced with a reconditioned Delco-Remy alternator from the same motor factor. That failed in October 2018 - 8,000 miles - out of warranty. Bought a repair kit (regulator and diode pack) online and repaired it myself. So far, so good as it has lasted over 6 years - 20,000 miles.

[wilf]

I personally do not believe there is any one brand "better" than any other. Any alternator we can buy these days will, if not actually completely made in China, have internal electronics (i.e. the regulator) made in China.

Thus it is simply pot luck. I am on my third regulator in two years (it seems the core parts are OK, just the electronics that have gone on mine).

Perhaps the only thing we can do is to relocate the alternator to a physical location where it is easy to swap. And carry a spare, as I do. It also seems that so-called "uprated" (i.e. higher output) alternators are even less reliable than a basic 18ACR copy with its meager 45A output (which suffices for standard Stag electrics anyway).

[flying farmer]

I have had similar experiences with alternators. The cheap Lucas copies often don't last long,

I bought 2 off ebay that were so bad they were not even usable, I was fortunate that the seller sent me a new one before I returned the first, and I was able to make 1 good one out of the pair before returning one with three separate faults.
I tried an expensive uprated one from E J Wards which failed just out of warranty. This turned out better than expected as Wards contacted the manufacturer who actually repaired it FOC.

I now carry a rebuilt spare one when I am going on long journeys

[mjheathcote]

Most of time the genuine Lucas just need a set of new carbon brushes.
that's all I did.

[Symmo]

I got mine from BB Classics 2 years ago and no trouble so far

[mutley]

Thanks for all the answers. I'll update the forum when resolved. Cheers Robert

[Alacrity]

I put a WOSP one o mine, they are expensive but & totally British made - they are proud of that. Mine is mounted high up on the n/s of the engine as I have a water pump where the alternator was located. I did have to fettle the bracket a bit but I don't know if that was the alternator or aftermarket bracket modification. Time will tell as it hasn't dome more than a 2.5k since the cars rebuild but it certainly is nice to see the voltmeter staying constant at 14.5v ish no matter what & I am confident it will be good.

Another important thing to check is the engine earth, poor earths can lead to issues & premature failure, if in doubt add a second earth strap!

[sujitroy]

Don't folks in UK have their original alternators rebuilt? We still have a few shops here in USA. I had my one rebuilt.

[wilf]

All the places I knew that did that have gone...............

[SteveD]

My PO left me a 25ACR 75 amp alternator, which he said would fit the Mk 1 Stag, which still has the 11ACR one with separate electronics. Which is still working well.
Will the 25 fit and be suitable ampage wise if needed? Tia.
Steve.

[Seaking]

I used carwood in yeovil to have mine repaired.
also inder the guise of carwood brise.