Alternator Bracket
Discussion
Ahh, alternator brackets, my favourite subject. Pretty much every breakdown I have suffered has related to this. The first was the flat plate steel which broke very quickly, but at least the chrome was shiney!
The AmSpeed billet aluminium lasted longer but broke the bolts connecting it to the engine block. The AS billet too has now broken as the aluminium is not strong enough and the design weak. Also the american speed tie bolt to the engine mount removed some of the thread where it was screwed into the alterator.
So I had a copy of the billet aluminium made in steel. So far so good but I made up my own tie back to the AS bracket that fits to the engine mount. To my surprise this snapped on a trip to Brands Hatch. I can only assume that the vibration has done for it. The next idea is to use a rose joint in the tie back to alleviate vibration and angle changes so that it is simply acting in tension, not bending. Any bright ideas from fellow sufferers?
The AmSpeed billet aluminium lasted longer but broke the bolts connecting it to the engine block. The AS billet too has now broken as the aluminium is not strong enough and the design weak. Also the american speed tie bolt to the engine mount removed some of the thread where it was screwed into the alterator.
So I had a copy of the billet aluminium made in steel. So far so good but I made up my own tie back to the AS bracket that fits to the engine mount. To my surprise this snapped on a trip to Brands Hatch. I can only assume that the vibration has done for it. The next idea is to use a rose joint in the tie back to alleviate vibration and angle changes so that it is simply acting in tension, not bending. Any bright ideas from fellow sufferers?
ultiman said:
Ahh, alternator brackets, my favourite subject. Pretty much every breakdown I have suffered has related to this. The first was the flat plate steel which broke very quickly, but at least the chrome was shiney!
Could'nt it be the alternator or the engine pully itself? by vibrating...a V8 vibrates a lot and a bad pully can vibrate too! or the belt is to tight?! and vibrating! that will put a lot of stress to the brackets iff I understand this al...
Yes, I accept the V8 engine will vibrate more than a modern one. However, the alternator has been replaced since the original and the pulleys appear to line up fairly well. I am careful to avoid overtightening but too loose and the belt can get chewed by the alternator fan blades (I tried this too). My bespoke tie back probably sheared although it could be fatigue.
Has anyone else suffered a broken billet al bracket from AS? The corners of the recessed bolt holes have squared edges so the stresses are magnified here in the absence of a curve (Griffiths crack propagation theory comes to mind from 20 years ago) and the material is insubstatial here.
If I can solve the tie back problem thus alleviating the moment on the fixing bolts to the block, my next challenge will be an easier method of adjustment of belt tension. My small mind cannot comprehend right hand and left hand threads when working by feel alone.
Has anyone else suffered a broken billet al bracket from AS? The corners of the recessed bolt holes have squared edges so the stresses are magnified here in the absence of a curve (Griffiths crack propagation theory comes to mind from 20 years ago) and the material is insubstatial here.
If I can solve the tie back problem thus alleviating the moment on the fixing bolts to the block, my next challenge will be an easier method of adjustment of belt tension. My small mind cannot comprehend right hand and left hand threads when working by feel alone.
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