Alternator kaput!

[John Schmidt]

I recently had installed what was supposed to have been a rebuilt unit that was done in Fla. before I moved north. It failed so after new bearings, etc., in the old one I reinstalled it and my charging headaches were over. I had the "rebuilt" unit ckd. out and it was not worth the trouble or cost, totally messed up internally so tossed it. I went looking on Ebay for Gold Wing alternators and if you check the link below, you'll see what I found. Scroll down and you'll see additional units listed brand new for $118 and made in USA. Has anyone used one of these and found them to be reliable? I really would like to have one on the shelf as a spare, just want something reliable. If you scroll down ever further, you can read about the mfr. and where these units are used elswhere. I feel they might have something we can all put to good use.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/265115982533?hash=item3dba24dac5:g:D~sAAOSw5NJetHXI

[The emperor has no clothes]

I did. It failed terribly on me in route to Roanoke Inzane. In my opinion you are better off getting a Goldwing one and clocking it. (It’s kind of like that saying, “you get what you pay for”)

[hubcapsc]

I cruise ebay for used OEM alternators from bikes with low mileage.

Pinwall always lists the mileage of their bikes.

At 100,000 miles I put my really nice looking 20,000 Pinwall alternator
on my bike... that was almost two years ago. I got another nice looking
low mileage alternator waiting in a box now.

There's a couple of 20,000 mile $65 alternators at Pinwall now...

-Mike

[John Schmidt]

Been thinking of picking up a spare myself, John. Does anything say Made in USA?  The eBay posting mentions USA seller.  That does not  guarantee USA made. The seller could have received the item from outside the US.

In my link, if you go down and click on one of the $118 units, then scroll down to near the bottom it shows DB Electrical as the seller along with a phone number. So, I called and was assured they are the actual manufacturer and are located in Tennessee. That's different than the unit in the link I posted which is a distributor out of Las Vegas. The lady I talked to at DB Electrical said they sell them factory direct. For the money, you can't rebuild one for that price with a one year warranty to boot.

[JimC]

John,
If you do not get another before Inzane, I have a low mile one you can borrow and take with you

Jim

[..]

Been thinking of picking up a spare myself, John. Does anything say Made in USA?  The eBay posting mentions USA seller.  That does not  guarantee USA made. The seller could have received the item from outside the US.

In my link, if you go down and click on one of the $118 units, then scroll down to near the bottom it shows DB Electrical as the seller along with a phone number. So, I called and was assured they are the actual manufacturer and are located in Tennessee. That's different than the unit in the link I posted which is a distributor out of Las Vegas. The lady I talked to at DB Electrical said they sell them factory direct. For the money, you can't rebuild one for that price with a one year warranty to boot.

Great find 

[John Schmidt]

Rather than carry one with me, I'm thinking maybe I'll box one up and leave it with my daughter. If I need one, I'll just have her overnight it even with the extra cost. Besides, they have a lot more $$$ than I do. 

Meanwhile, I think I'll go ahead and order one of the DB Elec. units. The lady told me if the item under warranty cost more than $80, they would cover shipping as well in case of failure. They've been in business since 1981...you don't stay in business that long by screwing the automotive public and become one of the larger companies doing what they do.

[turtle254]

Are you ordering it through Ebay?

[John Schmidt]

Are you ordering it through Ebay?

I'll wait until Monday and call the plant to see about distributors. I see on Ebay there's a distribution point in Minnesota and I want to know if it's DB Elec. direct or someone else.

[Gregory Scott 16248]

I recently had installed what was supposed to have been a rebuilt unit that was done in Fla. before I moved north. It failed so after new bearings, etc., in the old one I reinstalled it and my charging headaches were over. I had the "rebuilt" unit ckd. out and it was not worth the trouble or cost, totally messed up internally so tossed it. I went looking on Ebay for Gold Wing alternators and if you check the link below, you'll see what I found. Scroll down and you'll see additional units listed brand new for $118 and made in USA. Has anyone used one of these and found them to be reliable? I really would like to have one on the shelf as a spare, just want something reliable. If you scroll down ever further, you can read about the mfr. and where these units are used elswhere. I feel they might have something we can all put to good use.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/265115982533?hash=item3dba24dac5:g:D~sAAOSw5NJetHXI

The alternator that you posted is only a 40 amp. The interstate stock alternator is 90 amp. so you would be under powered. Get the Goldwing high output 95 amp. for $170 & shipping.

 https://www.ebay.com/itm/271058322577?fits=Model%3AGoldwing+1500&hash=item3f1c55c491:g:abMAAOSwgQ9VlKlQ

[John Schmidt]

I recently had installed what was supposed to have been a rebuilt unit that was done in Fla. before I moved north. It failed so after new bearings, etc., in the old one I reinstalled it and my charging headaches were over. I had the "rebuilt" unit ckd. out and it was not worth the trouble or cost, totally messed up internally so tossed it. I went looking on Ebay for Gold Wing alternators and if you check the link below, you'll see what I found. Scroll down and you'll see additional units listed brand new for $118 and made in USA. Has anyone used one of these and found them to be reliable? I really would like to have one on the shelf as a spare, just want something reliable. If you scroll down ever further, you can read about the mfr. and where these units are used elswhere. I feel they might have something we can all put to good use.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/265115982533?hash=item3dba24dac5:g:D~sAAOSw5NJetHXI

The alternator that you posted is only a 40 amp. The interstate stock alternator is 90 amp. so you would be under powered. Get the Goldwing high output 95 amp. for $170 & shipping.

 https://www.ebay.com/itm/271058322577?fits=Model%3AGoldwing+1500&hash=item3f1c55c491:g:abMAAOSwgQ9VlKlQ

Where did you find that info re. the stock I/S alternator is a 90 amp, I don't think 90 amp is applicable until the later 1800 models. What I've found is it's 40, based on a 550 watt alternator. Divide wattage by the 14v set point, 14V provides an accurate amperage output and keeps the charging/electrical system healthy.

When calculating amperage output OEM's use the voltage regulator set point (14V +/-) then round results off to the nearest 5A.
1200 watts = 85.7A(later 1800's)
1100 watts = 78.5A(I believe is early 1800's)
550 watts = 39.2A (GL1500)

[gordonv]

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,107156.0.html

The above is my post on alternators, including the one I bought from Amazon. That supplier, DB Elec, sounds familiar. Made in the USA or not, I think they aren't, assembled maybe.

I had my $120 USD alt fail. They repaired it (shipping cost me half the price), and I have it back in the bike and it's working, but I've most likely only put a couple of hundred miles on it, with no riding last year and so far, this year too.

But I do have a spare OEM alt that needs looking at.