Alternator Life?

[BIG--T]

Just Curious, what is the average life/ mileage of an alternator under normal conditions?

That's good to know especially if going out of town. Jimmy/ Hayhauler said his went about 80k so I'm curious about others.

Thanks 

[Hoovey]

Mine puked on my 2000 Interstate at 59000. I went with a MARS rebuilt one and it failed me at 60,100 . Mars exchanged it for another and I now have a little over 71000 miles on the bike. I just bought a Honda OEM 1500 Goldwing Alt that I will be carrying on trips in future.

[cutter]

99' I/S bought new out of the crate 3/2001. The first time was 37 months and just into 60000 miles. The Honda dealership I bought it from made good on the warranty and rebuilt it.. The shop manager talked to the Honda rep to get it OKed. He mentioned he has owners and then there are riders!
 The second time was was around 120k. Pulled it my self and had a Honda shop closer to the house rebuild it. Lasted a month. Pulled it and took it to an alternator shop in Tomball and the found 2 problems and fixed it. I'm at 225k with no issues since. Your milage may vary.

Might be time to check those brushes....... 

[vanagon40]

The alternator on my 2001 Standard failed in 2008 at 14,300 miles.  I understand it is somewhat hit and miss as to whether the alternator suffers from premature failure or lasts almost forever.

Here is what Ken Heming (M.A.R.S.) has to say:

In 1996 HITACHI moved their manufacturing from JAPAN to CHINA, since then they have been producing bad alternators.  Broken rotor windings or burned up rotor coils from inferior wire and insulation.  I have rebuilt over 600 GL1500 alternators and 95% were later models.

http://mysite.verizon.net/resp3jbj/

[old2soon]

My 99 I/S was in that 50000+ range when it puked. Got a M A R S rebuilt and put around 23-2400 on it so far and still going. RIDE SAFE.

[Rocketman]

It seems to be a crapshoot.  Not sure why, but my first Valkyrie blew up an alternator at ~16k.  I thought I had the record at the time, but someone else had a failure right after mine, at ~12k.
My second Valkyrie... well, you don't want to know the alternator history on that one, but I will say that you shouldn't overload them with a massive audio amplifier.
Other people have never had a failure, at 100k or greater.  I'm not sure what the difference is (excluding the obvious amplifier problem)

Mark

[CASABROKER]

About 30 k and you don't want to be too far from home when it happens.  Don't ask why I know this.  Since then bought the AAA premier plan it has motorcycle coverage and free towing up to 200 miles.

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

Mine took a dump at 94 thousand miles. I didn't figure that too bad but we were in the hill country and 250 miles from home. I did the goldwing replacement and now have 149 thousand on the bike now. I'm gonna pull it after the summer is over and check the brushes and blow the dust out of it.

[Willow]

Mine is still on the original at 166,000 miles (I shouldn't say that out loud.).  My wife's Standard is over 60,000 on the original.

[Hoser]

101k on the original,  I have a spare, It rides in my saddle bag on road trips, as does my spare ujoint and wheel bearings.  Hoser 

[fudgie]

71k on mine and all is good. Had it out around 55k and took it in to be looked at, just cause. He cleaned it and said it looked great. Bring it back at 100k and he will look at it again. I have a spare boxed and ready if it comes to that.

[BIG--T]

Thanks guys for all your input. So I guess there is no magic number and just goes out when it wants to!    So from 12k to over 150k is  a crap shoot and I better leave that 500 watt amp off I was thinking of buying with some handlebar speakers!!   

[Bone]

Pulled the Alternator with 95k on my 98 Tourer. No problems I just forgot to check the brushes at 50k. Everything was OK but the brushes were really close to the wear lines. I did replace the brushes.

I've been running a 500 watt amp for a couple of years.