Alternator maintance/replacement

[Hotrodwing]

Been doing winter maintance so i figured I would pull the alternator at 65000. I should have done it sooner.  It came out rather easy.  I found it loaded with dust and dirt the brush wore down to the indexing holes and the comutator has grooves worn into it.  I may take it to a local shop to see what they think.  I was planning on replacing the brushes but can not tell  where you desolder and resolder the leads.   I may go for the 97 wing alt from directline and keep this for a spare.  Ps I have a 97 standard and I only loosened the center cover bolts.  I hope the new on goes back as easy.

[Chrisj CMA]

Resoldering the brushes is very easy. 

The brushes ride in a square hole.  At the base of that guide "tunnel" there is a hole that leads go through.  at the back (other side of the hole) you can see a patch of solder.  touch the soldering gun to that patch and the brush will fly off.

tin the tip of the new lead and make it as thin and pointy as possible and assemble it with its spring and then insert into the hole.

You only push the brush into its square "tunnel" the very least you need to to get it to hold straight (DEFINETLY NOT BEYOND THE HOLES) then bend the end of the lead around the case and pinch it against the case to hold it in place. 

Touch it with a dap of solder and then cut off the excess....CAKE!

[Hotrodwing]

Thanks Chris kind what I thought. It was late last night and everything was pretty dirty.  I will take a better look after use electri clean.

[Chrisj CMA]

for re-assembly there is a silver piece of tape covering a pin hole at the base of the alternator.  get a needle (for sewing) and run it through that hole and through both holes in the brushes.  After its together just pull out the needle and the brushes are set

[CASABROKER]

I guarantee it won't go back in as easy as it came out...