Original Alternator

[Hoser]

My tourer has the original alternator still on it, 115,000 miles.  Checked the voltage with the bike off, reads 12.6 volts.  Checks 14.1 at idle, 14.6 at  2000 rpm. 14.1 same conditions with the driving lights on, two 35 watt sealed beams.  Sound good to go to you?  BTW, I carry a rebuilt alternator in the saddle bag when I ride long.  Hoser   ???

[Ricky-D]

That's funny!

Yeah, I'd say the alternator is good.

***

[Chrisj CMA]

My tourer has the original alternator still on it, 115,000 miles.  Checked the voltage with the bike off, reads 12.6 volts.  Checks 14.1 at idle, 14.6 at  2000 rpm. 14.1 same conditions with the driving lights on, two 35 watt sealed beams.  Sound good to go to you?  BTW, I carry a rebuilt alternator in the saddle bag when I ride long.  Hoser   ???

When were the brushes replaced?  If they have never been replaced.......................get-R-done, is overdue.

[Tropic traveler]

Same here, 115,000 on the original alternator on the 1997, no problemos.
Just replaced the alternator at 60K on the 1999.
Go figure. 

[Hoser]

My tourer has the original alternator still on it, 115,000 miles.  Checked the voltage with the bike off, reads 12.6 volts.  Checks 14.1 at idle, 14.6 at  2000 rpm. 14.1 same conditions with the driving lights on, two 35 watt sealed beams.  Sound good to go to you?  BTW, I carry a rebuilt alternator in the saddle bag when I ride long.  Hoser   ???

When were the brushes replaced?  If they have never been replaced.......................get-R-done, is overdue.

Has not been touched, I plan to rebuild when put in the one in my saddle bag, will have the one I took out rebuilt  and working and maybe not need it for another 115000 miles. Who knows, it may last as long as the original I have in my truck, 194000 miles and still working.     hoser

[Highbinder]

I agree with Jeff, pull it out, replace the brushes and clean it up and re-install...I have 5 Valks in the garage, all with over 100,000 miles, some over 160, we change the brushes somewhere around 60-75 thousand miles and batteries every 2-3 years and we have never had a alternator go out... When they go its never in a convenient place.

[themetalman03886]

man you are lucky, mine crapped out on me at 52k, its a pain to replace, def wouldn't want to do it on the side of the road.

[Mallett]

The grandfather was old Cadillac mechanic...he always told me "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

The grandfather was old Cadillac mechanic...he always told me "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"

You have no idea what a bitch this is to change out in the garage .... On the side of the road ... A nightmare. I own (3) Valkyrie's and just replaced (2) and will get the other replaced when I recover from these two.... A Goldwing is close to half price and just needs a simple " clocked " to work.

[Mallett]

SmokinJoe, I was just passing on my grandfather's advice he gave to me but I too believe in preventive maintenance. I think the reason he told me that was because he new if I tore it down & couldn't fix it he would have too...I'll be buying me a Goldwing alt. soon...

[JC]

Sounds like it's still working okay, but with that many miles a new set of brushes sure wouldn't hurt.

Mine 97's just crapped out a month ago at 53K. Took it to a local rebuilder and paid $95 for the rebuild. Put it back in and made it 15 miles before it died again. Took it back and the rebuilder found the rotor was bad. Second time was the charm.

It's a real bitch to get in and out, but a post here mentioned rounding the corner of the vanes with a grinder, so I did, and man what a difference! you don't have to remove much at all, just enough to round the vanes out a little and she slips in like you lubed it with some K-Y. Made the second time out much less frustrating, and took a quarter of the time.

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

My first died at 94,000 miles 250 miles from home. Rental truck ,gas and tiedowns totalled over 300 bucks. Over night drop ship of goldwing alt. from HDL priceless. I now have 74,000 on that one, will be pulling it soon for cleaning and new brushes. Don't want to get caught in west Texas  on the side of the road in the summertime.

[MikeT]

How do you go about rounding the corners on the alternator to help with installation?  Are all of them rounded or just ones in specific locations?  How much of a radius is needed?

Thanks Mike T

[OP2]

I too would like to hear about this rounding of the vains, pictures would also be nice. I have a little over 70,000 miles on my 99 I/S on the original alt. Just got a spare for road trips.