Alternator install

[Mondo Limbo]

I read through many posts here about replacing the alternator - pretty much all agreed about an hour to get the old one out, another hour to get the new one in.  I started on mine (buying the Goldwing alternator for MUCH less than the Valk alternator), and it did take about an hour to get the old one out.  Beat and cut up my hand a little trying to work in that tight space.

To try and avoid a repeat of that, I took the new alternator over to my bench grinder and shaved about 1/4 inch off of the corners of the fins.  The alternator went in in about 5 minutes.

[old2soon]

That be a good tip. Where the hell were you a while back when i installed mine??  I was 67 when i changed out my altenator and cursed iffin i didn't learn some new and exciting curse words when i changed it out.  It WILL reinstall without modifications but it fer sure took a little while.  Do you have pictures of the mod??  RIDE SAFE.

[Chrisj CMA]

If you either remove or loosen the center cover so it can be moved (or removed) to a position where its not interferring, then the alternator goes in like butter without grinding on it

[SpidyJ]

What you don't realize is that by grinding those tabs off you have put the entire alternator shell in a very fragile and stressed metallurgical condition.  If your bike resonates at a certain frequency (nobody knows what it is) the entire alternator will crumble or explode.  
This is most likely to occur at night, when you have left your cell phone at home.......and......it will probably be raining.
Just sayin'.........

[F6BANGER]

Wow Spidy, Its a damn good thing your not a pessimist......LOL 

[Chrisj CMA]

What you don't realize is that by grinding those tabs off you have put the entire alternator shell in a very fragile and stressed metallurgical condition.  If your bike resonates at a certain frequency (nobody knows what it is) the entire alternator will crumble or explode.  
This is most likely to occur at night, when you have left your cell phone at home.......and......it will probably be raining.
Just sayin'.........

OK, well there it is.....I was wondering if grinding that thing could have an adverse affect.  I didnt know life as we know it could be over.  LOL   

[FLAVALK]

What you don't realize is that by grinding those tabs off you have put the entire alternator shell in a very fragile and stressed metallurgical condition.  If your bike resonates at a certain frequency (nobody knows what it is) the entire alternator will crumble or explode.  
This is most likely to occur at night, when you have left your cell phone at home.......and......it will probably be raining.
Just sayin'.........

Dang! sounds almost as bad as what might happen if you run a car tire