Removing alternator

[snakemeister]

I was gonna put new brushes I my alternator but can't reach the nut that holds the hot wire on the back inside. I wonder if you could loosen the alternator and THEN twist it so you can get a socket on that nut. Has anyone any experience with this?

[hubcapsc]

I've only been involved with removing and replace one Valkyrie alternator... We loosened
the center cover, and covered it with tape to keep from scratching it, but we didn't
remove it.

After replacing the alternator and screwing with that hot wire nut for a while,
I took the alternator back out and reattached the nut, so if my memory
is correct  your idea ought to work.

Next time, I plan to pay a whole bunch of attention to precisely how I have to
twist the alternator to get it out, my hope is to be able to easily twist it
right back in the same way... we'll see... there are people with the reputation
of being able to take one out or put one back in in 5 minutes...

Those little dampers are annoying too... we "glued" them in with a tiny
dab of grease each to make them behave... I bet a tiny dab of silicone
would work great and not make a mess, especially if you didn't mind
waiting for it to set up.

-Mike

[Bone]

Did you look in Shoptalk ?   Scroll up and click Shoptalk or click the link below.

 http://www.valkyrieriders.com/shoptalk/alternator/alternatorservice.htm

[Chrisj CMA]

I was gonna put new brushes I my alternator but can't reach the nut that holds the hot wire on the back inside. I wonder if you could loosen the alternator and THEN twist it so you can get a socket on that nut. Has anyone any experience with this?

First! remove the battery or at least unhook a cable and secure it away so it cannot jump back.

The unbolt the mounting bolts and remove the alternator, you can get to the electrical connections right before you remove it from the bike

Its not that hard if you keep your patients about you

[vanagon40]

. . . .  Its not that hard if you keep your patients about you

Yeah, having lots of patients helps.      

[Relax]

I was gonna put new brushes I my alternator but can't reach the nut that holds the hot wire on the back inside. I wonder if you could loosen the alternator and THEN twist it so you can get a socket on that nut. Has anyone any experience with this?

I did the same thing springtime this year,
Later I learned that a short cut in the windings ( in the anchor) probably is more of a problem than the brushes.  Worth thinking about

Here is a write up from back then.
http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,56792.0.html

[old2soon]

Long 1/4 inch extensions and a swivel joint from the other side of the bike. Good for putting it back together also. And trust me when I tell you that you have gotten this information WAY quicker than I did!!  RIDE SAFE.

[Chrisj CMA]

. . . .  Its not that hard if you keep your patients about you

Yeah, having lots of patients helps.      

manpower if nothing else.  Hey both words sound the same

[vanagon40]

. . . . Hey both words sound the same

Yes, they are homophones.  But in Indiana we are trying to pass a constitutional amendment to keep them from getting married.   

[BF]

. . . . Hey both words sound the same

Yes, they are homophones.  But in Indiana we are trying to pass a constitutional amendment to keep them from getting married.   

They have their own phones now.  Who knew?   

[Mapper]

Can't you guys ever have a sirius conversation?  I guess it's not in the stars…   

Like some others have said: practice patience and removing the alternator is not too bad… loosen, twist, turn downwards, etc.  However, I had some problems from bumping wires around so… be careful 

[The emperor has no clothes]

Can't you guys ever have a sirius conversation?  I guess it's not in the stars…   

Like some others have said: practice patience and removing the alternator is not too bad… loosen, twist, turn downwards, etc.  However, I had some problems from bumping wires around so… be careful 

Would that be similar to a XM conversation ? Sorry couldn't resist

[Skinhead]

Long 1/4 inch extensions and a swivel joint from the other side of the bike. Good for putting it back together also. And trust me when I tell you that you have gotten this information WAY quicker than I did!!  RIDE SAFE.

+1

[.]

Not having tried Old2soon's suggestion because I didn't know it was possible and didn't have the right tools anyway, I pulled the alternator and then, with the little bit of wiggle room available, managed to remove and then replace the hot wire.

My experience was that the alternator came out much easier than I expected but more than made up for it when I was putting it back in. The neighbors had to clear the children from a three-block radius and I occasionally had to walk down the driveway and blaspheme at high volume when mere cursing didn't do the trick. But eventually it will go in. It is a VERY tight fit, however, so be prepared.

Now, I think I'll head to the hardware store and get those extensions so I'll have them if the problem ever crops back up (it did once so no reason to think it can't happen again). Good luck.

[Bone]

After reading several post about removing the alternator I felt I was ready to change the brushes. From the post I read the most troublesome times came from putting the alternator back into the bike. I made notes during removal which end I dropped, raised and twisted.
Reassembly started smoothly but quickly the alternator seemed to belong to another engine. Grabbed the notes and started with the last entry reversing the order. It worked sliding the part back into the opening in a vertical position and then tilting it horizontal and into the engine case.
Pay attention to detail when you pull the alternator.

[Ricky-D]

Loosening up the center cover and moving it out of the way is a big help

when removing and replacing the alternator.

No doubt.

***

[HayHauler]

Don't think I saw anyone mention it, but replacing the dampeners for the alternator with new ones made it MUCH easier to reinstall.  The new ones stayed out when trying to wiggle the alternator into position.  They made my one and only alternator replacement pretty easy, considering others horror stories. 


Hay
Jimmyt

[wiggydotcom]

Don't think I saw anyone mention it, but replacing the dampeners for the alternator with new ones made it MUCH easier to reinstall.  The new ones stayed out when trying to wiggle the alternator into position.  They made my one and only alternator replacement pretty easy, considering others horror stories. 


Hay
Jimmyt

That's good to know, Jimmy.I just happen to have new dampeners and brushes on order that should be in Tuesday. Then I get to see what kind of fun you've all had on removal and assy.

[Skinhead]

Also spray some WD40 on the rubber dampers and on the alternater drive prior to reinstalling,  makes things slide around easier.

[fudgie]

Long 1/4 inch extensions and a swivel joint from the other side of the bike. Good for putting it back together also. And trust me when I tell you that you have gotten this information WAY quicker than I did!!  RIDE SAFE.

+1

+2

[Tropic traveler]

Can't you guys ever have a sirius conversation?  I guess it's not in the stars…   

Like some others have said: practice patience and removing the alternator is not too bad… loosen, twist, turn downwards, etc.  However, I had some problems from bumping wires around so… be careful 

Would that be similar to a XM conversation ? Sorry couldn't resist

I think that Sirius & XM have merged so yes the conversations would be the same.