Alternator problems

Most Alfas uses a Bosch alternator, whose design and components are common to many European cars. Your local "Automotive Electrical Specialist" should be able to rebuild a Bosch alternator without much trouble. However, from your photos, I am a bit confused - all of my Bosch alternators have their pulleys made out of sheetmetal, while yours looks like a casting.

What year Alfa do you have? I'm guessing it is a '71, as it has an alternator (earlier Alfas used generators), but in your second picture I don't see the nylon jack that attaches the wires from the regulator to the back of the alternator. Or maybe you have some sort of a Marelli alternator (was there such a thing?). Sometimes it helps people on the BB to help you if you provide information like the car's year or alternator brand.

While you have things apart, you may want to spend another few bucks and get a new regulator. Solid state regulators are cheaper than the old "points-n-coils" ones, and will be more reliable.

Alternators Unlimited

I went through this a few weeks ago.

My local Kragen was able to look up a rebuilt alternator for my '74 GTV (external regulator), but it was almost $200, and a special order item that would take a few weeks.

Then I went to Alternators Unlimited in Berkeley, CA. They have a bunch of them on the shelf, rebuilt and ready to go, with the pulley and everything already installed. It cost $90, with my old one as an exchange. With a 1 year warranty.

Even though you're out of state, it may be worth the trouble to have one shipped.

Their number is: 510-527-7773

George

$200 for a voltage regulator is a rip off. try this http://www.transpo-usa.com/catalog.html and see if they can help you. They will also have a list with dealers.
Your alternator is just old. When the scraping noisen is the only problem and the rest is working it's not a problem. On the rotorshaft at the rear ball bearing there is a spring ring which is gone bad. Open it up and put new ball bearings in. Both front and rear. Nothing special. you can use the ones open at one side or clased at both sides. As long as the closed side is at the outside of the front and rear shield. mark the front and rear end shield with the stator so you put it back together at the same position. Use a low voltage solder gun and don't over heat the diodes when soldering. In the above website you can also use the OE Bosch number on the alternator as your reference for spare parts.
You can also google the Bosch alternator # and you come up with a lot of websites. just because it's an old car don't let them rip you off. They still produce these type of regulator.

Good luck

Alternator removed, waiting to get rebuilt

Well, I got the alt. off tonight. That thing is a little bugger to get fished out of there. I removed the battery (lots of extra space with it out) and got to unbolting. The alternator itself is not difficult to do, just that removing the large lower bolt required me to take the cooling fan shroud off and drop it down so I could pull the bolt out. I realized this car is pretty low after working on it for a little while, my back was starting to get sore. I had to semi-lay across the fenders and extend my legs out to get comfortable. I could have looked like a retard, but it helped a good bit. I noticed when removing that there is no real adjustment for the belt. the alternator hits the block and pretty much prevents any slack from being taken back. Is the correct way to re-install to throw the belt on and push the bolt in the lower hole, hoping you have enough belt slack? I will let you all know when the alternator is back from being rebuilt at a local specialty shop. I wiggled it and spun it, but everything seemed real tight. I could see where the cooling fins on the pulley were making contact with the housing, but it seems real tight. I guess when it is done I will see what he had to replace.

"se Motopo" ?????

Nacho:

I am still puzzled about just what kind of an alternator you have. Does the manufacturer's stamp really read "SE MOTOPO" as shown in your photo? Does it say "Bosch" on it anywhere? To my eye, it doesn't look like a Bosch.

It is possible that a previous owner installed an Asian, or ??? alternator on your Alfa when the original one died. What sort of a regulator (if any) are you running? A 1972 model Alfa should have an external regulator mounted in front of the battery.

The difficulties that you are having in tensioning the belt may be related to having an alternator that wasn't intended for your engine. I guess you are already spending $$ on rebuilding your SE MOTOPO thing, but if I were you, I would get the correct Bosch alternator. As Ed Prytherch writes, they don't put out much amperage, but then again, 1972 Alfas don't have a lot of electrical accessories to eat up power.