Alternator Bracket

[AlfaLofa]

The alternator bracket which came with the spare engine I recently bought is well past its sell-by date.

The mounting holes are extremely oval.

Can this bracket (photo pinched from SJ Sportscars) be a direct replacement?

[pharriso]

It is...

The old one just mounts on 2 block holes while the old one also mounts to the front cover.

I'd love to get (& repair) the old bracket if you are interested in selling it!

[rcraven]

Since your old one is something of a rarity you could try restoring it by welding the holes up and redrilling them or by enlarging and bushing them.

[AlfaLofa]

I didn't know I had such a rarity !!

And I don't know how this lump of metal relates to Lotus's philosophy of "adding lightness"

I'll have a word with the local engineering guru and see if he can sleeve it for me.

The local guru by the way, is an octogenarian who has owned his XK120 (complete with bullet holes gained in Malaya in the '50s) since it was new.

He had a pretty illustrious racing career - but he's probably best known for the Minnow Fish carb (the British version of the Minnow Carb) and for his turbo development work for Saab.

(Found this http://www.saabscene.com/forum/archive/ ... 1261cc37ae)

There will be an article about him (and his XK) in December's "Classic Cars Magazine" which will be available in about 2 weeks - so Lochgilphead will be mentioned in despatches

[rgh0]

I like others have been looking for another one of these original alternator brackets for years.
With modern profile scanning and CNC milling technology it must be relatively easy to get them made from scratch in a small batch.

Anyone with access to the machinery want to have a go I sure you could sell them !

cheers
Rohan

[AlfaLofa]

I shall shortly be getting the worn alternator bracket either welded & drilled or sleeved.

But is there supposed to be a recess around each of the alternator bolt holes?

I have now obtained an example of the alternative type of bracket which has what appears to be original blue paint.

This second bracket has recesses with residual paint which could be original (or of course a repaint).

The original massive bracket also has a recess (albeit elongated) around each mounting hole.

Are these "recesses" deliberate or wear

[billwill]

The SJ sports bracket pictured above is very similar to the one on my car.

~~~~

[billwill]

I shall shortly be getting the worn alternator bracket either welded & drilled or sleeved.

But is there supposed to be a recess around each of the alternator bolt holes?

I have now obtained an example of the alternative type of bracket which has what appears to be original blue paint.

007.jpg

This second bracket has recesses with residual paint which could be original (or of course a repaint).

The original massive bracket also has a recess (albeit elongated) around each mounting hole.

Are these "recesses" deliberate or wear

005.jpg

I think those recesses are supposed to be there, for washers.

The rear hole is not for a normal BOLT clamping tight to the alternator, instead it should be a a sleeve over a bolt with the sleeve used as a pivot for the alternator to swing (to adjust tension in the fanbetl) but to allow the alternator rear fixing hole to slide to & fro on the sleeve as the alternator expands and contracts with heat.

As far as I am aware, the actual arrangement there should be a longish narrow bolt with a washer at its head, then the sleeve, then a washer then through the bracket hole then a washer then a nyloc nut.

If the alternator fixing cannot expand I suspect that in extreme circumstances it might crack the back plate of the alternator.

[AlfaLofa]

Thanks Bill - very interesting.

Has any one got a scan from the Parts List which shows the alternator fittings?

My Service Parts List only covers the generator/dynamo.

[jono]

..interesting stuff.

My alternator bracket looks nothing like any of these - anyone know the provenance (see piccy)?

Jon

[Elanman99]

..interesting stuff.

My alternator bracket looks nothing like any of these - anyone know the provenance (see piccy)?

Jon

Yes, Tecalemit Jackson Magnesium bracket that held their fuel pump, with the alternator as a by-product. If the one you have, has the pump mount sawn off it might be the one I used to own!

Ian

[Elanman99]

Update!

It IS my old bracket!

Ian

[pharriso]

This is the alternator mounting in the +2 parts manual:

Note that there is a different bracket on LHD vehicles due to the proximity of the steering column.

[pharriso]

Looks like this was discussed a couple of years ago as well - http://www.lotuselan.net/forums/lotus-electrical-f38/lhd-alternator-bracket-t24554.html

This bracket looks interesting - http://www.initracing.co.uk/product.php?selproid=72, not sure where the top hole bolts to though...

[AlfaLofa]

Phil,

I spotted this photo posted by S J Lambert which shows where the top bolt goes.

Here's a repro bracket on Ebay which looks up to the job:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181022126130

And here's the bolt:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181014820708