We just bought a C36 #432, an I am trying to get various things fixed. Discovered that the New style Alt. bracket was broken, behind the mounting tab next to the exhaust manifold. The boat came with an old Balmar 9110 alternator and it was very sloppy in the mounting bolt. We are going to fabricate a heavier mount, but was wondering if anyone else has had bracket problems... or is my alternator too big?
Alex H
C36 #432 SR
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Alex H.
SV Alexanne, 1985 #432 SR
SF Marina Bay YH
Alex
I don't know if you have an XP or a m25' I have a m25 hull 226 but I was told when I replaced my alternator not to go above 80~90 amp because it would put to much strain on the engine. I don't know how true that was but with that size amp I haven't had any problems. I'm sure that other folks have better insight but that all I know as forest gump would say.
Regards
Mike Hogan
s/v Ciscocat #226
Mark I XP25, std rig
Alex,
1. Alternator bracket: [url]http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5078.msg31106.html#msg31106[/url]
2. Alternator size: we have a 100A alternator on our M25. We use a 3/8" Gates belt (source is Napa). Works just fine. The OUTPUT of the alternator is based on the size of the battery bank and its acceptance.
3. You NEED to get the right BOLTS to mount the new bracket, it comes with SAE bolts, but needs metric. Check this out: [url]http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5127.0.html[/url]
Stu Jackson, C34IA Secretary, C34 #224, 1986, SR/FK, M25 engine, Rocna 10 (22#)
Thank you both for the information. I was aware of the bolt problem which may have started the problem with this alternator. The hole in the alt bracket is oval in the front from being cocked so long and was probably vibrating which caused the bracket to fail. The bracket failing doesn't appear to be a problem... we are beefing up the new one just in case will send some pics when it is done.
Alex H
Alexanne #432 SR
S F Bay
Alex H.
SV Alexanne, 1985 #432 SR
SF Marina Bay YH
Thought I'd break into this discussion to ask some questions....
Stu: I'm just into my second season with our 1985 C36 MK1. It has the original alternator and bracket on the M-25 Universal (Kubota) engine. Last season I'd had issues with the mounting bolts and belt tension. Bolts were replaced and the new belt re-tensioned. Yesterday, while sailing, the alternator mount broke away from the engine gear casing, leaving a one inch hole in the top of the casing.
Today's research leads me to think it would be best to replace the gear casing and install the bracket conversion kit.
Suggestions, Stu?? I'm not a mechanic, although I am handy and do most of my own work. Is removal/replacement of the front gear casing complicated, and are there any hidden issues that requires a mechanics touch? Is there a step by step for either job, replacing the casing and adding the modified bracket?
Your comments would be appreciated....thanks.
Paul Lipsit
Zatarra1
1985 C36Mk1
Paul Lipsit,
Zatarra #406
1985 C36 Mk1 S/R F/K
M-25 Universal Kubota
Port Dover, Ontario
Paul, sorry to hear about your problems. If you read the link in Item #1 of my Reply #3 in this thread, when you click on that link, simply scroll up to the top of that page, and there are other links to the Alternator Bracket replacement work. In my experience from 1998 or 99 the gear case thank goodness was not broken, because the oil filter was in the way and got cracked. Kinda a "good news, bad news" deal! :)
I've read of some folks trying to repair the aluminum gear case cover (probably on the Ericson Forum, and there's even a nice skipper over there who refuses to do the upgrade in spite of a number of us, including Maine Sail, who have been writing about this for over 15 years!!!:eek::eek::eek:). If it was my boat, I'd simply bite the bullet and replace it. Get it from a Kubota tractor dealer. If you look at the parts in your engine manual (or on the Torreson website [url]www.marinedieseldirect.com[/url]), it seems the gear case cover is pretty straightforward, just use the right size sockets, IIRC they're metric.
Does this answer your questions? If not, let me know. Good luck.
Stu Jackson, C34IA Secretary, C34 #224, 1986, SR/FK, M25 engine, Rocna 10 (22#)
The gear case on our boat was welded. If you have the piece you may be able to epoxy it back in place. It normally carries no load and I think it is worth a try... If it doesn't work you can still replace the case. The new style bracket on our boat was broken so we fabricated one using heavier material (1/4" I think) It was holding a 100A balmar and with the wrong size bolts it vibrated too much and I think that is what broke it.
Alex H.
SV Alexanne, 1985 #432 SR
SF Marina Bay YH
Paul:
I had to remove and replace the gear case on my 1985 M25 in order to replace a broken water flange. It was pretty easy (once I used a 5 gallon joint compound bucket as a stool).
The only tool I did not own was a gear puller to remove the main pulley from the driveshaft. I was able to borrow this from my local Autozone store. The Universal M25 is based on the Kubota D850. I have parts manuals for both the Kubota and the Universal engines and just identified the parts I needed in both manuals and ordered by the Kubota part numbers from an outfit called GCIRON.com
I can send you the Kubota D850 parts manual PDF if you would like. Note that the Kubota D950 is used for the M25XP and many parts are identical as those used in the M25, but as I recall the gear case housings have a different appearance in the M25XP/D950.
Michael & Jayne O'Neill * Steadfast * 1985 C36 #372 * Salem, MA
Paul, I'm not personally familiar with the manuals you C36 skippers have here on your website. We have some here that may help, please note that Westerbeke now has some online, too. The link to that is included in the one below.
[url]http://www.c34.org/wiki/index.php?title=Manuals[/url]
Stu Jackson, C34IA Secretary, C34 #224, 1986, SR/FK, M25 engine, Rocna 10 (22#)