The boat was able to get 14 years out of the original alternator on my M35AC engine.
Universal part 302280
I had it rebuilt in September of 2010 and after about 120 hours, it is about shot.
I would have thought a rebuild would last longer. I am thinking of replacing the alternator instead of going through a rebuild again.
I noticed that the Universal Part is no longer made and Westerbeke has replaced it with part 42847 at a very proud price of almost $600.
ARCO makes a 55amp, internal regulator, alternator (part 60050) for about $200.
Questions...
1. Has anyone gone with a 3rd party (internal regulator) alternator for the M35A engine? What did you use? Part Number?
2. Are there any physical size issues that you ran into?
3. What is making the Westerbeke Alternator worth $400 more, other than it says Westerbeke on the side?
We are typically day sailors with only a handfull of single nights on the hook so I don't think that I need a more powerful alternator (external regulation) set up.
Thanks for any help.
Jack
Solstice
Hull #1598
1996 MKII/TR/FK - M35AC - 3 Blade MaxProp
Lake Texoma
The only desireable feature of an alternator - other than it includes regulator and 50+ AMPS - is that it produces no spark. Since the engine is in a confined enclosure and there may be explosive fumes both in this compartement or in the cabin itself due to use of the LP of CNG it would be good to know that there is no spark. I am not sure that this will cost so much more though.
The replacement of the alternator should match the original AMPS or be very close to it. I have heard that some owners relpace them with a 110AMP alternator - but the energy has to come out of somehwere and it comes out of the the engine. It also is hard on the belt as it has more load than it was originally designed for.
Haro Bayandorian, 1999 C36 MKII, Sail La Vie #1787, M35B,
Coyote Point, San Mateo, CA.
Jack, No reason to buy a $600 alternator, either from Universal or Balmar.
[url]http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5686.0.html[/url] Goto page 2, reply #16, by Maine Sail. He's written a similar more detailed post on catalinaowners.com, too.
If you're only daysailing, a simple internally regulated alternator will do you just fine, same amperage as what you have, OEMs were 55A.
Plus if you get a bigger alternator, you start getting to larger wires and the rest.
Keep it simple, and enjoy the season.
Stu Jackson, C34IA Secretary, C34 #224, 1986, SR/FK, M25 engine, Rocna 10 (22#)
Thanks Stu for your input and reassurance that 51amp for low use will work.
I just "stumbled" on that page a few minutes ago and was getting ready to update my initial post. Great thread over there.
BTW Prestolite Leece Neville part 8MR2091KSS (110-686) is the active part number for the 51amp internal regulator alternator. I ordered it and should have by the weekend. It was about $190.00 + "gotta have it by the weekend" shipping through ASE Supply.
[url]http://www.ase-supply.com/Leece_Neville_110_686_12_V_51_amp_ALTERNATOR_p...
One year warranty for "normal opperation." I guesss that means as long as it was not hooked up improperly.
Thanks again.
Jack
Solstice
Hull #1598
1996 MKII/TR/FK - M35AC - 3 Blade MaxProp
Lake Texoma
www.texomasailing.org