Rover 75 Con CDTi Auto Tourer - Voltage reg and brush or new Alternator ?

[yellownev]

So.... got the back off the alternator and now have the regulator off. I'll post some advice on the hows on this later but for now looking for advice on the state of the slip rings on the armature....

What do we think, is it worth getting a new brush and regulator kit? There are groves in both ....but there is still copper - how thick is the copper ?

TIA

Nev

[marinabrian]

Originally Posted by yellownev

So.... got the back off the alternator and now have the regulator off. I'll post some advice on the hows on this later but for now looking for advice on the state of the slip rings on the armature....

What do we think, is it worth getting a new brush and regulator kit? There are groves in both ....but there is still copper - how thick is the copper ?

TIA

Nev

They don't look that bad, a quick clean up with some red scotchbrite, dusted off and dare I say it, what do the brushes look like on the regulator?

If you are a proper tightwad/recycling person like me, how about changing just the brushes?

Dead easy if you have a soldering iron, and a bit of mechanical nouse

LINK

Brian

[yellownev]

Thanks Brian,

The brushes look like this



Thats them fully out so I am hoping they are worn to the point of loosing contact ?

... now you have me thinking about just brush replacements

[marinabrian]

Originally Posted by yellownev

Thanks Brian,

The brushes look like this



Thats them fully out so I am hoping they are worn to the point of loosing contact ?

... now you have me thinking about just brush replacements

Yes, they are worn out

Compare to a new set........



Get a set of the ones I linked to , and change them before committing to a new regulator

The black plastic cap which covers the armature sliprings has another purpose, you remove it carefully prior to changing the brushes, but when the new brushes are in place, you depress them against their springs, and push the black cap almost home.

This retains the brushes in their retracted position, and after you bolt the regulator back onto the alternator, push it fully home and the brushes will spring out into position

Quite a clever design I thought, prevents the risk of breaking the brushes during the regulator fitting

Best of luck

Brian

[yellownev]

Typical, after troubling you for advice I find the godfather of threads for all things brush and regulator replacement/advice

Link here in case anyone comes this way for a solution

https://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/for...d.php?t=162641

Thanks for the responses to date - still to sort but confidence is high to get me going but I'll still seek a full alternator swap out as I recon the slip rings have limited life - 130k done on the original alternator.

[COLVERT]

Originally Posted by yellownev

Typical, after troubling you for advice I find the godfather of threads for all things brush and regulator replacement/advice

Link here in case anyone comes this way for a solution

https://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/for...d.php?t=162641

Thanks for the responses to date - still to sort but confidence is high to get me going but I'll still seek a full alternator swap out as I recon the slip rings have limited life - 130k done on the original alternator.

Those rings are definitely OK to re-use. Under normal conditions there is virtually NO slip ring wear. They only start to go when the brushes are so badly worn there is almost no pressure on the rings. ( The brushes start to arc and burn the rings. )
With new brushes you will be back almost to square one.

Save your money and fit new brushes as Brian, above, has said.---

[cb750chris]

Hi Nev,
I have only just seen this thread (slightly late to the thread then)
But if you are stuck, give me a shout - I am only down the road in Fareham, and can probably sort you out.

Oh, and at 130K, the rings are probably ok, mine are at 189K, and still going ok

Regards
Chris

[yellownev]

Originally Posted by cb750chris

Hi Nev,
I have only just seen this thread (slightly late to the thread then)
But if you are stuck, give me a shout - I am only down the road in Fareham, and can probably sort you out.

Oh, and at 130K, the rings are probably ok, mine are at 189K, and still going ok

Regards
Chris

Hi Chris,

If you can help it would be appreciated, have you access to a regulator? Tried the brush change and still not charging so i am working up the line now and need a regulator.... seems they are like hens teeth to get next day. Matt can get me one but next Wednesday - I need to do a 200 mile trip on Wednesday !! I am in West Ashling and have a bike... off to try one more avenue Superstart in Emsworth.

[yellownev]

Well I am thinking the alternator is Fubarr'd. Tried the new brushes nothing and today I have spent a nice couple of hours in a scrap yard down here taking the regulator off an 03 scrapper. Fitted it to mine and - nothing.

So I have either been unlucky with the scrap regulator ( unlikely) or I have a dead alternator - I was under the impression these things did not die easily.

Fed up with it now - I think it'll be a local garage to sort.

[klarzy]

Originally Posted by yellownev

Well I am thinking the alternator is Fubarr'd. Tried the new brushes nothing and today I have spent a nice couple of hours in a scrap yard down here taking the regulator off an 03 scrapper. Fitted it to mine and - nothing.

So I have either been unlucky with the scrap regulator ( unlikely) or I have a dead alternator - I was under the impression these things did not die easily.

Fed up with it now - I think it'll be a local garage to sort.

You have checked the fuse on the exciter side of the alternator circuit??