Date: 5 February 2018. Alternator
Bracket Pattern (how to)
© janice142
If I had a
dollar for every Good Idea that has ever crossed my mind, I would be
rich. When it comes to alternators I've had more than my fair share
of ideas. Some worked well and others didn't. One success I had was
with the pattern I created for my new, larger alternator. Here's how
I did it for less than a dollar.
First of
all, "everyone" says get a bigger alternator. So I did.

My friend Rich over on the east coast sent me a 55 amp alternator.
It replaced the dinky one that came with my 18hp Kubota. You met
Rich in the
Time Stopped
article. He's a right nice boater.
The original ALTERNATOR BRACKET
ATTACHMENT:

The problem was that when I upsized to the 55 amp
alternator, the rinky-dink original bracket broke. Then I went by
Lizotte's Welding shop (phone 727-343-7690) where I discussed the
problem with Todd.
This is Todd
↓

Rather than pay to have a whole new arched alternator
bracket made from scratch, it was suggested I buy one. Then with a
pattern Lizotte's Welding shop could alter the store-bought version
to fit my engine.
That's when I headed over to the Napa (phone: 727-545-3327) auto parts
store. This is Chip
↓ from Napa.

Chip at Napa had what I needed in stock.
To make a pattern I needed a stiff
material. I have used cardboard. It bends.
Fortunately I had in my Stash of Stuff a spare package of flexible
chopping mats.

Flexible cutting
boards aka chopping mats should be a part of your spare parts
inventory. A set contains two. For just a buck at the Dollar Tree,
this item fits my budget. Having a spare package
is a Good Idea.
First I got out the alternator bracket I bought from
Napa.

I traced the bracket onto one chopping mat.
Then I cut out the arch.

I also traced the ATTACHMENT
POINT on the engine block at one end of my pattern.

Old bracket, new pattern:

A quick trip to Lizotte's Welding netted me a custom
sized BRACKET that will fit my 55 amp
alternator.

The welder at Lizotte's was impressed with my
pattern. It was stiff with precise edges. Best of all, the chopping
mat was very easy for me to handle and resize. I could easily cut
it. When the first iteration was not-so-good, I had plenty of
material so made a second one.
The plastic pattern and Napa store
bracket was dropped off at the welding shop. The following day the
customized piece was
ready for pick-up. I'm not sure now how much I paid Lizotte's to
have this piece welded to my specifications.
It works so that is what counts
most of all. I wanted a way to
rapidly charge my battery bank even
while using high draw items.
Now, I've got it.
Side Note:
If you've been wondering I have completely uploaded my website
to a new server. Thank goodness I had the bandwidth for all
those pictures. There are over 5500 files, so having a Verizon
tablet with wifi was a true blessing.
I'm going to recover from
the mind-numbing verifications (confirming file locations, etc.)
and the day after tomorrow will hopefully have finished the Rest
of the Story. That part is not pretty. Sigh. |
To you and yours, happy boating. This part of the alternator project
worked perfectly.
When making patterns, what material do you use?
And, have you successfully upsized your alternator?
COMMENTS:
© 2018, 2020
Categories: Characters,
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In the Bilges,
Locations,
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