[T3] Generator ... again

[Jim Adney]

On 30 Sep 2012 at 8:53, Bobsnotch at aol.com wrote:

> Also, IF you have seen the ad and write up from Chico (converting to  an 
> alternator), be advised that you'll have to adjust the mounting brackets, as  
> they set them up for the earlier (and smaller diameter) 6 volt fan housing, 
> and  not the later 12 volt housing. This is more of that Hot VWs not doing 
> their job  completely. And while the adjustment is minor, for 250+, you 
> really shouldn't  have to adjust anything.

In my opinion, most alternator conversions are done for the "street 
cred" as Dave once put it. There's little real advantage and it's a 
whole lot of trouble and expense involved. Generators give very 
little trouble, but, yes, it does take a sound understanding of 
electricity to sort out problems with them.

I have a note on diagnosing charging system problems if anyone cares 
to ask for it. You'll need a voltmeter and know how to use it.

> Like Jim, I'd rather see them remove the guts of the bug generator, and put 
>  those parts into a t-3 generator. The biggest expense would be cutting the 
>  armature to fit the t-3 generator housing.

I'm not sure that would work. I seem to recall trying that once and 
finding that the commutator didn't end up in the right place. Even if 
it did, the armature might not work well, since it was wound for a 
different direction of rotation. (I'm not sure about this, but I have 
a beetle armature downstairs that I can look at for comparison.)

If you look at the generator housings, you'll see an arrow that 
indicates the designed direction of rotation. If you try to run it 
the other way it will work, but poorly: low output.

And the machining of the shaft would have to include cutting down the 
drive end, putting new threads on it, and adding the Woodruff key 
slot. Yes, pretty expensive. Chances are you can still buy a new Type 
3 armature from Bosch for the same money.


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Jim Adney, jadney at vwtype3.org
Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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