246 Alternator saver just finished: Introducing the D3S | FerrariChat
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246 Alternator saver just finished: Introducing the D3S

Discussion in '206/246' started by Nuvolari, Jan 9, 2013.

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  1. Nuvolari

    Nuvolari F1 Veteran
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    Rob C.
    #1 Nuvolari, Jan 9, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Some of you may be aware of a design weakness on the Dino engine where the cam chain tensioner can leak oil on the alternator causing it to fail. For those of you who do not know here is a thread on the subject:

    http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=303052&highlight=alternator+drip

    Whether or not you have experienced this problem, it is prone to happen and you will not know it is going on until your alternator has failed often leaving you stranded. Alternator re-builds are expensive and are time consuming to replace so protecting it was of high priority to me.

    After a bunch of prototypes and lots of head scratching we were able to come up with the D3S (Dino Deadly Drip Saver). It installs in minutes right on the car and directs an oil leak to under the car rather than on the alternator. This way your warning that something is wrong will not be a failed alternator and dead battery but rather a (or additional :)) leak under the car.

    Lastly for the concours crowd, once installed it is invisible as it is covered by the oil cooler and surrounding hardware. For the ultra paranoid of judges it can be removed just as easy as it went on.

    We made a small batch of them and plan to sell them on www.dino246.com for about $50 with full installation instructions. Much cheaper than a tow or fried alternator and we will have them online in the next couple of days.
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  2. Jamie H

    Jamie H Formula 3
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    #2 Jamie H, Jan 9, 2013
    very cool guys !!! Put me down fer one !!
     
  3. HMB-Dino

    HMB-Dino Formula 3
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    #3 HMB-Dino, Jan 10, 2013
    Rob, I experienced the very same issue last summer prior to Concorso Italiano. I was having charging issues (ammeter was almost never reading positive) and this problem was discovered while my Dino was in the shop for pre-Concorso work. Fortunately I was never stranded, but it required my alternator to be rebuilt, which was an unexpected add-on to my already large bill.

    I will show this to my mechanic to see if he did anything special to avoid the problem from happening again. If not, I'll take one too (and he may be interested in some also).
     
  4. Nuvolari

    Nuvolari F1 Veteran
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    #4 Nuvolari, Jan 10, 2013
    Thank you for the story and the interest Ron. It is good to hear you caught it before being left on the side of the road.

    This is one of those things that unless you live it or are told of it you will never know until it catches you and the repair is costly. What's the old saying 'an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure'
     
  5. UroTrash

    UroTrash Four Time F1 World Champ
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    #5 UroTrash, Jan 10, 2013
    I want one!
     
  6. shross

    shross Karting
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    Sep 11, 2005
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    Calgary, Alberta
    #6 shross, Jan 10, 2013
    I have just finished reinstalling my alternator after a $400+ repair. It stemmed from oil leaking from the chain tensioner - go figure. You can't see where the oil is leaking from until you dig in there enough and remove enough other stuff to see that it's the chain tensioner.

    So, I have reserved one and I think all Dino owners should treat this as really smart preventative maintenance. Mind you, when you go to install the shield, you'll be able to see that your chain tensioner is leaking just like all the other ones so why not fix it at the same time. Cost of parts was about $4.00!
     
  7. Crawler

    Crawler F1 Veteran

    Jul 2, 2006
    5,018
    #7 Crawler, Jan 10, 2013
    If I still had my Dino I would definitely purchase one!

    (How's that for a testimonial?)
     
  8. champtc

    champtc Formula Junior

    Apr 18, 2004
    732
    #8 champtc, Jan 10, 2013
    I have had the same problem and it was a pain to fix and even after re-sealing the cam chain tightener it still leaks. I would like to buy two of them please. I am pulling my motor this very weekend to attend to this problem! Thanks
     
  9. UroTrash

    UroTrash Four Time F1 World Champ
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    #9 UroTrash, Jan 10, 2013
    Get one for yer mate too!
     
  10. mullin

    mullin Formula Junior
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    #10 mullin, Jan 10, 2013
    Put me down for one also.
    I just received your shop coat and I promise to wear it while installing the D3S.
     
  11. Jamie H

    Jamie H Formula 3
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    #11 Jamie H, Jan 10, 2013
    yep already covered
     
  12. Nuvolari

    Nuvolari F1 Veteran
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    #12 Nuvolari, Jan 10, 2013
    Jamie you are local so I have set your stuff aside :)

    Everyone else the D3S is now up for sale in our store at www.dino246.com

    We have also added some other restoration items and more sticker choices. Lastly we are starting to run out of swag items so combine your order and get any shirts or hats you may want because when they are gone they are gone for good.
     
  13. champtc

    champtc Formula Junior

    Apr 18, 2004
    732
    #13 champtc, Jan 11, 2013
    i was thinking about this last night...what if it leaks behind the flange rather than at the seal or where the studs come out? it seems that mine leaked at the flange to the head...any thoughts?
     
  14. GermanDino

    GermanDino F1 Rookie

    Aug 14, 2007
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    #14 GermanDino, Jan 11, 2013
    the two alternator decals look just perfect, thanks for making them
    regards Matthias
     
  15. Nuvolari

    Nuvolari F1 Veteran
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    #15 Nuvolari, Jan 11, 2013
    Last edited: Jan 11, 2013
    A leak behind the flange between the tensioner body and the head is possible but highly unlikely. Leaks can come from anywhere of course but in this assembly 99% of the time your leak will come from either the o-ring inside the tensioner or the bolt on the end both of which are poor designs in the first place. Even a tensioner with brand new seals is prone to leak. If the tensioner base behind the flange has a quality gasket (like the green OEM style) then there is no reason for it to fail.

    The D3S is targeted at the main design flaw which is the tensioner cap assembly. This will cover almost all oil drip related alternator failures.
     
  16. Nuvolari

    Nuvolari F1 Veteran
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    #16 Nuvolari, Jan 11, 2013
    Thank you Matthias. To those who missed it he is referring to decals we had made for the alternator and alternator relay. Also available in our store. Images and descriptions available here: http://dino246blog.blogspot.ca/
     
  17. Italian Lover

    Italian Lover Formula Junior

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    #17 Italian Lover, Jan 11, 2013
    Hello Rob: As a Dino owner, an offer one cannot refuse ! Please put me on for one !
    Altho I am located in Japan, I can ask the D3S to be shipped to my friend's place in Long Beach, CA. since I would be there in several weeks, I hope. Should I just go to the directed site to order ? Thanx in advance.

    w/ smiles

    Jimmy
     
  18. rynoshark

    rynoshark Formula 3
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    #18 rynoshark, Jan 11, 2013
    Dripping oil killed my alternator as well...I just ordered one to protect my rebuilt alternator from suffering the same fate again.
     
  19. Pantdino

    Pantdino Formula 3

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    #19 Pantdino, Jan 13, 2013
    Being realistic, what has to be removed to get enough access to install this?
    Is it installed from the side after removing the inner fender liner, or from below?

    Thank you,


    Jim
     
  20. Nuvolari

    Nuvolari F1 Veteran
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    #20 Nuvolari, Jan 13, 2013
    Installation really depends on how good you are at working blind. I can feel my way to install one of these from the top without removing anything. It is hard but possible. The D3S only goes in one way and you can do it by feel. More realistically you can install it from below without removing anything but do need to jack the car or put it on a lift. The slow way is to take off the right rear wheel, and inner fender liner which will give you a fairly clear view at what you are doing. Installation involves the loosening of one nut only, sliding the part in place, and re-tightening the nut. What I do suggest is doing it on a STONE COLD car as your hands will be close to hot stuff otherwise.
     
  21. Nuvolari

    Nuvolari F1 Veteran
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    #21 Nuvolari, Jan 13, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Thank you all for the orders so far and everything will ship tomorrow. As a sneak peek I do want to share something super cool my wife did. She made the instruction sheet to perfectly mimic a period correct Ferrari technical service bulletin with correct looking drawings and even the same writing style and salutations. We joked that 40 years from now there may be people replicating D3S's thinking that they are period correct with documentation to prove it :)
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  22. Pantdino

    Pantdino Formula 3

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    #22 Pantdino, Jan 13, 2013
    Sounds like something I can do, so I ordered one.
    Thanks for your efforts!!

    Jim O
     
  23. TonyL

    TonyL F1 Rookie

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    #23 TonyL, Jan 14, 2013
    What about bamk notes, i have a few you can copy.

    Looks great but you need the odd spelling mistake to make it truly ...authemtico
     
  24. Italian Lover

    Italian Lover Formula Junior

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    #24 Italian Lover, Jan 14, 2013
    PM sent, Nuvolari. Thank You.

    Boy, the caligraphy and the isometric diagram reminds me of my days back in architecture !
    Very neat !

    w/ smiles

    Jimmy
     
  25. Pantdino

    Pantdino Formula 3

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    #25 Pantdino, Mar 3, 2013
    I installed my D3S yesterday and it went pretty well-- only one "bad word" muttered, as I recall, which is good for me. :)

    I have a low rise lift and using a creeper I could actually see the nut to be loosened-- from one precise position -- with one eye-- which helped in loosening it.

    However, as you install the thing it blocks your view of the nut, so it ends up being a blind operation. At one point it didn't want to go on (probably when the bad word was muttered) so I had to look with my flexible digital inspection camera thing from above to see what was wrong, but then it went on OK

    I have long, thin arms and was actually able to get both arms up there during the process.

    It looked to me like the edge of the device would still drip oil onto the header, so I fit a piece of aluminum dryer vent tubing to surround the edge and direct the oil to the ground.

    I had the alternator rebuilt fairly recently, but there was in fact a fair amount of oil on it already. Actually I was happy to see it was from the tensioner, as I had noticed some smoke from oil on the forward header lately and was fearing having to redo the cam cover gasket / seal. It was fine.

    I definitely recommend this device.

    Thanks for developing it!!
     

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