Dumb Questions about Alternators - 512TR

Funny, neither the TR nor 512 TR WSMs show how to remove the alternator. The 512 TR WSM does say GM 140-amp for the alternator.

 

You can remove the alternator with the engine in the car. The grille and body trim at the front of the engine compartment need to be removed in order to access the alternator. It's not that much fun. Most people lose/drop the shim washer on the mounting bolt when they remove the alternator and fail to replace it during the install.

 

Do you have to remove the alternator to replace the brushes and the regulator? Our cars do not see many miles, so chances are the bearings and the rectifier diodes are still good, so replacing the regulator and brushes should be good enough.

While you are there a higher voltage regulator could be a good idea if the car was upgraded with an AGM or SpiralWound battery.

 

Rectifier diodes are the highest risk part in a Ferrari alternator. With lower mileage the bearings and brushes have a very easy life.

Oh I forgot, its a Delco the whole thing is of questionable quality. Ferrari got cheap and quit buying good alternators from Bosch.

 

Whenever it's possible, I'd rather start replacing the brushes and regulator without removing the alternator. If the bearing or the rectifier bridge are toast, servicing the alternator is going to be quite a lot of work, and it's probably better to let a pro do it (while being there he will also true the collector). In this case dropping the alternator is the only way.

This being said testing an alternator is quite easy. If you see Alternative Current with a voltmeter, the diodes are toast (they do not rectify the AC to DC). If you do not have sufficient voltage output at 1500rpm, regulator, brushes or collector have to be serviced. If it's noisy, bearings need to be replaced.

 

Have you looked at the alternator on a Testarossa or a 512TR? You are not going to be replacing any parts on the alternator, because it is virtually impossible to do so with the alternator mounted in the car. On the Bosch alternator on a Testarossa, there is a black plastic air cooling duct that mounts to the back of the alternator, preventing access to the regulator/brush-pack.
The 512TR uses a Delco alternator that must be disassembled to access the regulator and brushes inside the unit.

 

No. I only serviced bosh alternators and not on a flat 12. There was a question mark on my initial request...