KaiB

Prepping for a race this weekend, I did a cold oil change on Saturday.

I rarely let my car lope at idle, but it was cold and after the change I did so to allow pressure to build up and the engine to warm just a bit.

At the engine, I heard the tinyest intermittent squeak, only discernable at the very low rpm and almost let it go, but....

Called Weiner instead. He relayed to me the fact that one never knows, but if the alternator bearings (or fan bearing if you don't have the RS pulley) go at the wrong time, of course the fan will beat into it shroud.

$$$$$. Pulled the alternator and sure enough, there is the tinyest play in the shaft. Steve has a new re-build on its way to me and I'll have time to get it in before I head to TX to race.

PLEASE add this to your list of general maintenance. Listen every now and then for the grunching and feel the fan out for any radial play. No big deal and it could help someone save big dollars later.

Cheers, KB (and no, I don't toss my used oil into the back pond!)

Zingari

Yep had a small whine just before I planned to take a 1000 mile trip. I decided to cancel and wait for a new bearing to be fitted.

RW964

Hey Kai funny you should bring this up my housing is on the garage floor and painted ready to go back on the car in the next few days. I was driving down the street and heard a tink tink tink got to the house and the fan had aready hit the shroud so a new fan and blasted the shroud new paint cleaned fan I am ready to put it all back together. I never knew it was going bad till I heard it hitting the shroud.

Goughary

just did mine with a rebuilt unit from pelican - what a difference - mine had play but also wasnt generating enough current...

HalV

Thanks Kai! Something else to check this winter when i change my belts.

RSAErick

Oh man, good catch. Definitely worth checking out. Thanks for the heads up.

Lorenfb

"Pulled the alternator and sure enough, there is the tinyest play in the shaft."

That's normal, i.e. all bearings have some 'play'. Most likely it's not the
alternator bearings but the fan bearing which has a higher failure rate.
The other possibility is that the alternator shaft has been damaged
because of an over-tightened alternator belt/belts.

Steve Weiner-Rennsport Systems

Be aware that Kai's engine has a single belt conversion on it.

BillyB

My alternator failed last weekend, in northern France on the way home from the 'Ring and Spa (at least it didn't fail on the way there!) and my garage noticed play in the bearings while they were replacing it. It must be a 'time of life' thing.

KaiB

Yes, I have the Rothsport RS pulley, and no, the play was definite, combined with the tiny squeal and the fact that this engine lives at 6000rpm when its running...and if my coarse and calloused hands can feel it,

...led me to do an immediate replacement.

Why play with possible fire. Same thing with all maintenance items, they get replaced before they fail. Bearings and axles come this winter. Everything else on the car is on schedule and done.

joey bagadonuts

Thanks for posting, Kai. I documented my recent run in with this issue and have been meaning to share.

As some of you may have noticed, I just sold my C2 racer. But before handing off the beast to its new owner, it managed to provide me with one last DIY project. As you'll see, it's not something that would've gotten past the most lax PPI.



Only 31K miles on the original


That special tool

christallon

Damn Joey,

Thought I was in France listening to cathedral bells. Thanks for the DIY and the cool video. BTW, I'm still loving the coco mats. They get many compliments!

Thanks for the heads up Kai! Good luck out there in Texas!!!!

Chris

KaiB

Thanks Chris, we expect another lap record in GT3S...

...if I can get enough beer down before the race.

kos11-12

Thanks, good to know !

joey bagadonuts