meybe fit alternator to my mm sidevalve

[joe clark]

so i guess this has been done by someone,i know we should try for origonality but i,m more for reliability.anyway if this is my winter project i would welcome any advice bareing in mind the sidevalve runs a heavier fanbelt. i can make up brackets to fit any alternator .do they charge in any direction? thanks for looking Joe[frame][/frame]

[MarkyB]

Dynamos are very reliable and more resilient than alternators.
Are you planning on fitting several electric accessories?

[lambrettalad]

I have to disagree they both have there own advantages / disadvantages.

Standard then dynamo is ok for normal use but if lots of cold wet night time driving (high load) then an alternator is the best bet ,

good luck with whatever you choose

[joe clark]

cold wet night time driving in my mm,no heater,i should coco,not a chance but on a couple of occasions its 60 year old regulater has stuck and drained battery completly then the dynamo wants to take a hundred miles to charge it up again.reckon alt,r is going to make me want to drive it again

[bmcecosse]

All you need really is a new regulator box - or clean the points in the one you have...... But by all means fit an alternator - however they are not any more reliable than a good old dynamo..... 'Stuck closed' regulator points should not have drained the battery - as long as the engine was spinning the dynamo.......

[smithskids]

I am in the process of making an adaptor to try an alternator on my sidevalve. I used to run it with an alternator when I had the 1380 engine in it.

[bmcecosse]

You will of course remember to convert to -ve earth........

[mike.perry]

I run my Series MM day and night with a C39 dynamo with spot lights, heater, electric washers, indicators/trafficators and sundry other electrics. Fit an ammeter and you can keep an eye on the charge/discharge and switch something off if necessary.
The alternator uses a narrow fan belt so you would have to change the water pump and crankshaft pulleys and also try to make a bracket for the alternator.
I mount my battery charger on brackets on the garage wall so that I can just lift the bonnet and connect the leads to charge the battery occasionally
Besides an alternator would look completely out of place.
I have an alternator on my 68 Traveller

[bmcecosse]

Just fit a B section pulley on the alternator......

[joe clark]

well will try a change of regulater first if i can pick up the right one at the right price,fitting an alternator cant be too hard,and no prob,s with water pump,my car doesnt have one .it only gets used fair weather but i do need it to be reliable