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Mini alternator
Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2012 12:40 pm
by Edward92
I'm sure i read something before of someone putting a mini alternator on their Minor but I couldn't find it on here, other than obviously the alternator what would I need to find the mini alternator onto my car?
Thanks
Edward
Re: Mini alternator
Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2012 12:51 pm
by chrisryder
All of the minor suppliers will do an alternator conversion kit. And you can probably get them without the alternator if you've already got one (or want to pick up a cheaper 2nd hand one). Key things are a different rear bracket (long, as the alternator is shorter), a bit of wiring loom to put into your existing wiring, and quite possibly a new fanbelt too. The best thing is, if you buy a kit, it will come with instructions!
The car will need to be negative earth to run an alternator, so you will need to convert if it's not already.
Re: Mini alternator
Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2012 1:18 pm
by Edward92
Couldn't see an alternator conversion that doesn't come without the alternator itself, does it just need the adjuster and mounting brackets and obviously the belt?
Thanks
Re: Mini alternator
Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2012 1:34 pm
by chrisryder
and the loom. Companies may not list the kit parts individually, but could be willing to sell the bits separately.
Re: Mini alternator
Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2012 1:44 pm
by Edward92
£30 for all the bits

Almost might as well just buy the full conversion kit lol
Thanks,
Edward
Re: Mini alternator
Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2012 7:26 pm
by bmcecosse
Get the alternator from a scrappy - bracket from A series Mini engine (or easy enough to make one up). The wiring is very simple - yes you may need a new shorter fan belt (825) - and the instructions are on this forum! First move - get hold of an alternator....or two.
Re: Mini alternator
Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2012 7:04 pm
by kennatt
tom roy do a bracket,and wiring harness ,if you find an alternator,MGB ones also fit(Don't ask how I know this).
Re: Mini alternator
Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2012 10:28 pm
by linearaudio
Vauxhall Cavalier ones will fit with a bit of ingenuity, too!!
If you are not too much a purist, get,as our Scots sage says, a secondhand Mini one(bear in mind that a new one is stupidly cheap, though!). If you can't get the correct mounting bracket, use your old one, with a long M8 bolt/nut and a selection of M10 nuts as packing spacers(this is the really cheap end of the scale!!). Most important is to make sure the pulley is close(ish) to in line with the existing driveline. Again, the odd washer as packing here and there will sort that out. Wire the two big terminals on the alternator to thebattery side of the starter solenoid-they are duplexed to carry more current than one terminal. The little terminal connects to the ignition warning light, on the "negative" side of it, ie: the other side of the bulb goes via the ignition switch to +12volts. 99.9% of people seem to need this connection via the bulb to "excite" the alternator and make it charge (doesn't excite me much, though).
The other 0.1% of people may also tend to never have ignition coil problems

Re: Mini alternator
Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2012 10:34 pm
by bmcecosse

To confirm that - last week-end after the back firing incidents, I noticed no red light on switch on - yet the alternator was charging perfectly, balancing any load that was asked of it. The wee wire had pulled off the alternator, presumably as the engine rocked about during the backfires........
Re: Mini alternator
Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2012 10:43 pm
by linearaudio
Sorry, thats another nail in my coffin then! Ps: Its scary but true about the vest and y-fronts, maybe we are
both being stalked??[frame]

[/frame]
Re: Mini alternator
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 11:33 am
by Edward92
Re: Mini alternator
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 8:59 pm
by bmcecosse
Neither of these is any use to you.......
Re: Mini alternator
Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 7:31 am
by kennatt
I repeat tom roys sells the brackets and wiring harness.