VW alternators

[1Hondalover]

Please offer some feedback. I have a 51 amp Bosch alternator on my 2165 baja bug. I need a bigger one to keep my two batteries up. I only want a new Bosch unit. I have heard the 95 amp does not last due to the increased and smaller windings and to use only the 75 amp.

What is the scoop?

[NIKAL]

Yes the 95 amp do go bad farely quick. It's not the small windings that cause it to go bad, it is the diodes that go bad. They get hot quick because of the larger winding and more power going out. When I was looking into it I talked to several people. I talked with a few race shops (ORW, Race Ready, Kartek) and I talked to a guy who rebuilds and modifies alternators, and he is who told me about the internal diodes. We use the 75 amp on the prerunner and the race car. We have had no problems with them. I do recommend blowing out the alternator once in a while. We blow ours out after every prerun and after every race. You wont believe the dirt and silt that comes out. Blowing out the alternator just becomes part of the prep.

[1Hondalover]

Thanks a bunch. Can you clarify "blowing the alternator out"? I assume you mean with an air gun but I don't remember seeing holes in my existing one to do this. Do you take it apart? If not where do you blow it out from?

Thanks.

[NIKAL]

Thanks a bunch. Can you clarify "blowing the alternator out"? I assume you mean with an air gun but I don't remember seeing holes in my existing one to do this. Do you take it apart? If not where do you blow it out from?


What I have done is just pull the pulley off the Alt. Behined the pully, the alternator has 3 or 4 openings to the windings. I use a air compressor and air nozzel. Keep the air tool a few inches away and blow out the dust. Depending on how bad the race was the back of the pulley can be packed full of dirt.

[1Hondalover]

Got it. Good idea. Thank you.

[ntsqd]

What I have done is just pull the pulley off the Alt. Behined the pully, the alternator has 3 or 4 openings to the windings. I use a air compressor and air nozzel. Keep the air tool a few inches away and blow out the dust. Depending on how bad the race was the back of the pulley can be packed full of dirt.

I drilled the flange on the pulley so that dirt can't build up in there.

(Note: Oh the irony, I was just replying to the Fatigue thread where I said not to put holes in anything!)