Alternator pulley explosion...

[johnb5177]

Hi Guys,
Well after 108511 miles, my alternator pulley just dismantled itself.......thankfully at low revs and crawling speed.......:doh

Question......is the pulley/bearing assembly a replaceable item, or is it a new replacement alternator?

Is it a pig to do.......:nenau

 

[rayf3262]

The pulley incorporates a sprag clutch that will freewheel on overrun.
I have changed them on other vehicles without problems.
You will need two spline tools though, one fits inside the centre collar and has a whole through the centre that allows a conventional long shaft spline tool (typically around 8mm) to lock the alternator shaft. Hope that makes sense?

The replacement for my Skoda IIRC was around £35 and the one on my Terrano looks near identical.

 

[johnb5177]

Ray,
Thank for the info....the spline tools.....are they a hire shop job, or are they tools a well equipped motor engineer would hold?

 

[rayf3262]

The tool that goes through the centre to the alternator shaft is a standard tool albeit with a long shaft.
The "odd" one looks like this, I think I got mine from a local motor factor for around a fiver. So the circa. 8mm tool will pass through the centre of this and locate in the end of the alternator shaft. Then with a 17mm ring spanner on the outer spline tool you can counter rotate the two and unscrew whats left of your pulley from the alternator. BTW you where lucky to catch it before it "let go" dramatically!

 

[rayf3262]

A thought has occurred to me, if you remove the alternator from the vehicle you could take it to an auto electrical specialist, they ought to fit a new pulley for a modest cost?
I chose not to remove the alternator from the Skoda as it appears to be a job more suited to a gynecologist!

 

[johnb5177]

Ray,
You're a star, thank you, I will copy the picture for reference, with your advice.
Thank you...:bow