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Different plane, same fix



 
 
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  #1  
Old June 20th 07, 07:23 PM posted to rec.aviation.owning
Jay Masino
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 46
Default Different plane, same fix

Jay Honeck wrote:
I fixed that problem by spending an hour tracing all the electrical
lines, and tightening connections. The main culprit was a wire
connector that was screwed into the backside of the alternator with a
simple phillips screw -- no safety wire, no loc-tite, no nuthin'.
Looked like a ground wire to me, but I'm no mechanic.

SNIP
Anyway, what should I put on this stupid screw to stop it from
vibrating loose? LocTite? Another lock washer? There's no way to
safety wire it...


"Generally" there's only 2 wires on the alternator; the field wire from
the regulator, and the output. Ground is usually established through
the case of the alternator and associated bracket. If it was a
relatively thin wire, it was more likely that it was the field. If
that's the case, you defintely DON'T want to safety wire it. A fresh
lock washer, and if you absolutely must, a very small dab of Locktite.

There's always a chance that it was some sort of "extra" ground that
someone added, but if that being loose is causing a whine, it seems
like something else is also wrong (and the extra ground is covering it
up).

--- Jay


--

Jay Masino "Home is where My critters are"
http://www.JayMasino.com
http://www.OceanCityAirport.com
http://www.oc-Adolfos.com
  #3  
Old June 21st 07, 03:26 AM posted to rec.aviation.owning
Jim Carter[_1_]
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Posts: 403
Default Different plane, same fix

Since the locktite (judiciously applied) will only be on the threads,
wouldn't the compression of the wire or eyelet between the alternator body
and the screw head provide enough conductivity?

--
Jim Carter
Rogers, Arkansas
"David Lesher" wrote in message
...
(Jay Masino) writes:


"Generally" there's only 2 wires on the alternator; the field wire from
the regulator, and the output. Ground is usually established through
the case of the alternator and associated bracket. If it was a
relatively thin wire, it was more likely that it was the field. If
that's the case, you defintely DON'T want to safety wire it. A fresh
lock washer, and if you absolutely must, a very small dab of Locktite.



I disagree; many alternators I've seen have an added ground wire.
The engine sits on rubber motor mounts, you see...

Jac surely knows the difference between a wire screwed to the case;
and one going to a terminal...

Jay: I'm not thrilled with the locktite idea. Insulation is the last
thing you want & loctite is no conductor. You want a screwhead of some
kind that you can a) put new sharp-toothed lockwashers on. b) you can
safety wire down.

Now, where to find same is an exercise for the student....



--
A host is a host from coast to
& no one will talk to a host that's close........[v].(301) 56-LINUX
Unless the host (that isn't close).........................pob 1433
is busy, hung or dead....................................20915-1433



  #4  
Old June 21st 07, 05:18 PM posted to rec.aviation.owning
David Lesher
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Posts: 224
Default Different plane, same fix

"Jim Carter" writes:

Since the locktite (judiciously applied) will only be on the threads,
wouldn't the compression of the wire or eyelet between the alternator body
and the screw head provide enough conductivity?


Your belief in the ability to control the locktite's meandering exceeds
mine...
--
A host is a host from coast to
& no one will talk to a host that's close........[v].(301) 56-LINUX
Unless the host (that isn't close).........................pob 1433
is busy, hung or dead....................................20915-1433
  #5  
Old June 21st 07, 12:27 PM posted to rec.aviation.owning
Jay Masino
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Posts: 46
Default Different plane, same fix

David Lesher wrote:
I disagree; many alternators I've seen have an added ground wire.
The engine sits on rubber motor mounts, you see...


Most aircraft have a heavy "battery cable" (for lack of a better
description) connecting the engine case to the airframe. Because of
this, the rubber lord mounts are generally irrelevent.

Jay surely knows the difference between a wire screwed to the case;
and one going to a terminal...


Not necessarily.


--- Jay


--

Jay Masino "Home is where My critters are"
http://www.JayMasino.com
http://www.OceanCityAirport.com
http://www.oc-Adolfos.com
  #6  
Old June 21st 07, 05:41 PM posted to rec.aviation.owning
David Lesher
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 224
Default Different plane, same fix

(Jay Masino) writes:

I disagree; many alternators I've seen have an added ground wire.
The engine sits on rubber motor mounts, you see...


Most aircraft have a heavy "battery cable" (for lack of a better
description) connecting the engine case to the airframe. Because of
this, the rubber lord mounts are generally irrelevent.


So do cars, but.... The only grounds you KNOW will never vibrate loose,
get corroded, you name it.. are the ones that don't exist.

The alternator is bolted down to the block, surely that's good enough,
right? May I introduce you to a gentleman named Murphy?

A classic Car-Talk "stump the chumps" type question involved now-25+yo
MOPARs. [Think fully size Plymouth Fury, etc.]

Why do the headlights get BRIGHTER when you step on the clutch or the
brakes? The engine-to-frame bond was failing. The drivetrain was mostly
isolated by rubber mounts BUT the clutch fork etc. was a substitute
path. Applying the brakes made drum contact and there was a parking brake
cable, you see... I've even heard that the current through same would eat
the driveshaft U-joint bearings.

The alternator noise he described is symptomatic of two possible causes:

a) Bad alternator diodes.

b) ground grief: either a missing one, or an added one in a audio circuit
[aka ground loop].

I always think "grounds" first thing when some talks of noise...



Jay surely knows the difference between a wire screwed to the case;
and one going to a terminal...


Not necessarily.


Well, I'll keep my faith in him for now.


[Do aircraft installations of his vintage even use screw terms for
field/aux alternator connections? Autos have used latched plugs for
decades with only the large high current output wire being a stud &
lug...]


--
A host is a host from coast to
& no one will talk to a host that's close........[v].(301) 56-LINUX
Unless the host (that isn't close).........................pob 1433
is busy, hung or dead....................................20915-1433
  #7  
Old June 21st 07, 06:34 PM posted to rec.aviation.owning
Jay Masino
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 46
Default Different plane, same fix

David Lesher wrote:
[Do aircraft installations of his vintage even use screw terms for
field/aux alternator connections? Autos have used latched plugs for
decades with only the large high current output wire being a stud &
lug...]



It's a screw terminal.

--- Jay



--

Jay Masino "Home is where My critters are"
http://www.JayMasino.com
http://www.OceanCityAirport.com
http://www.oc-Adolfos.com
  #8  
Old June 21st 07, 06:53 PM posted to rec.aviation.owning
RST Engineering
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,147
Default Different plane, same fix

You will find that most modern aircraft designs and installations are the
best that 1940s technology can provide.

Jim

--
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today."
--James Dean



David Lesher wrote:
[Do aircraft installations of his vintage even use screw terms for
field/aux alternator connections? Autos have used latched plugs for
decades with only the large high current output wire being a stud &
lug...]



 




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