Problem with auto alternators

I had a ski buddy in the 50's that had a 2-cycle Saab. He liked to park
uphill and coast backward in a forward gear and pop the clutch. Then he had
several reverse gears and one forward.

It reminds me of my favorite episode on "Candid Camera." They had a
beautiful buxom blonde trying to park a big car in a supermarket parking
lot. She was having problems and would ask men to help her park. Well, these
guys would swagger up to help the poor miss out, except, the crew had
reversed the steering somehow......so left was right. It was hilarious.

Karl
"Curator" N185KG


" wrote in message
oups.com...
On installations with rear mount alternators like Cont io/o 470s
in Skylanes, and such, the alternator turns backwards. There
is a special pulley with the fan fins in the opposite direction.

If you use automotive stuff, you will find that the fins are
backwards and the centerline of the belt is about 1/8" farther
from the alternator case than it is on the aircraft one.

Needless to say, the alternator could care less which
direction it is turning.

Bill Hale A&P

abripl wrote:
One known problem is that aircraft engines turn CCW looking at the prop
but auto alternators have cooling fins optimized for CW. But thats not
apparently as much a problem as the pulley nut potentially comming
loose. For CW rotation the engine torque will tend to tighten the
pulley nut but for CCW it will tend to loosen it. It happened to me
today )on the ground) after 60 hours of use and the alternator was not
charging just spinning the pulley. Make sure you check your pulley nut
tightness ocassionally if you are using an auto alternator.