Alternator Stuck

[Tower Todd]

My boat has been covered up for about 6 weeks now. We had a fairly mild weekend, so I broke out a hose and ran the engines for a little while before re-winterizing them. My Stbd. alternator was stuck hard. It took about 30 minutes of wiggling with a big set of channel locks to free it up and it is spinning freely now. One of my buddies says to spray corrosion block into the alternator to keep it from getting stuck during the winter. Is this ok to do? Any thoughts?

Thanks

 

[captainlarry84]

Most likely the alternator somehow took a hit of salt water from somewhere. Even a light misting from a lose clamp or raw water pump. The bearing is a time bomb. I would remove the alternator and have it rebuilt. If it will fail mid season you will be down, plus if it seizes under load you will snap the belt and overheat. So you can do it now or do it later but the train is coming.

 

[Andyf32]

There is a good chance it cracked the alternator case when the corrosion built up. This is an issue on new alternators when they sit. It happens on cars also when they sit.

It you have it rebuilt make sure the rebuilder clear coats the inside of the case while it is apart. This will prevent future corrosion from doing the same thing again.

 

[BillD]

My boat has been covered up for about 6 weeks now. We had a fairly mild weekend, so I broke out a hose and ran the engines for a little while before re-winterizing them. My Stbd. alternator was stuck hard. It took about 30 minutes of wiggling with a big set of channel locks to free it up and it is spinning freely now. One of my buddies says to spray corrosion block into the alternator to keep it from getting stuck during the winter. Is this ok to do? Any thoughts?

Thanks

Go over to boatdiesel forum.
Many many good marine diesels have been "taken out" by a failed alternator (bearing).

For a couple of hundred bucks change it. It's not worth the expense or hassle of having and engine changed out.

 

[Tower Todd]

Thanks for the come backs. I will get it rebuilt. I have all winter to mess with it.

Todd