PolarBlair Posted February 14, 2022 Share Posted February 14, 2022 I've heard some scary stories regarding wading and alternator longevity. As far as I'm aware only the wolf defenders had waterproof alternators and these are 24v. My 130 Td5 is of course 12v. I'm assuming it's not as simple as putting some kind of step down regulator between the alternator and the vehicle electrics. Failing my presumably flawed wolf Alternator Plans, is there an aftermarket option for a waterproof alternator? I know some more modern vehicles have water cooled alternators. I'm planning on volunteering with the Mountain Bothies Association as well as my local 4x4 response group. It's also the family adventure vehicle. With that in mind I'd like to address as many of the water ingress related reliabilty issues as possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted February 14, 2022 Share Posted February 14, 2022 What stories have you heard? Alternators don't give two hoots about water, they don't enjoy being filled with mud (much like every other rotating component) but I hose my alternators out after off-roading and they are fine. Military alternators are usually a huge pain - big, expensive, odd connections, and often lower output than a regular one. If you want more amps look for alternators that mount the same way (there's only a few popular shapes) and put out more amps. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PolarBlair Posted February 14, 2022 Author Share Posted February 14, 2022 48 minutes ago, FridgeFreezer said: What stories have you heard? Alternators don't give two hoots about water, they don't enjoy being filled with mud (much like every other rotating component) but I hose my alternators out after off-roading and they are fine. Military alternators are usually a huge pain - big, expensive, odd connections, and often lower output than a regular one. If you want more amps look for alternators that mount the same way (there's only a few popular shapes) and put out more amps. Just anecdotal evidence - lots of comments on this forum as well as others made it sound like wading turns the alternator into a consumable. If that's not the case then I'm perfectly happy to save my money I suppose it also comes down to the user. My 130 is never going to be a challenge truck submerged up to the bonnet in silty mud so maybe a lot of what I've read is from people who are a bit more adventurous off road. I spied a wolf Alternator going relatively cheap and it just got me thinking. Dangerous that - should probably do less of it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted February 14, 2022 Share Posted February 14, 2022 Water is fine, it's all the bits that comes along with it that isn't! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PolarBlair Posted February 14, 2022 Author Share Posted February 14, 2022 1 hour ago, Bowie69 said: Water is fine, it's all the bits that comes along with it that isn't! 1 hour ago, Bowie69 said: It's those bits I was worried about! This is what got me tempted: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Land-Rover-Military-24V-Alternator-589039-NSN-2920998281021-/114233415533?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0 But sounds like I'm better off spending my pennies on a winch and bumper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cackshifter Posted February 14, 2022 Share Posted February 14, 2022 If you decide to uprate the alternator, some of the marine ones have impressive specs, remember to make alternative arrangements for vacuum for the brakes, the pump is part of the alternator Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo Murphy Posted February 15, 2022 Share Posted February 15, 2022 As someone who looked into it before, it isn't worth the expense and effort. Mud makes the brushes stick normally, easy to clean out and cheap and an easy job to replace if necessary. HTH Mo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete3000 Posted February 15, 2022 Share Posted February 15, 2022 Spoiler alert that isn't a wolf alternator, more likely a series with the 589039 part number. Lucas CAV 60 Amp. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted February 15, 2022 Share Posted February 15, 2022 37 minutes ago, pete3000 said: Spoiler alert that isn't a wolf alternator, more likely a series with the 589039 part number. Lucas CAV 60 Amp. And in my experience £200 buys at least 4 lightly-used 100A alternators. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirrel2 Posted February 16, 2022 Share Posted February 16, 2022 Hi, This is the type of alternator that is fitted to my 300Tdi 110 Wolf: Part number RRC8642 rated output 50A at 24V. Available here: RRC8642 WOLF LANDROVER ALTERNATOR - EICS-Products Ltd The 'chimney' that faces upwards is fitted with a rubber 'snorkle' that appears to be to remove dust and mud from the cooling air. Otherwise the unit is as 'open' as any other automotive or marine alternator. Bill 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PolarBlair Posted February 16, 2022 Author Share Posted February 16, 2022 Thanks for the info Bill. Think the answer is deffinitely a good flush and some WD40 by the sounds of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted February 16, 2022 Share Posted February 16, 2022 3 hours ago, PolarBlair said: Thanks for the info Bill. Think the answer is deffinitely a good flush and some WD40 by the sounds of it. Don't do WD40, it just attracts crud! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PolarBlair Posted February 17, 2022 Author Share Posted February 17, 2022 2 hours ago, FridgeFreezer said: Don't do WD40, it just attracts crud! Thought that was the whole point of the stuff? Water Displacement 40? Some guys on the forum were recommending it as part of the maintenance after flushing with clean water. So is the answer just clean water? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverik Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 9 hours ago, PolarBlair said: Thought that was the whole point of the stuff? Water Displacement 40? Some guys on the forum were recommending it as part of the maintenance after flushing with clean water. So is the answer just clean water? Its all a bit relative... - if you're going through water twice a year then you wont need to do anything more than a cursory check to make sure nothing has been dragged into the engine bay. If you have a decent "session" of operating in water, then the engine bay will need a hose down and you want to get it nice and warm after the cleaning so it dries off all the water. If you are regulalry taking the vehicle through deep dirty water then this is when you'll need to start looking at potentially adding some lubricant to alternators as regular dunking will wash the installed lubricant out the bearings. Just an additional thought and a slight aside topic. - On my cranky 200tdi, the alternator is right in a path of splashed water, any deep ish puddle sent the belt slipping, so I installed a simple aluminum deflector plate, since then I rarely see my alternator belt slip, unless the pulley gets submerged. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junglie Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 Alright Royal. I've got a 24v alternator from an airportable that's just sitting in my shed getting in the way - I have no need for it so if you're going down that (off)road then it's yours for the postage. Cheers, Simon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PolarBlair Posted February 17, 2022 Author Share Posted February 17, 2022 37 minutes ago, Junglie said: Alright Royal. I've got a 24v alternator from an airportable that's just sitting in my shed getting in the way - I have no need for it so if you're going down that (off)road then it's yours for the postage. Cheers, Simon Thanks for the offer but by the sounds of it the answer appears to be sticking with 12V and careful maintenance. If it was a simple enough bolt on job that could give me a waterproof alternator that would be a different story. Always best to let someone else try it first and see how they get on 😁 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junglie Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 No prob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 The 24V 90A military jobbie needs an external regulator as well, IIRC. ...and is about 10 time massiver than anything else you might find! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junglie Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 1 hour ago, Bowie69 said: The 24V 90A military jobbie needs an external regulator as well, IIRC. ...and is about 10 time massiver than anything else you might find! It is proper ginoferous, it's true... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted February 18, 2022 Share Posted February 18, 2022 On 2/17/2022 at 1:37 AM, PolarBlair said: Thought that was the whole point of the stuff? Water Displacement 40? It displaces water but so does vaseline and everything sticks to that! It's one of those products that has a million uses and is a poor fit for 99% of them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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