On Thu, 12 Oct 2000, Tony Duell wrote:
  Getting back to alternators, am I the only person who
fault-finds them to
 component level rather than getting an exchange unit. Last time the
 alternator failed, I pulled it to bits, replaced the regulator/brushbox
 assembly (the real fault was worn-out brushes but nobody would sell me
 just the brush) and stuck it back together....
 New alternator (no exchange on this model) = \pounds 196 + tax
 New regulator/brushes = \pounds 15.00 (and I know the alternator is
 assembled properly...) 
I used to be able to get (from the local Honda dealer) brushes, bearings,
and diodes!
But he also had a big pile of vrtually new alternators that he sold me for
$5 each that had been changed out in favor of a different one for dealer
installed Civic air-conditioning.
Those worked fine as replacements, as well as being plentiful enough to be
able to play around and experiment.  I burned one up trying to power a
circular saw.
--
Grumpy Ol' Fred        cisin(a)xenosoft.com