Installing Alternator instead of generator on YM146?

[Tom_Veatch]

Thank you I have ordered a mini alternator from db-electric that charges at 14.2V and is very small 93mm diameter 3.86" and about 4.5" long. It is a 3 wire hook up.

Yes, yes! Links to the unit and pictures afterwards, Please!

 

[tony123]

Interested in photos and comments too! Thanks.

 

[gt14]

I am getting the alternator tomarrow 9/27 I will post pics and show you the area that it will fit in my tractor. I am rotating it upward so the alternator fits below the air in take hose and above the radiator bypass hose. Here is pic that I found online to simulate the position of the alternator. I will post good pics tomarrow.

 

[gt14]

Here are the pics to the unit. I made a bracket by cutting a curved alternator bracket and using the exsisting one. My first attempt at the belt was too small I will pick up a longer one tomarrow.

 

[mark777]

Gt14,

Excellent pictures and fabrication.

Like everyone else, I'm very interested in the wiring, performance and ball park costs associated with your conversion.

I have a small Yanmar (1401D) that is just starting to give me charging problems and will strongly consider this conversion in the very near future.

Thanks for sharing -

Mark

 

[gt14]

Here are the details on what I bought.
Alternator Lestor 12180 made by Nippon Denso
NEW CHEVY MINI ALTERNATOR DENSO STREET ROD RACE 12180: 12180 DENSO Alternator - NON Chrome DB Electrical Starter-Alternator
$109

Wiring Harness: AmFor Electronics | Northwest Regulator - Catalog Download
Still looking for the correct one it is a T connector.

Use 10 guage wire from alternator to battery.
12 to 16 gauge for the ignition connection and the charge light connection.

I had to get a 38" belt.

More pics coming

Dan

 

[gt14]

Finished with the conversion. Charging perfectly even at lowest RPM 14.2-14.5V. I wired it up and now no more regulator problems ever again.

Photo installed from front

Wiring at battery I also used the yellow pigtail to wire the sense wire to the alternator

Wiring from back of alternator

 

[mark777]

Great pictures Dan!!

What is the final wiring sequence to the spade terminals on the alternator...and where do these connect in relation to the original tractor wire loom??

Unless you have any objections, I would love to share you diagrams, pictures and notes with other people contemplating the alternator conversion that you have so successfully accomplished. Would that be alright with you?

Thanks for sharing (and teaching) such a great upgrade to ones Yanmar.

Mark

 

[gt14]

Share with all. I will attach some more photos latter of the exact location I have hooked them up. Here is the pic

 

[Mickey_Fx]

Not to take awaay from anything Dan has said or did but wanted to add a couple things.

If cost is an issue you could likely find a rebuilt one of these smaller alt at the local autoparts store for about half price. Noticed the one Dan picked is a 60A model but for our little tractors, something a lot smaller, 30-40A, would still be suitable and several times the capacity as the stk model. A gotcha is the drive pulley, you don't want a multi-V belt style.

Last yr I purchased a newer model GM, 3-wire, model at Shucks (same as Kragen or Checkers) for about $60. Was a rebuilt by Auto-lite with lifetime warranty and even had a road hazard policy saying if you were left along side of the road due to the alt failing, they'd pick up the cost for someone to come out and get you back on the road again. Know this is a different situation but does say something about the qlty of the rebuild. I also found the modular connector for the alt I purchased right on the shelf and paid something like $3-$4 for it.

I'm sure there are variations in wiring depending upon age of your tractor so I'm not sure how you would go about connecting the idiot light to have it function properly. An Amp or Volt meter would be a lot easier to address.

Nice conversion Dan. Looks like you did a real decent job.