Gen. Alt. Visual Diff

ngneer · Post by **ngneer** » Thu May 03, 2007 5:55 pm

What is the visual difference between the 2. Meaning standing and looking at the motor. Thanks

bugman742002 · Post by **bugman742002** » Thu May 03, 2007 6:41 pm

a generator looks like a long cylinder with two or three posts for the vlotage regulator wires to hool upto. an alternator has a lager section near the pulley and a smaller section towards the rear of it. they usually have a spde type connecter at the pulley end for the voltage reg to hook upto.

Speedy Jim · Post by **Speedy Jim** » Thu May 03, 2007 6:42 pm

Generator:
http://www2.cip1.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=1604

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/view ... ?tid=50478
lots of pics of both gen and alt, showing how the physical
conversion is done.

General: The VW generator has slotted openings on the side
for access to the brushes.

The original VW (motorola) alternator used an external regulator and
had a 3-prong plug on top the alternator. Modern alternators have the
regulator built inside.

More tech info on my web site:

Speedy Jim
http://www.nls.net/mp/volks/

MNAirHead · Post by **MNAirHead** » Fri May 04, 2007 9:41 am

Add on question.. what years did the alternator have internal regulator?

SOMETIMES the engine code (70s) will be a clue.

CopperBaja · Post by **CopperBaja** » Tue May 08, 2007 1:27 pm

Generator:

Alternator: (you have to picture everything else attached...)

Not much of a visual difference....until you look under the rear seat and don't see a regulator.

aussiebug · Post by **aussiebug** » Tue May 08, 2007 2:08 pm

Yhat top pic look slike an alternator too! It looks too fat at the pulley end to be a generator - you mentioned the lack of voltage reg under the seat but the top pic could be the early type Motorola Alt which DID have a reg under the seat.

CopperBaja · Post by **CopperBaja** » Wed May 09, 2007 5:11 pm

aussiebug wrote:Yhat top pic look slike an alternator too! It looks too fat at the pulley end to be a generator - you mentioned the lack of voltage reg under the seat but the top pic could be the early type Motorola Alt which DID have a reg under the seat.

I don't know....here's a couple pics of the old unit....I thought it was a generator.

rickosuave1987 · Post by **rickosuave1987** » Wed May 09, 2007 5:25 pm

Sorry copper that is an alternator
Heres a genny

CopperBaja · Post by **CopperBaja** » Wed May 09, 2007 5:50 pm

Oh. Well, then I have an externally reg'd alternator for sale!

aussiebug · Post by **aussiebug** » Thu May 10, 2007 5:24 am

rickosuave1987 wrote:Sorry copper that is an alternator
Heres a genny

I was having a look at that engine (with the genny) and noticed that the single vac distributor is connected to the rear/bottom of the carburettor which is the wrong place completely - the correct fitting on the left side of the carb just above the throttle arm has been blanked off with the black cap/tube.

Only the double vac distributors (71-73) use the fitting low on the back of the carb, and that's for the retard function which is a second canister connector close to the distributor body - the other line (on the outer side of the canister - same as the single vac canister) is still connected to the top/left carby vac port.

You'll get some weird vacuum signals with it connected the way it is.

rickosuave1987 · Post by **rickosuave1987** » Thu May 10, 2007 10:42 pm

aussiebug wrote:I was having a look at that engine (with the genny) and noticed that the single vac distributor is connected to the rear/bottom of the carburettor which is the wrong place completely - the correct fitting on the left side of the carb just above the throttle arm has been blanked off with the black cap/tube.

Only the double vac distributors (71-73) use the fitting low on the back of the carb, and that's for the retard function which is a second canister connector close to the distributor body - the other line (on the outer side of the canister - same as the single vac canister) is still connected to the top/left carby vac port.

You'll get some weird vacuum signals with it connected the way it is.

Wouldnt know. Not my engine. Pulled it off google. But good info.

MNAirHead · Post by **MNAirHead** » Sat May 12, 2007 5:22 am

aussiebug wrote:
rickosuave1987 wrote: Only the double vac distributors (71-73) use the fitting low on the back of the carb, and that's for the retard function which is a

And at the last show they were all pointing at my car and going "notice the retard" .. thought they wanted to fight.