How do you clock a alernator?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 692
Likes: 1
From: Peabody Ma.
How do you clock a alernator?
Getting ready to install a new style SI alternator with the serp belt, and it looks like the postive post is going to hit the valve cover. Can the alternator be clocked ?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
The serp style alt is a CS, not an SI.
Might be cheaper to return that alternator and get one that better suites your needs.
Last edited by Durango_Boy; Apr 25, 2007 at 08:42 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
No. They only go together one way. They make three different styles, or three different clockings. The insides usually match the clocking, so one change will might require different guts. You have the lower bracket mount, and the upper bracket mount. They come in 10, 12, and 2 clocking over the standard 6. The plug socket will move positions depending on the case, as well as the BAT terminal.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Look at the alternator from the front. Put the large lower bracket mount at the bottom in the 6 o'clock position. Then, looking at the front like a clock, where is the upper mount? It'll either be at 10, 12, or 2 o'clock.
These are both 10 & 6 cases, but you'll notice the chrome case differs in that it's plug socket point to 6 and the bare case points to 12. You want the case where the socket points south.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
The chrome one has the BAT plug up, and the plug socket facing 6 o'clock. Now, that's not stock. Those are stock cases chromed.
Now, tell me this, is this CS alternator on a serpentine bracket system with a serpentine belt, or is this gonna go on a standard v-belt bracket?
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
I have heard described about 'clocking' as being able to spin the back 1/2 of the aluminum housing to arrange the input/output connections where you want them on YOUR car....pull the 4 bolts, loosen the front section from the steel core/winding/frame, and spin that puppy where you want it....
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
I have heard described about 'clocking' as being able to spin the back 1/2 of the aluminum housing to arrange the input/output connections where you want them on YOUR car....pull the 4 bolts, loosen the front section from the steel core/winding/frame, and spin that puppy where you want it....
I seem to remember as issue with that, as I tried that on one of mine once.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,367
Likes: 221
From: Beecher Illinois
I have heard described about 'clocking' as being able to spin the back 1/2 of the aluminum housing to arrange the input/output connections where you want them on YOUR car....pull the 4 bolts, loosen the front section from the steel core/winding/frame, and spin that puppy where you want it....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,837
Likes: 1,028
Not really that simple. On a "normal" C3 alternator you need to slightly seperate the case halves to "spin" them . The brushes have a tendency to pop out. Best to just totally seperate the case and pin the brushes back into the brush holder using the little hole in the case for that purpose. Insert a paper clip through the holes, put the case together, remove the paperclip. You'll see what I mean when it's opened up.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,367
Likes: 221
From: Beecher Illinois
Ahhhh, but when someone just spins it and the brush jambs inside it's "uh oh, what now!". I know from personal experience from the first one I did ages ago. Brought it back and sheepishly said "it doesn't work":o
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
Re-clock Alternator
Very simple proceedure if you have a impact gun.
1, impact the pulley and fan off,
2, remove the bolts holding both cases together,
3, hold the rotor down pulling the front case up a inch or so,
4, rotate the case to whaterver position you want,
5, push the cases back together and replace the bolts,
6, replace the fan and pulley with a impact,
Done, now wasn`t that simple? ...
Should not take over 5 minutes on a fresh unit. A used alt requires a little more time as the rotor or cases may be stuck....
PS, do {NOT} seperate the rear case and rotor, if you do the brushes will pop out. And that is not necessary to merely re-clock a alternator.
1, impact the pulley and fan off,
2, remove the bolts holding both cases together,
3, hold the rotor down pulling the front case up a inch or so,
4, rotate the case to whaterver position you want,
5, push the cases back together and replace the bolts,
6, replace the fan and pulley with a impact,
Done, now wasn`t that simple? ...
Should not take over 5 minutes on a fresh unit. A used alt requires a little more time as the rotor or cases may be stuck....
PS, do {NOT} seperate the rear case and rotor, if you do the brushes will pop out. And that is not necessary to merely re-clock a alternator.
Last edited by Ironcross; Apr 26, 2007 at 03:02 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Note. Some front case bearings will be stubborn. Also, most of the mid production CS alternators had a SCREW in retainer plate. This plate has screws that can only be gotten to if the rotor comes all the way out of the bearing, and if the shaft is melded to the bearing, then you have an issue. It would be fine if the bearing would loosen out of the case...but that won't happen if it has the screw in retainer.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
I seen them shipped all kind of differant ways, from the rebuilders...
must be fore differant engines/mounts....etc...
but spin the FRONT section with the fan and mounts on it ONLY, not the iron core on back 1/2, do not bother to pull the whole thing out, just tap, encourage it to spin around, you will have to reseat the brushes to get it together again if you do....I"M lazy....
must be fore differant engines/mounts....etc...
but spin the FRONT section with the fan and mounts on it ONLY, not the iron core on back 1/2, do not bother to pull the whole thing out, just tap, encourage it to spin around, you will have to reseat the brushes to get it together again if you do....I"M lazy....