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Alternator Hmmmmmmmmmm

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Old May 22, 2012 | 09:38 PM
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Default Alternator Hmmmmmmmmmm

I searched for this problem and solution but only came up with problems with radios that hum. So what is going on with the '72 is that my alternator crapped out so I replaced the diode, voltage reg, brushes and capacitor and cleaned it up. It works great now except that it hums. Before it crapped out, it did not hum. Hmmmmm.....
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Old May 22, 2012 | 09:40 PM
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radio filter
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Old May 23, 2012 | 08:30 AM
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So the radio is causing the alternator to hum? even with the radio is off?

oh, and GO ALASKA lived there for 3 or 4 years as a tot.

Last edited by kansas123; May 23, 2012 at 08:31 AM. Reason: Cuz
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Old May 23, 2012 | 08:34 AM
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sorry re-read your thread, you're saying the alternator itself hums . it may take a bit for those new brushes to smooth out. did you undercut the mica?
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Old May 23, 2012 | 09:55 AM
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The brushes, ok. did not expect that. it should go away then... what does undercut the mica mean? thanks.
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Old May 23, 2012 | 10:10 AM
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the part that the brushes ride on is the comutator, there are separations 'those small lines', the 'mica', that fill with crud from the brushes, rebuilders will clean those out with a small dremel like grinding wheel, it makes it work better and last longer. I take a small pick or knife and manually scrape them out, have to be carefull not to scratch the surface.
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Old May 23, 2012 | 11:01 AM
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Originally Posted by oldalaskaman
the part that the brushes ride on is the comutator, there are separations 'those small lines', the 'mica', that fill with crud from the brushes, rebuilders will clean those out with a small dremel like grinding wheel, it makes it work better and last longer. I take a small pick or knife and manually scrape them out, have to be carefull not to scratch the surface.
Your thinking about an armature, it has a commutator and mica, an alternator has a rotor and smooth slip rings.
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Old May 23, 2012 | 11:04 AM
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You could also have a belt or pulley issue. I chased an alternator hum for almost a year. It was a bad (out of round) pulley.
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Old May 23, 2012 | 11:55 AM
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Originally Posted by petes74ttop
Your thinking about an armature, it has a commutator and mica, an alternator has a rotor and smooth slip rings.
you are right, crs kicked in again
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Old May 29, 2012 | 12:24 PM
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Default i suspected this all along

So to put a fork in this..........it turned out to be a small vacuum leak, not the alternator. i was trying to put all the load on the alternator that i could so i was turning on everything and when i turned on the wipers, (even though they are mainly vacuum operated), the noise went away. thanks for all the inputs though....
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