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Alternator pulley

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Old May 17, 2023 | 09:50 AM
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Default Alternator pulley

Anybody know the theory behind the operation of the alternator pulley. It's not a solid drive but whats called a decoupling pulley. Seems to have a fluid coupling or some kind of clutch mechanism. Found that out when I had to remove one and needed a special tool called a alternator decoupling pulley tool. The tool has 33 splines to engage the pulley and then is hollow to allow a Torx-50 to hold the shaft from turning.
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Old May 17, 2023 | 11:10 AM
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I don't know the theory behind it, but only the automatic trans car has it .. No alternator decoupling pulley on the cars with a manual trans.
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Old May 17, 2023 | 11:13 AM
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Sprag clutch, similar to that used in an auto tranny.
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Old May 17, 2023 | 11:14 AM
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Originally Posted by Turbo6TA
I don't know the theory behind it, but only the automatic trans car has it .. No alternator decoupling pulley on the cars with a manual trans.
My C6Z has one...
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Old May 17, 2023 | 11:17 AM
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Originally Posted by 548chevelle
Anybody know the theory behind the operation of the alternator pulley. It's not a solid drive but whats called a decoupling pulley. Seems to have a fluid coupling or some kind of clutch mechanism. Found that out when I had to remove one and needed a special tool called a alternator decoupling pulley tool. The tool has 33 splines to engage the pulley and then is hollow to allow a Torx-50 to hold the shaft from turning.
It's a freewheel. It prevents the drive belt flapping around due to reverse-loading from the heavy alternator rotor. I think they're usually implemented with a sprag clutch.
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Old May 17, 2023 | 11:20 AM
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Originally Posted by Nowanker

My C6Z has one...
My bet is someone that owned the car before you installed a new alternator and used the one made for automatic trans cars.

Won't hurt anything
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Old May 18, 2023 | 09:43 AM
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Originally Posted by 548chevelle
Anybody know the theory behind the operation of the alternator pulley. It's not a solid drive but whats called a decoupling pulley. Seems to have a fluid coupling or some kind of clutch mechanism. Found that out when I had to remove one and needed a special tool called a alternator decoupling pulley tool. The tool has 33 splines to engage the pulley and then is hollow to allow a Torx-50 to hold the shaft from turning.
Turns out there are two types of clutched alternator pulleys - OAD and OAP. C6 uses the OAD type.
Here's all about decoupler pulleys from the company that makes them:

http://www.decouplerpulley.com/basics.cfm

And from an alternator and starter supply company:

http://www.metroplexalternator.com/pulleys.html

More than you ever wanted to know about alternator pulleys.

Last edited by wjnjr; May 18, 2023 at 10:05 AM.
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Old May 19, 2023 | 06:14 PM
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I have 2012 M6. A month or so ago i did a hard pull and it spun the alternator pulley loose and the belt came off. The pulley had separated from the shaft completely. It was the original alternator.
I called a stealership then my Corvette mechanic. The stealership did a history search and discovered the part number for M6 alternator has been superseded/sunsetted by the A6 alternator part nbr
25888970
The only new ACDelco alternator available is the part number for the alternator used on A6 cars with the clutch style 25888970. Thats what i installed the A6 alternator - zero problems.
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Old May 19, 2023 | 08:26 PM
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Interesting. And it looks like mech man alternators only sell solid pulleys.
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Old May 24, 2023 | 10:09 AM
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Thanks for the links. Really explains it. After reading what the OAD pulley does I think anybody with a manual trans would also benefit from upgrading to one.
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