How do I remove alternator oxidation?

[Larry S.]

And keep it from coming back. You know, those white spots that form on the exterior surface. Car is the one in my avatar.

[Edward J.]

Re: How do I remove alternator oxidation?

Larry, I cheated alittle on my 72 alt. once I had the alt. apart I took alittle satin clear and a couple of lite coats and it looks as good as new a few years later, and is invisable.

[Larry S.]

Re: How do I remove alternator oxidation?

Edward, is there an effective way to clean off the oxidation without the alternator looking splotchy?

[Edward J.]

Re: How do I remove alternator oxidation?

Larry, there really is not much you can do, you'll need to glass bead it, And then spray the satin clear over it. because once you spray the clear and you don't like the way it looks you'll need to start over.

There is one other way to make it look half way decent, that is to steel wool it and spary WD40 to perserve it. the WD40 displaces the mositure.

[Larry S.]

Re: How do I remove alternator oxidation?

Thanks, Edward!

[Gerard F.]

Re: How do I remove alternator oxidation?

Larry,

I don't think you ought to glass bead it, I think that might ruin the original finish.

Maybe try the steel wool with Simple Green, then Eagle Etching Mag Cleaner with a nylon brush. Lots of rubbing with a dremel nylon brush and a nylon wheel. Then WD40 or Tri-Flo. Don't get the mag cleaner on the diodes, it will take the diode ink stampings off (I know)

That's the way this was done:




Still a little splotchy, but how far do you want to go. As I understand, the commercial restorers have a reskinning process.

The stator band should be black on a 67 37 amp. The stator on the one above is from a 61 amp replacement.

[Edward J.]

Re: How do I remove alternator oxidation?

http://s469.photobucket.com/albums/rr51/ejohn1765/72%20BLUE%20COUPE/?action=view&current=GEDC0175.jpg

Gerard, my 72 alt. really didn't turn out all that bad, Take a look, it was glass beaded with low air pressure 30-35 PSI.

[John D.]

Re: How do I remove alternator oxidation?

One way to get an alternator looking very pretty and staying that way for a long time is to get the bare castings (and I mean bare) refinished professionally. We don't do them but others do.
Now the bad part is that humidity and dampness will ruin the aluminum castings. Water just eats them up. Course you all know that.

[Dick W.]

Re: How do I remove alternator oxidation?

Do not glass bead it. That is very obvious to the judges.

[Gerard F.]

Re: How do I remove alternator oxidation?

http://s469.photobucket.com/albums/r...t=GEDC0175.jpg

Gerard, my 72 alt. really didn't turn out all that bad, Take a look, it was glass beaded with low air pressure 30-35 PSI.

Edward,

Looks brand new, maybe I ought to try that next time.

Have you had it judged? How did it do?

With mine, although not perfect, got no points off on finish twice at judging. Got 1 point off one time on originality because I wiped off a couple of the ink stamps on the diodes with the mag cleaner, darn.

[Joe L.]

Re: How do I remove alternator oxidation?

All-------


I have several NOS alternators from the early 70's and a large number of NOS alternator case halves, both drive and split ring end, for SI series alternators that date back to the early and mid 70's. Every one of these appears as if the case halves were glass beaded even though I am 100% certain that none ever were. This is especially true of the split ring case halves. I think the appearance is just characteristic of the permanent mold casting process that was used to manufacture them. For some unknown reason, it appears that the process was a bit different for the drive end case halves than it was for the split ring case halves. Although the drive end case half is invariably a little smoother than the split ring case half, it still APPEARS as if it was glass beaded.

I have found that glass beading a drive end case half and then following it with a MIST coat or two of satin clear produces a finish virtually indistinguishable from the original state. Doing the same process on the split ring case half produces a finish which is a bit smoother and more "skinned" in appearance than the original finish but I still do it.

[Terry M.]

Re: How do I remove alternator oxidation?

And keep it from coming back. You know, those white spots that form on the exterior surface. Car is the one in my avatar.

This thread might be interesting. It is not about alternators, but there are some interesting suggestions.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...oxidation.html

[Timothy B.]

Re: How do I remove alternator oxidation?

Larry,

I mixed some dull silver spray bomb with just a LITTLE black spray bomb the cut it with acetone so it was very thin. After seperating the case halves tape anything you don't want to touch and use a small rag and dab the case to make it look new again.

I was happy with the appearence, don't glass bead, just clean it before this process. Give it a try and see how you like the finish. It only takes a little bit to dab the complete alternator, with the acetone you are bearly putting any paint on the case..

[Domenic T.]

Re: How do I remove alternator oxidation?

I prefer the glass beeding and found that it restores the finish. I too coat it with clear satin finish, but if you don't want to clear it you can alodine it (not anodize) .
alodine is what you use on aircraft to prevent corrosion on aluminum. You need the clear alodine. You can get this at aircraft supply stores.
Beeding is the only way to get rid if the black blotches and is much easier on the finish than wire brushing etc.

DOM

[Timothy B.]

Re: How do I remove alternator oxidation?

Not the best pic but this is the alternator on my 63 coupe.. About half way down this post is a pic of my engine compartment.

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthread.php?t=68909