Generator Squeal and Voltage Fluctuations

[Kevin McKeown]

Greetings to all,

Driving home from a trip last week in the BB, I kept noticing that
my voltage gauge would fluctuate up and down, from as low as 11.3V
(I have a digital voltmeter) and up to 13.6 or so. This cycle would
take perhaps 30 minutes or so, and continued for the 3 hr trip. Is
this normal? If not, any ideas for a fix?

I also noticed a high pitched squealing noise (kind of scratchy
sounding, and not too loud) coming from the 8V92's generator when
the motor is running. Time for a new generator? Is this related
maybe to the voltage fluctuation? The generator now is a 120w
unit..if I replace it, should I go with a like unit, or a higher
capacity generator? Is it better to have this one rebuilt, or
exchange it for another? Any thoughts or suggestions appreciated..

Kevin McKeown
Yorba Linda, CA
1986 38' PT
8V92

[Scott Peatross]

Well Kevin, if that squeal doesn't sound like a slipping fan belt, and it is a
grinding whirr, the bearings are gone on the alternator and it's time to pull it
now, not later. Remove the belt and spin the alternator by hand, if it's not
smooth and quiet, it's rebuild time.

The fluctuating voltage may be an unrelated alternator issue, like a bad
internal regulator, so you may fix 'em both with a new alternator. You should
never see voltage as low as 11.3 with the engine running, that's the voltage of
a dead battery. If you have an externally regulated alternator, the new
alternator may not fix the fluctuating voltage, if it's a bad regulator. Can't
rule out a flaky voltmeter circuit, either.

Seems like the alternators in 'birds don't last 100k miles, they work pretty
hard. I think the '86 had a Motorola alternator, no longer available. But being
heavy truck stuff, replacements are available, Leece Nelville makes a good unit
that is readily available.

Scott Peatross
'87 PT40


Kevin McKeown wrote:
Greetings to all,

Driving home from a trip last week in the BB, I kept noticing that
my voltage gauge would fluctuate up and down, from as low as 11.3V
(I have a digital voltmeter) and up to 13.6 or so. This cycle would
take perhaps 30 minutes or so, and continued for the 3 hr trip. Is
this normal? If not, any ideas for a fix?

I also noticed a high pitched squealing noise (kind of scratchy
sounding, and not too loud) coming from the 8V92's generator when
the motor is running. Time for a new generator? Is this related
maybe to the voltage fluctuation? The generator now is a 120w
unit..if I replace it, should I go with a like unit, or a higher
capacity generator? Is it better to have this one rebuilt, or
exchange it for another? Any thoughts or suggestions appreciated..

Kevin McKeown
Yorba Linda, CA
1986 38' PT
8V92













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