Can Bosch alternator be rebuilt - Yes or No (No, can't get parts)

Camo Custom Title Time!

1,936 posts · joined Oct 2007 · 21 Feb 2015, 7:31 pm

#1008747

Hi all,

just wondering if the general after market alternators that are available are re-buildable or throw away. My car has a polished unit (not chrome) and must have a short as the battery is draining and the alternator is hot to touch.

Anyway, if you know of any places that deal in these alternators or can rebuild one in the Liverpool (Sydney) area please let me know,

Cheers, Kev

I thought rebuilding a VW would be cheap - Shit I was wrong, just don't let the wife know !!!!

Click here for my (slowy) modded 1961 Beetle build.

vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 22 Feb 2015, 6:57 am

#1008764

Camo

get a good S/H Bosch unit

the chrome Chinese are junk throw away

I read it on FACEBOOK so it must be true

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=91278&page=1#pid848630

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=63561&page=1#pid624099

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=4832&page=1#pid452603

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=60650&page=1#pid574409

vwo60 Veteran Volks Folk

2,036 posts · joined Feb 2007 · 22 Feb 2015, 10:54 am

#1008774

Ask an old school auto electrician for his opinion, not one of the new age ones that just sells you a replacement, anything can be repaired just like they were in the past. I rebuilt one of mine and it works fine.

pod i`ve got to finish this thing one day

4,980 posts · joined Dec 2003 · 22 Feb 2015, 1:04 pm

#1008780

my one of them overcharges 16+V, so am thinking of going back to a bus genny I have here 🙂

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psimitar Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,506 posts · joined Jan 2009 · 22 Feb 2015, 6:17 pm

#1008794

pod wrote:my one of them overcharges 16+V, so am thinking of going back to a bus genny I have here 🙂

That could just be the regulator doing this and would explain the hotness too. An auto elec can check and maybe find a good quality regulator to replace. Normally is the windings have a short in them then it'll spark, get hot very quickly and basically kill itself in a very short space of time so hence I'm thinking just the regulator needs looking at.

If it is the windings then if the case casting isn't typical cheap chinese porous crap then could be worth while getting it rewound. I mean, that's if you wanna keep the chrome look 🙂

madness is in the eye of the beholder 👍

vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 · 22 Feb 2015, 8:06 pm

#1008803

any alternator can be rebuilt, more easily than a generator thats for sure!

My first job was an auto electrician, rebuilding starters and alternators everyday.

71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE

Camo Custom Title Time!

1,936 posts · joined Oct 2007 · 22 Feb 2015, 9:12 pm

#1008805

vlad01 wrote:My first job was an auto electrician, rebuilding starters and alternators everyday.

So I will expect you on the first plane in the morning 😁 😉

On that note, my alternator is actually a Bosch so I will be looking tomorrow for an auto electrician to rebuild it.

Thanks

I thought rebuilding a VW would be cheap - Shit I was wrong, just don't let the wife know !!!!

Click here for my (slowy) modded 1961 Beetle build.

Camo Custom Title Time!

1,936 posts · joined Oct 2007 · 23 Feb 2015, 7:14 pm

#1008838

Well, unless anyone can tell me different you can't buy new regulator and diode plate for a Bosch alternator. The old electrician I use has dealt with many of these alternators in their day but could not locate new replacement parts.

On recommendation, I spoke with Boris of Vintage Vee Dub and he also supported this information so I'm stuffed. Boris did mention that he believes that there is Holden parts that with some modification can be used, but we are none the wiser.

So if you have any old stock parts for a Bosch Alternator laying around, please PM me.

Thanks, Kev

I thought rebuilding a VW would be cheap - Shit I was wrong, just don't let the wife know !!!!

Click here for my (slowy) modded 1961 Beetle build.

AA003 Custom Title Time!

1,189 posts · joined Oct 2011 · 24 Feb 2015, 6:58 am

#1008863

A lot of Bosch alternator parts are interchangeable. You just have to find an old school auto elec that knows what he is doing. Many years ago I built an alternator for my Range Rover from bits of Magna, Ford and Holden. They all just bolted together.

You really need to know what is exactly wrong with yours first.

I read it on samba, so it must be correct.

Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂

HappyDaze Superannuated

2,887 posts · joined Jun 2009 · 24 Feb 2015, 11:21 am

#1008870

Email sent, Kev.

I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!

psimitar Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,506 posts · joined Jan 2009 · 24 Feb 2015, 10:37 pm

#1008910

Camo wrote:Well, unless anyone can tell me different you can't buy new regulator and diode plate for a Bosch alternator. The old electrician I use has dealt with many of these alternators in their day but could not locate new replacement parts.

On recommendation, I spoke with Boris of Vintage Vee Dub and he also supported this information so I'm stuffed. Boris did mention that he believes that there is Holden parts that with some modification can be used, but we are none the wiser.

So if you have any old stock parts for a Bosch Alternator laying around, please PM me.

Thanks, Kev

That is rather strange, especially for Bosch. However, as AA003 has said there must be a Bosch part that would fit. The aircooled design is a bit of an oddball these days but it's bad business sense for Bosch to have a kind of specialty part.
If you were in my neck of the woods I'd happily take a look at it for you 🙂 Cos I love a good challenge 😀

madness is in the eye of the beholder 👍

Camo Custom Title Time!

1,936 posts · joined Oct 2007 · 25 Feb 2015, 8:16 am

#1008922

psimitar wrote:If you were in my neck of the woods I'd happily take a look at it for you 🙂 Cos I love a good challenge 😀

Thank you and its the thought that counts 😉

I actually spoke with Camden GTI yesterday and they have a Gentleman working there that had his own business previous and he said he has lots of new old stock parts and said he can do it. So on that note, I have left it with them and will keep my fingers crossed.

Regards, Kev

I thought rebuilding a VW would be cheap - Shit I was wrong, just don't let the wife know !!!!

Click here for my (slowy) modded 1961 Beetle build.

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 25 Feb 2015, 12:34 pm

#1008930

Hi Kev

if worst come to worst you can always buy a China one and chuck it away when it dies and buy another one.

Steve

psimitar Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,506 posts · joined Jan 2009 · 25 Feb 2015, 6:35 pm

#1008946

Camo wrote:
psimitar wrote:If you were in my neck of the woods I'd happily take a look at it for you 🙂 Cos I love a good challenge 😀
Thank you and its the thought that counts 😉

I actually spoke with Camden GTI yesterday and they have a Gentleman working there that had his own business previous and he said he has lots of new old stock parts and said he can do it. So on that note, I have left it with them and will keep my fingers crossed.

Regards, Kev

No worries dude. I try to be helpful wherever I can 🙂

Good luck with the lead and let me know how it pans out.

Laters,
Mike

madness is in the eye of the beholder 👍