The N'Denso alternator is reliable if properly installed, so is the
Subaru engine, However, the NSI /Subaru conversion has a very poor
reliability record. The alternator failure was exactly the same as Bill
Wynne's it seems, it wasn't "out of the blue", imho it was just a
matter of time.
I haven't looked closely at the alternator placing but my understanding
is that the belt tension necessary to drive the alternator results in
bearing overload. IOWs bad engineering design.
The gear box (redrive) has a similar record, frequent failures due to
overheating but for different reasons. These Subaru installations were
aproved by PFA but without the benefit of hindsight. NSI marketing was
very seductive at the time. I doubt if they would be aproved now except
under "grandfather " considerations.
Graham
Belinda Glover wrote:
>It was indeed literally an out of the blue failure almost in to the blue as
>well since I thought at one point I might have to ditch in the sea at the
>Seven estuary to put the smoke/fire out!
>
>In hindsight the "Approved" installation had the normally reliable
>Nippondenser alternator sat high aft in the cowls which proved too much for
>the grease in the sealed bearing.
>
>
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