Started alternator swap
I didn’t spend too much time on the plane, but Julie was nice enough to allow me an hour with the mistress on Valentine’s Day.
Mattituck installed an alternator on my engine by mistake. They were nice enough to let me keep it if I could use it. Well, I can’t use it. It’s much larger than Vans 60 amp alternator and is interfering with the FAB intake to the fuel servo. I could modify the servo, but I’d rather just swap out the alternator.
I pulled out the parts and instructions for mounting the Vans alternator. The Mattituck alternator was apparently in an aircraft-style housing, so it fit the standard mounting bracket. The Vans alternator is straight off a car, and so needs a different mounting bracket. The bracket that Vans includes in the kit is made from aluminum rather than steel, but looks beefier. It also attachs at 4 spots rather than just 2. I had to file a bushing on the alternator (as mentioned in the instructions) in order for the bracket to fit properly. There’s also a strut that ties the starter to the alternator. I don’t know that it’s required, but it couldn’t hurt. I started fabricating that out of aluminum bar stock also provided in the kit.