Cat C7 Alternator Neville LBA2108 no output.

[Al F]

I know this is off topic for HDT, but I figured the HDT folks have more experience with alternators for truck engines.

I need a new alternator for my 2006 Winnebago Journey, with a Cat C7 engine.  There is no output from the alternator and the info I have says it is self exciting. The label on the alternator says it is a Leece-Neville LBA2108. 

I have found new one on Amazon for $113:  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013TCXOJO/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3DQWNDT09WO3V

And one at NAPA:  a re-manufactured one:  Wilson p/n WIL90059241   for $283. 

Should I stay away from the one on Amazon????? 

The access to the alternator and tension pulley looks pretty easy in my MH.  Probably take an experienced tech an hour or two to replace.  For me, probably 4-6 hours. 

One concern is getting the pulley off of the old alternator. 

Suggestions are welcome.

Thanks in advance.

[Darryl&Rita]

In order to self-excite, sufficient battery voltage must be present. It will charge a flat, dead battery, but the voltage present during boosting is enough to kick off the alternator. If your alternator is dead, and depending on the specs of the Amazon one, I'd lean that way. Most auto parts stores have a Loan-a-Tool program to cover the pulley swap.

[Al F]

13 minutes ago, Darryl&Rita said:

In order to self-excite, sufficient battery voltage must be present. It will charge a flat, dead battery, but the voltage present during boosting is enough to kick off the alternator. If your alternator is dead, and depending on the specs of the Amazon one, I'd lean that way. Most auto parts stores have a Loan-a-Tool program to cover the pulley swap.

Thanks.  I made sure I had 12V at the alternator before starting the engine.  The 12.4V never changed once the engine started.  There isn't a 3rd wire going to the alternator. 

[Darryl&Rita]

One other quick thought; make sure the mounting bolts are tight and clean. It grounds through the case. Google 2-wire alternator connection, or wiring diagram for that specific model.

[noteven]

If you are near a Kenworth or Peterbilt dealer check pricing on a TRP alternator through Paccar Parts. I think maybe they will come with a pulley but don’t remember. Covered by parts warranty at 100’s of Paccar dealerships.

[Al F]

On 7/11/2018 at 3:16 PM, Darryl&Rita said:

One other quick thought; make sure the mounting bolts are tight and clean. It grounds through the case. Google 2-wire alternator connection, or wiring diagram for that specific model.

Thanks, I'll make sure they are clean and tight.

[rpsinc]

Rental yards sometimes have pullers, or try an engine rebuilding business or machine shop & let them swap it for u

[Moresmoke]

Most truck alternators, the pulley is just a slip fit on the shaft. It works best if you have an impact wrench to get the nut off though.

[Al F]

Thanks for the tips.  As usual, few things are a simple as I first think they are.  Project is deferred till early September.  Grandsons are coming for visits at S&B  taking up most of July & August. 

[rickeieio]

52 minutes ago, Al F said:

Thanks for the tips.  As usual, few things are a simple as I first think they are.  Project is deferred till early September.  Grandsons are coming for visits at S&B  taking up most of July & August. 

Sounds like a great time to teach the kids some mechanical skills.  They'll remember it long after the memory of a water slide has faded.

[HERO Maker]

I'm with Rick on that one!!!!

[Al F]

10 hours ago, rickeieio said:

Sounds like a great time to teach the kids some mechanical skills.  They'll remember it long after the memory of a water slide has faded.

Yep.  I did that with our son & daughter and they are both very self sufficient.  Son is a better mechanic than I am.  Grandson coming next week is 10 years old.  Watching me work with the RV engine will last about 15 minutes and then he will be bored.  Besides, not much to see, looking down on the engine from under the bed. I will be blocking almost all of the view. If the engine was out in the open, as on a truck, it would work a lot better.

[Scrap]

Those LN's (Prestolite) alternators do have a voltage regulator on the middle back of them that you can replace on-engine if there isn't water pipes and stuff in the way.  Might be an easy fix?

[Al F]

22 hours ago, Scrap said:

Those LN's (Prestolite) alternators do have a voltage regulator on the middle back of them that you can replace on-engine if there isn't water pipes and stuff in the way.  Might be an easy fix? 

Thanks.  Looking into finding the right voltage regulator.  I'll need to go back to the RV to try to get the p/n of the regulator. 

If the regulator is only about $25-$30 it is worth a try, to not have to pull the alternator. 

[rickeieio]

You never mentioned the symptoms, or mileage on the unit.  So, just guessing from my past mistakes, you might just have worn brushes.  An overhaul kit for that alternator is less than $30 and includes bearings and loaded brush holder ass'y.

[Dollytrolley]

My heavy equip electric griru Huston has extensive RV repair grey hair......

Little know factoid is that heavy truck alternators are set to charge about one volt LOWER than most Diesel Pusher alternators........

Why would this be the case......?

Well, most Diesel Pushers have a large battery isolator to isolate the house batteries from the engine start batteries and most isolator units have a voltage Delta drop of -1 Volt from the alternator input tap to EACH battery tap so the RV alternator needs to have the voltage output adjusted UP +1 Volt in order to equal the battery charge rate to obtain proper charge voltage at each battery tap at the isolator.......

 

Drive on......(are you getting the proper....charge voltage?)

[Al F]

5 hours ago, rickeieio said:

You never mentioned the symptoms, or mileage on the unit.  So, just guessing from my past mistakes, you might just have worn brushes.  An overhaul kit for that alternator is less than $30 and includes bearings and loaded brush holder ass'y.

Other than "no output"  in my original post and in my second post (the third entry in this topic) I stated there was 12.4V at the alternator before starting and no change when the engine was running.  There was nothing else I could see to check. 

Would worn brushes cause no output at all? 

The engine has about 66,000 miles.  

[Al F]

Has anyone ordered parts from:  https://www.finditparts.com/

The place pops up when searching for the regulator and brush & bearing kit for the alternator.

Regulator is $20 & the brush kit is $29. 

There shouldn't be much else that can go wrong with the alternator that doesn't include pretty much tearing apart and/or smoking the thing.

[Al F]

And thanks for the suggestions for the Regulator and brush kit.  That is sounding like the way to go. 

I'll probably wait until I can pull the alternator and look at it outside the RV to decide to order the parts.

[Al F]

I see that "finditparts.com"  is a seller on Amazon.  That helps establish them as ligament.

 

[rickeieio]

 I would not have expected the brushes to be worn significantly in 66k miles, but strange things happen.  I tried to find the site where I found the bearings and brushes for $29 and now can't locate it.  I would try an old time auto parts store first.  They are likely to have them in the back collecting dust.  Or look for an alternator/starter rebuilding service.  Many large towns have them.

[Hewhoknowslittle]

1 hour ago, rickeieio said:

   Or look for an alternator/starter rebuilding service.  Many large towns have them.

I for one would remove the alternator and take it to an independent shop to have checked and or rebuilt, they know what they are doing and can bench test it before you install it, so all will be good.

Roger

[GeorgiaHybrid]

17 hours ago, Al F said:

Has anyone ordered parts from:  https://www.finditparts.com/

The place pops up when searching for the regulator and brush & bearing kit for the alternator.

Regulator is $20 & the brush kit is $29. 

There shouldn't be much else that can go wrong with the alternator that doesn't include pretty much tearing apart and/or smoking the thing.

Al,

I have ordered quite a bit thru them but most of the items were dropped shipped from the company that made the parts  or from another warehouse. Did have a problem with one shipment but they made it good in a couple of days

[Al F]

2 hours ago, GeorgiaHybrid said:

Al,

I have ordered quite a bit thru them but most of the items were dropped shipped from the company that made the parts  or from another warehouse. Did have a problem with one shipment but they made it good in a couple of days

Great.  Thanks for the info.

[Al F]

5 hours ago, Hewhoknowslittle said:

I for one would remove the alternator and take it to an independent shop to have checked and or rebuilt, they know what they are doing and can bench test it before you install it, so all will be good.

Roger

Excellent suggestion.  Thanks.