Lucas ACR Alternator Repair Kits

[Rally Pack 2000]

Alternator light now flashes with the indicators and any other electrical thing I switch on so time for a rebuild I think (Although my Lucas ACR18 is not that old at all!) I see different repair kits on offer, some with bearings and some without. (mines not making any noises though) Which ones have you had success with for rebuilding your Lucas ACR Alternators? Thanks

[Miniliteman]

Probably a diode inside that's gone dead (and check brushes) so maybe no need for a rebuild.

[Rallye]

Lucas Alternator Acr Small Repair Kit 15,16,17,18 Mob Lra100

[Rally Pack 2000]

2 hours ago, Rallye said:

Lucas Alternator Acr Small Repair Kit 15,16,17,18 Mob Lra100

I did see that seller actually but he wants over forty pounds postage so I was shopping around a bit more.

[Miniliteman]

A simple check to see if one of the diodes in the alternator is out: locate the small blue wire from the alternator to the charging light in the dash. Fit a simple diode (1N4007 is ok) between the wire and the alternator. Anode to dash-light, cathode to alternator. This means that current can only flow to alternator to energize the alternator. Higher voltage from alternator cannot get to dashlight when alternator is "working". Newer Fords had this diode as standard.

[Johnny Boy]

12 hours ago, Rally Pack 2000 said:

Alternator light now flashes with the indicators and any other electrical thing I switch on so time for a rebuild I think (Although my Lucas ACR18 is not that old at all!) I see different repair kits on offer, some with bearings and some without. (mines not making any noises though) Which ones have you had success with for rebuilding your Lucas ACR Alternators? Thanks

That Fault may not be the alternator, it could be a bad earth. Worth checking and cleaning you earth points first.😉

[Rally Pack 2000]

10 hours ago, Johnny Boy said:

That Fault may not be the alternator, it could be a bad earth. Worth checking and cleaning you earth points first.😉

Cleaned and lightly sanded all earth points before posting. I was hoping it would cure the problem but didnt unfortunately.

[Johnny Boy]

3 hours ago, Rally Pack 2000 said:

Cleaned and lightly sanded all earth points before posting. I was hoping it would cure the problem but didnt unfortunately.

Oh Ok, Well that's a bugger.😬

[Rally Pack 2000]

BB Classics is listing complete alternators for a pretty good price. Choice is 45 amp or 65 amp. The 45 would probably get the job done. Do you guys always go high though on your alternator choices?

[Miniliteman]

If the wiring is standard a 45 Amp version should be ok. Are you sure the alternator is at fault? I've seen people replace regulators, replace looms, replace alternators only to find that the metal adjustment bracket is broken in half. Had this myself 2 times when I had the RS2.

[Rally Pack 2000]

1 hour ago, Miniliteman said:

If the wiring is standard a 45 Amp version should be ok. Are you sure the alternator is at fault? I've seen people replace regulators, replace looms, replace alternators only to find that the metal adjustment bracket is broken in half. Had this myself 2 times when I had the RS2.

Actually our Escorts came with a 36amp Bosch unit. I upgraded it at one stage to a 55amp Bosch but I could never get it to align with the fan belt and timing pulleys. It always worked and never loosened or wore out belts or anything but it always looked like there was slight kink in the fan belt. So when it wore out I went with an original Lucas one and it seems to align perfectly and since I converted the plug to the Lucas type im going to stick with it. There is nothing been added since new that requires a heavier amp alternator but there is only ten bucks difference in price so thought I would see what you guys think.

Ive cleaned and checked all the connections and I'm pretty sure its the alternator itself but not sure what exactly is faulty with it. I can have a day out in the car but the battery needs charging for a couple of hours when I get home. Not much night driving though but a bit of rain and wipers clearly make the alternator light alot brighter.

Premature Alternator failure is also a sign of it being over stressed and under powered and it really hasn't been on the car long at all just a few years and 3000 miles or so. Its is a genuine Lucas refurbished one though not one of the after market replicas so that could account for it wearing out more quickly too! LOL The Bosch one that didn't align lasted for decades though

[Johnny Boy]

I got this one for my Crossflow 1600 Sport. 50amp

Click here

[Johnny Boy]

Ive got a ebay 10%off voucher, with that seller, at the moment, let me know if you want me to get you one.

Edited April 14, 2023 by Johnny Boy

[caprimk1v4]

I would also check the condition of the fuses, as one of the fuses supplies the feed to one side of the warning lamp, so when you turn on your ignition switch, the alternator warning lamp illuminates as it returns via the alternator IND terminal, BUT when the car starts that IND terminal is also at 12v, so 12v both sides of the lamp make it go out, so if the fuse (not sure which one it is), had a high resistance across it, there would be a voltage difference across the lamp and it will glow and get brighter as the load increases, try rotating the fuse backward & forward and have some one watch the alternator lamp, see if it flickers or indeed goes out, the contact legs on these fuse boxes are very susceptible to getting corrosion on them, you could also go across each fuse with a volt meter, the voltmeter should be ZERO with a good contact, but if it reads a voltage says greater then 0.5v, then there is resistance on that fuses contacts, it does not take a lot were 12v is concerned.  Hope you get it sorted soon.   

[Nige65]

19 hours ago, Johnny Boy said:

I got this one for my Crossflow 1600 Sport. 50amp

Click here

I might have to replace mine as the battery light on the dash glows regardless of engine revs, tried all the usual remedies that have already been mentioned but still no luck, back when I was a young apprentice, we got a box full of alternators and starters, stripped them down and refurbished them to a working standard, would do the same if I had the equipment!

[Miniliteman]

20 hours ago, Johnny Boy said:

I got this one for my Crossflow 1600 Sport. 50amp

Click here

What make is this?

[caprimk1v4]

They are "LUCAS" CLONE'S, there is no manufacturers name on them, I have had a few & fitted them, always worked ok, I have not had a problem with them at all, but you will always get a bad one at some time, even a brand new Lucas might get a faulty one in a thousand or two !!??.

A.P. OLDHAM on Ebay sell them along side geared uprated Pinto starter Motors, again, I have bought & fitted a good number of them, 100% NO PROBLEMS, (so far), the quality of them is near on as good as a Genuine Lucas.

 

[Rally Pack 2000]

21 hours ago, Johnny Boy said:

I got this one for my Crossflow 1600 Sport. 50amp

Click here

50 amp would be a good compromise. The 42 amp Lucas wasnt up to he job with 65 seeming a bit high. But it doesn't appear they make left hand ones for Pintos

[Miniliteman]

3 hours ago, caprimk1v4 said:

They are "LUCAS" CLONE'S, there is no manufacturers name on them, I have had a few & fitted them, always worked ok, I have not had a problem with them at all, but you will always get a bad one at some time, even a brand new Lucas might get a faulty one in a thousand or two !!??.

A.P. OLDHAM on Ebay sell them along side geared uprated Pinto starter Motors, again, I have bought & fitted a good number of them, 100% NO PROBLEMS, (so far), the quality of them is near on as good as a Genuine Lucas.

 

It is not hard to make a better product than Lucas .... to create that authenticity "Lucas-feeling" they even make a special product 🤣

 

[Johnny Boy]

4 hours ago, Miniliteman said:

What make is this?

Probably a Chinese or Indian copy of a Lucas 16/17/18/ ACR

[Johnny Boy]

2 hours ago, Rally Pack 2000 said:

50 amp would be a good compromise. The 42 amp Lucas wasnt up to he job with 65 seeming a bit high. But it doesn't appear they make left hand ones for Pintos

You can move the mounts round and they fit left or right, just drill out the threads, and use a bolt with nut. Easy

[Johnny Boy]

Looking at the picture, there are no threads , so just move the front mount around, Done

[Miniliteman]

Quick look on ebay ->

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231204940959

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/401879683026

[Rally Pack 2000]

8 hours ago, Johnny Boy said:

You can move the mounts round and they fit left or right, just drill out the threads, and use a bolt with nut. Easy

We used to try doing that years ago when we couldnt find left ones but rarely did it work and if it did they didnt seem to last long.

There are a few left ones as Miniliteman has found, you just seem to have to use a unique search for them rather than specifically asking for a left one.

Its just about finding someone with a decent shipping cost. BB Classics have a great shipping prices but dont seem to do the 50 am ones just the 45 and 65 am ones.

[Rally Pack 2000]

Ooooooo they have blingy ones too!