Lucas ACR Alternator Repair Kits

[Rally Pack 2000]

1 hour ago, Miniliteman said:

Get a Bosch one

I did use Bosch many years ago for 20 years but no matter what I did I could never align it with the fanbelt properly. It always had a slight twist or kink to it. It never seemed to break belts or anything but I went Lucas just because everything could align properly. Theres no double that Bosch is way more reliable though.

[Rally Pack 2000]

On 15/08/2023 at 18:09, Vista Estate said:

I would try the Turkish one as its more compact and you could be the guinea pig for us all 🤣🤣.

If that's ok you could then move the bb one on.

 

On 15/08/2023 at 18:32, katana said:

just looking at the comparison the quality difference is clear - just look at the pulley profiles - bumpy lumpy chinky or smooth straight taper with the turk, same with the fans ! Likely they'll both work but maybe for longevity,Jthe Turk gets my vote!

 

On 15/08/2023 at 20:36, Miniliteman said:

Difficult to see from just one photo but agree with katana. Unless the offset of the fanbelt-pulley is too big.

I needed to get the car going for a weekend outing and since all of the Chinese Lucas replicas had clapped out all I had left was the unique short backed Lucas one that was made it Turkey. The mounting spacing was just slightly different so just needed some of the washes put behind rather than the front to get the belt aligned that sort of thing. Also because the casting of the main body seems a bit better than the Chinese ones the hump parts where the bolts go through to hold both sides of the casing together are slightly thicker so that does foul the RS alloy style mounting bracket at the front. With a bit of fettling you can wear it down enough to allow alignment of the mounting bolts.

Started the car up and seems to work fine from the get go. Where the Chinese ones were producing between 11.5 and 14 volts when they worked (10 to 17 volts when they didn't) the Turkish one is way more constant pretty much at 13.4 volts all the time with a bit of fluctuation here and there.  First time in months I haven't seen the alternator light flickering. The Chinese ones would make the light flicker even when it was producing over the required voltage for some reason. I was beginning to think the cars electrical system was at fault because I couldn't imagine three faulty Chinese alternators in a row and just had to thing it was the car rather than them. I have ordered some British made rectifiers and regulators to try get the Chinese ones running properly but seeing how stable the Turkish one is I think I may abandon that and leave it how it is. The seller of the Turkish ones got a couple more in stock so its not a rare one off find that it seemed original so ordered another space so I should be covered for the rest of the cars lifetime I would imagine. Im not sure if the seller ships international but if you want to try one of these odd Turkish ones message me for a link. They certainly have the finish and quality of modern Bosch units. Still early days with only a few drives under my belt with it but hopefully this will put to rest all the alternator issues Ive been having.

[katana]

Output voltage is a 'bit low' - usually you'd like to see +14v and max of about 14.5 - 14.6v. Where is your volt meter sensing voltage from - I wonder if its just seeing battery voltage?

[Rally Pack 2000]

9 minutes ago, katana said:

Output voltage is a 'bit low' - usually you'd like to see +14v and max of about 14.5 - 14.6v. Where is your volt meter sensing voltage from - I wonder if its just seeing battery voltage?

Its one of those plug in cigarette lighter LED ones. It definitely sees more than the battery voltage as when the last Chinese one failed the weekend before last it shower up to 16.5 volts.

[Rally Pack 2000]

23 hours ago, katana said:

Output voltage is a 'bit low' - usually you'd like to see +14v and max of about 14.5 - 14.6v. Where is your volt meter sensing voltage from - I wonder if its just seeing battery voltage?

Your post made me double check a multi meter reading at the battery itself. It was charging at 14 volts on the most while the cigarette lighter display was showing 13.6v so there is a bit of loss there through the system or the five quid meter isnt that accurate!

[Miniliteman]

38 minutes ago, Rally Pack 2000 said:

 or the five quid meter isnt that accurate!

Is it made in China? 😒

[Rally Pack 2000]

4 minutes ago, Miniliteman said:

Is it made in China? 😒

Strangely it is as a matter of fact! LOL

My Stanley Multi-meter is made in Europe though so I trust it a bit more.

[Vista Estate]

4 minutes ago, Rally Pack 2000 said:

Strangely it is as a matter of fact! LOL

My Stanley Multi-meter is made in Europe though so I trust it a bit more.

Europe with Chinese parts 🤣.

All roads lead to China now🤔

[Miniliteman]

2 hours ago, Rally Pack 2000 said:

Strangely it is as a matter of fact! LOL

My Stanley Multi-meter is made in Europe though so I trust it a bit more.

So you are testing Chinese crap with other Chinese crap 😩

[Rally Pack 2000]

8 hours ago, Vista Estate said:

Europe with Chinese parts 🤣.

All roads lead to China now🤔

 

6 hours ago, Miniliteman said:

So you are testing Chinese crap with other Chinese crap 😩

Technically I was constantly having issues with Chinese crap so I had to buy another piece of Chinese crap to monitor that Chinese crap but had to double check its accuracy with more Chinese crap. In the old days you would just buy something that wasnt Chinese crap and it just worked without having to buy more stuff to check it was working.

The Stanley multi meter I sort of got by accident for the same reason. Family bought me the most expensive one in the shop for Christmas a couple of years back (made in China) but it was faulty from the start so I took it back and the only non Chinese one I could find was this Yellow Stanley one. It looked cheap because everything they make is cheap yellow looking but its display was twice as large as the other one and was half the price. With my eyes going a bit dodgy these days its been great. While im sure you are right it has Chinese parts in it at least they were probably checked and tested before being assembled and the final product checked as well. the Chinese never do that apart from their spy satellites.