The Ford Barn

Lawson Cox · 06-24-2014, 09:54 AM

I have a weird noise, sound, near the alternator, that I can't figure out in my noggin. It is a one wire alternator that is fitted with a stock fan. It sounds sort of like the noise a 6 blade fan makes, but fan is correct stock 4 blade. The sound just started a few days ago. I am going to check it out first with a mechanic's stethoscope. Then I will remove fan belt and see if it stops/changes any. It is just a slight wind rush thing. Anyone ever heard of such???

machine girl · 06-24-2014, 10:10 AM

unhook the alt wire, sometimes a short at or in the alt will make sounds?? or bearing?

40cpe · 06-24-2014, 10:16 AM

I would suspect a bearing, too. I've heard that the fans mounted the alternator pulley are hard on the alternator bearings, they aren't built for it.

Lawson Cox · 06-24-2014, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 40cpe

I would suspect a bearing, too. I've heard that the fans mounted the alternator pulley are hard on the alternator bearings, they aren't built for it.

This alternator is made by the guy that uses the stock early Ford generator mount that has the heavy bearing in front, so don't think it is bearing, but will disconnect wire and see if that changes/ eliminates the sound.

machine girl · 06-24-2014, 10:35 AM

bearings still go bad heavy or not or china!

Lawson Cox · 06-29-2014, 07:52 AM

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Checking out weird noise and found another. Still haven't located the "wind noise" thing. In checking the alternator with a stethoscope, when I touch it on the ends, where the bearings are, it is purring like a kitten, but in the mid body, there is a noise or sound that I cannot figure out. I have never listened to an alternator before like this so I do not know if this is normal or not. What say you?

BrianCT · 06-29-2014, 09:12 AM

I's those little electrons whirring around.

Lawson Cox · 06-29-2014, 08:05 PM

Now you know, it could be. LOL They sure are noisy little buggers using the stethoscope, but you can't hear them with the "naked ear".

Bill Wright · 06-29-2014, 10:19 PM

Be careful not to let the smoke out.

Lawson Cox · 06-30-2014, 07:02 AM

Roflmsao

Dec211975 · 06-30-2014, 04:33 PM

A bad diode in your alternator will produce a noise much like a bad bearing; This would reduce your output by about 1/3 rd and if you were to check the output with an oscilloscope you would notice an AC sine wave (120 hertz) running along with your DC sine wave

Regards,

Brian

Lawson Cox · 06-30-2014, 04:55 PM

Tanks, but I do not speak Greek. LOL I'll get someone to check it out.

Dec211975 · 06-30-2014, 07:27 PM

You being a Lawyer, I thought you understood Greek better than me!

Lawson Cox · 06-30-2014, 07:41 PM

No, Lawyers use Latin, which I am illiterate in as well. LOL

Lawson Cox · 07-05-2014, 07:57 AM

Well, I was tinkering around in the engine compartment again and listened to the alternator again with the old wooden dowel trick. The sound is gone. I will just have to take a listen every now and then to see if it is an intermittent thing.

G.M. · 07-05-2014, 08:12 AM

Maybe it is the fan belt. Next time give the fan belt a little shot of WD-40 and see it it stops. G.M.

koates · 07-05-2014, 09:01 AM

Hi there, Its usual after you start a car up, that the alternator will charge higher to replace the power used in starting by the starter motor. This higher charge rate (more amps) produces a whirring or whine in the alternator stator windings for a while until the battery picks up and the charge rate reduces after some minutes. This is a quite normal occurrence. If however the noise is there all the time then maybe there is one faulty diode or a bad connection on one phase in the alternator. The alternator has three phases or windings on the stator and if one phase is out then a electrical out of balance occurs in simple terms and can create that noise also. When the noise is present check your ammeter to see what it is charging at. Regards, Kevin.

Lawson Cox · 07-05-2014, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G.M.

Maybe it is the fan belt. Next time give the fan belt a little shot of WD-40 and see it it stops. G.M.

It is definitely in the alternator George. It sounds fine at the ends, where the bearings are, but the sound is in the center where the guts are.

I'll follow Kevin's suggestion and see what's up.

Thanks Kevin.

06-24-2014, 09:54 AM	#1
Lawson Cox Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Above the gnat line in Georgia Posts: 7,009	I am "fixing to" investigate a wierd noise I have a weird noise, sound, near the alternator, that I can't figure out in my noggin. It is a one wire alternator that is fitted with a stock fan. It sounds sort of like the noise a 6 blade fan makes, but fan is correct stock 4 blade. The sound just started a few days ago. I am going to check it out first with a mechanic's stethoscope. Then I will remove fan belt and see if it stops/changes any. It is just a slight wind rush thing. Anyone ever heard of such??? __________________ Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer to the end, the faster it goes. It is better to be seen, than viewed. "We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm".

06-24-2014, 10:10 AM	#2
machine girl Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 422	Re: I am "fixing to" investigate a wierd noise unhook the alt wire, sometimes a short at or in the alt will make sounds?? or bearing?

06-24-2014, 10:16 AM	#3
40cpe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Star, MS Posts: 4,024	Re: I am "fixing to" investigate a wierd noise I would suspect a bearing, too. I've heard that the fans mounted the alternator pulley are hard on the alternator bearings, they aren't built for it.

06-24-2014, 10:35 AM	#5
machine girl Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 422	Re: I am "fixing to" investigate a wierd noise bearings still go bad heavy or not or china!

06-29-2014, 07:52 AM	#6
Lawson Cox Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Above the gnat line in Georgia Posts: 7,009	Re: I am "fixing to" investigate a wierd noise Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Checking out weird noise and found another. Still haven't located the "wind noise" thing. In checking the alternator with a stethoscope, when I touch it on the ends, where the bearings are, it is purring like a kitten, but in the mid body, there is a noise or sound that I cannot figure out. I have never listened to an alternator before like this so I do not know if this is normal or not. What say you? __________________ Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer to the end, the faster it goes. It is better to be seen, than viewed. "We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm".

06-29-2014, 09:12 AM	#7
BrianCT Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Windham, CT Posts: 702	Re: I am "fixing to" investigate a wierd noise I's those little electrons whirring around. __________________ [FONT=Comic Sans MS]

06-29-2014, 08:05 PM	#8
Lawson Cox Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Above the gnat line in Georgia Posts: 7,009	Re: I am "fixing to" investigate a wierd noise Now you know, it could be. LOL They sure are noisy little buggers using the stethoscope, but you can't hear them with the "naked ear". __________________ Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer to the end, the faster it goes. It is better to be seen, than viewed. "We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm".

06-29-2014, 10:19 PM	#9
Bill Wright Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: California Posts: 76	Re: I am "fixing to" investigate a wierd noise Be careful not to let the smoke out.

06-30-2014, 07:02 AM	#10
Lawson Cox Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Above the gnat line in Georgia Posts: 7,009	Re: I am "fixing to" investigate a wierd noise Roflmsao __________________ Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer to the end, the faster it goes. It is better to be seen, than viewed. "We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm". Last edited by Lawson Cox; 06-30-2014 at 07:33 AM.

06-30-2014, 04:33 PM	#11
Dec211975 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Monroe, Wi Posts: 247	Re: I am "fixing to" investigate a wierd noise A bad diode in your alternator will produce a noise much like a bad bearing; This would reduce your output by about 1/3 rd and if you were to check the output with an oscilloscope you would notice an AC sine wave (120 hertz) running along with your DC sine wave Regards, Brian

06-30-2014, 04:55 PM	#12
Lawson Cox Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Above the gnat line in Georgia Posts: 7,009	Re: I am "fixing to" investigate a wierd noise Tanks, but I do not speak Greek. LOL I'll get someone to check it out. __________________ Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer to the end, the faster it goes. It is better to be seen, than viewed. "We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm".

06-30-2014, 07:27 PM	#13
Dec211975 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Monroe, Wi Posts: 247	Re: I am "fixing to" investigate a wierd noise You being a Lawyer, I thought you understood Greek better than me!

06-30-2014, 07:41 PM	#14
Lawson Cox Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Above the gnat line in Georgia Posts: 7,009	Re: I am "fixing to" investigate a wierd noise No, Lawyers use Latin, which I am illiterate in as well. LOL __________________ Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer to the end, the faster it goes. It is better to be seen, than viewed. "We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm".

07-05-2014, 07:57 AM	#15
Lawson Cox Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Above the gnat line in Georgia Posts: 7,009	Re: I am "fixing to" investigate a wierd noise Well, I was tinkering around in the engine compartment again and listened to the alternator again with the old wooden dowel trick. The sound is gone. I will just have to take a listen every now and then to see if it is an intermittent thing. __________________ Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer to the end, the faster it goes. It is better to be seen, than viewed. "We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm".

07-05-2014, 08:12 AM	#16
G.M. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Florida and Penna. Posts: 4,471	Re: I am "fixing to" investigate a wierd noise Maybe it is the fan belt. Next time give the fan belt a little shot of WD-40 and see it it stops. G.M. __________________ www.fordcollector.com

07-05-2014, 09:01 AM	#17
koates Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Melbourne Australia. Posts: 2,081	Re: I am "fixing to" investigate a wierd noise Hi there, Its usual after you start a car up, that the alternator will charge higher to replace the power used in starting by the starter motor. This higher charge rate (more amps) produces a whirring or whine in the alternator stator windings for a while until the battery picks up and the charge rate reduces after some minutes. This is a quite normal occurrence. If however the noise is there all the time then maybe there is one faulty diode or a bad connection on one phase in the alternator. The alternator has three phases or windings on the stator and if one phase is out then a electrical out of balance occurs in simple terms and can create that noise also. When the noise is present check your ammeter to see what it is charging at. Regards, Kevin.