Triumphrat

bigbird · 10-11-2005

Hi all
I've known about the problem with the impeller (4 blade thing) bolt coming loose, and I thought I'd sorted it (a bit of lock tight, a few centre punches). All was ok until after a long run the rattle was back but louder,after pulling out alternator I found the impeller bolt had sheered off.
So my question is anyone know if its worth trying to get the thread out?or can you buy bits? or will it have to be a new alternator?

by the way the number stamped on the head of the bolt was 10.9, does this mean anything?

[ This message was edited by: bigbird on 2005-10-11 15:55 ]

Toothpick · 10-12-2005

Hi Bigbird,
Sorry to hear about your alternator problem.
Jack Lilley ( www.jacklilley.com ) list an Alternator spares kit for the 900's, Part No. T1220800, price £77.69 to fix this problem.
Hope this helps.
Toothpick.

pendraig · 10-12-2005

That bolt was problematic and, I believe, was the subject of a recall. I thought that a really late bike like your would have been built after the problem was addressed. If you use "alternator bolt" as search-words in the "advanced search" block at the bottom of the forum page, you will find some past discussions on this.

j98sprint · 10-12-2005

The shaft of the bolt can be removed with a screw extractor. Most auto-parts stores carry them. They're easy to use and work well if you're careful.

Two years ago I had the same problem. I removed the shaft of the bolt with an extractor and replaced the 10.9 bolt with a harder 12.4 bolt. The guy at the hardware store told me that the number on the head of the bolt is the hardness number.

I pulled the alternator two weeks after I installed the new, harder bolt to see how it was holding up. It was loose! I put it back in and added a lock washer and high-strength thread locker.

That was 2 years and 25,000 miles ago. I hope everything is OK in there, I'm afraid to look.

j98sprint

bigbird · 10-12-2005

Hi
thanks for the great info,& cheers toothpick for the web address 'great site'. But after looking at all the feedback from the forums and seeing all the problems lots of you have had I've decided to weld the dam thing on.Will be fitting it in the next few days, so I'll keep you posted.

pendraig · 10-13-2005

I've never heard of anyone doing that before. That doesn't mean that it won't work. Let us know how it goes. As a sales rep for a gas products and welding supply company, I'm also interested in the method you use to do the weld. I would think that TIG (Tungsten/Inert Gas) might make the best job of it without spreading the heat to the wrong places.
Good Luck.

sailfish · 10-15-2005

Welding the impeller on will preclude from doing some service work on the alternator later. I fixed mine by sticking it under the drill press and drilling the broken bolt out. I oversized the hole and tapped it out to the next largest bolt diameter thus reducing the posibility of the bolt breaking again. 20,000 miles later the problem has not resurfaced.

bigbird · 10-17-2005

Hi all

thanks for all your time helping me with this problem, I have welded it on, & so far so good (fingres crossed) I've done 200miles & all sounds good.I have check its charging ok & it is, so only time will tell.
cheers again.

[ This message was edited by: bigbird on 2005-10-17 16:31 ]