I feel like I've seen others discuss driving without the alternator connected, but wanted to validate my beliefs before doing so for very far.
I have the setup where the small fan belt just runs the dash air and alternator. The clutch on the A/C is whining like a banshee. Tried to get it replaced before leaving Knoxville but they could not get one quickly. Also had them try to bypass the compressor with a short belt but the way the alternator is mounted, the tensioner doesn't really move the alternator further from the drive belt.
Long story short.... The screech of death from the clutch is absolutely horrendous. So instead of becomong the attraction at the park we were about to pull into, I removed the belt about 4 miles away from the park.
I was originally planning on putting it back on for driving, but it really is horrendously loud and I'd love to save the effort. We only have 2 more driving days (but lots of miles) before pulling into Camp Newell. So I was thinking:
1. Keep merge on when parked and plugged in.
2. Run the generator for some portion of drive time to keep house batts trickled up.
Yes - merge on, generator on, and coach and chassis batteries get charged and you get some peace and quiet. Safe travels. Russ
A year ago I drove a 3000 mile trip without my alternator working and just ran the Genny with merge on
Fixed it when I got home
Tom
Thanks Tom and Russ. I felt like I remembered reading those posts but didn't see them last night. 3k miles also gives me confidence to skip the compressor at Camp Newell and do it myself to have them focus more on things I can't easily do.
Paul,
You might want to look up the threads for larger pulley on the alternator. The original design with the dual belts is extremely prone to slipping. The problem is not enough wrap on the alternator pulley. Some have solved this issue by putting a larger diameter pulley on the alternator. When you do that it won't charge at idle, but easily charges at running speeds.
From your earlier comments, I am assuming you don't have the serpentine belt setup with idler.
Is it possible to convert to the serpentine configuration from the dual belt?
It is possible, but not financially practical to convert a belt drive to serpentine.
You will need a belt tensioner made for the Series 60. You will also need a serpentine pulley for the accessory drive on the engine. Both will run you upwards of 300.
Then you will need to convert both the compressor and the alternator pulleys to serpentine.
I have also seen one Newell where the owner put an idler on the existing belt setup to put more "wrap" on both the Alt and the AC. It's frowned on in the belt manuals to bend a V belt in the inward direction, but the owner said it worked for him. The idler mount was custom fabricated to fit existing engine bolts.
Much easier to put a larger pulley on the alternator.
That's my .02
Thanks Richard. Yep, I'm non-serpentine. I know I had seen those posts a while back, might have to dig them up once I get a new compressor. Speaking of which, does anyone have a part number for the compressor? I'd like to plan to get one ordered as soon as we are sitting in one place long enough again.
Post a pic
Newell used a couple of different ones
Couldn't get a good picture for a while as we had the bike rack on the back which prevented opening the engine door. While at Newell the past couple days, we just had them replace the compressor to be done with it. Especially heading into colder weather for a few weeks, it will be nice to have good defrost ability.
Unfortunately, we are still getting some belt noise. I noticed it when going to fast idle and it stops after a few seconds. However it also squealed when running the slides in, so I suspect that the belt is slipping when the alternator is under load. Which leads me down the not-enough-belt-contact path as you pointed out before. At least the belt squeal is far less piercing than what that compressor clutch was doing. That thing could have woke the dead and made them very angry in one stroke.
I asked Mike Ellis about the 5" pulley and he wasn't familiar with that solution. What's the best place to try to track that down, an alternator shop? We're headed out to Fort Collins next, I'd like to see if I can track one down out there.
Random side note, just found out from the AutoCAD model that they printed off for us that 540 is yet another Al Unser Jr. coach. Which explains some of the checkerboard patterns in the original paint job that we also just found pictures of.