[Guy]

Hi Guy......when I was there at Choo Choo Express having my coach serviced back in January of 2013 I was told my rattling alternator would fail soon......it has been almost 5 years since I was told that and it is still working fine....the rattle is no worse than it was then.  I'm not telling you to have it replaced, but it may not be an emergency.  I am not implying they are being dishonest.....I like them a lot and would have my coach serviced there again without a second thought.  I am just saying I don't think this is an emergency, and I don't think it should take 8 hours.  I know that Steve Ward (Prarieschooner) removed his alternator (gear driven) himself.  He also has a 6v92 like me, and that may be the difference in being able to access it more easily....a shorter engine.

It gives me hope knowing that it can be done. Don at Choo Choo is 88 this year. I don't want him to ask Joel to do anything he is not comfortable with. They certainly know their way around a Detroit 2 cycle, but not Newell experience. They are used to lots of access doors on commercial buses, hence they want me to chop one under the bed.

It looks like I have 4 inches between the alternator and the firewall. It all depends on how long the bolts are and the length of the shaft and gear. 

My alternator quit working several thousand miles ago, but was not critical because of the nightly rv park hookups, and the genny running ac on the road on the really hot days.

I was fine ignoring it for a while longer until they told me that there are ball bearing involved that MAY drop down through the gear set into the engine
when the alternator mechanically gives up.