scary moment

[dhla40]

Had a rummage through the spares that came with my car today and found the drip tray/heatshield for under the carbs so thought I would refit it.  Big mistake, with the  tray in place it made a direct short with the alternator main feed terminal luckily I checked this before connecting the battery avoiding fireworks.  Is this a known problem or do I have the wrong alternator/fan belt combination?  The alternator is a ducellier and the belt is 763mm, even with the tray removed the gap between the bottom of the front carb and the live terminal looks to close for comfort , would like to hear any thoughts on this.

Sean

[lancialulu]

Sean

from memory your alternator/belt combo is right. If you are not at the end of adjustment the the belt is right and also not stretched.

The tray should go over the top of the alternator so I dont see how the terminal fouls it unless the feed wire is mounted incorrectly. It is all very tight.

The drip tray also needs a plastic fule pipe to take away any drips to below sump level.

The tray should be fitted at all costs to prevent a bbq under the bonnet!

Tim

[dhla40]

Hi Tim

There is no way I can fit the tray without making contact with the alternator.  I think I will have to try and move the alt forward or fit a shorter belt to move it down a bit, either way the clearance will be minimal.  At the moment the proximity of 12v and leaking fuel from the bottom of the carb is worrying.

Sean 

[fay66]

Hi Sean,
Any photos?

Brian
8227

[lancialulu]

Sean

as per Brian... r u sure you a) have the right piece of metal mascarading as a tray, or indeed have you fitted the tray as per a fulvia fit. You are right to try and sort!

Tim

[lancialulu]

Sean

I have just had a look at my drip tray and where you have the shaped (curved up) part at the front to clear the alternator you should have about a finger thickness clearance between the tray undersdide and the top of the alternator.

Tim

[ColinMarr]

Sean,

The photo below shows how mine looked at the start of the ‘red-light saga’ that I posted in January (see earlier posts under Fulvia Alternator replacement)

It is a fiddle to re-fit the drip tray, but it must be a good thing to have with the carbs in such close proximity to the alternator.

The photo shows what a snug fit it is and how close the tray is to the Exciter terminal (black wire) of the alternator. The main power terminals (red wire) are much further away and I can’t see how these could come in contact with the tray.

Colin

[fay66]

Sean,

The photo below shows how mine looked at the start of the ‘red-light saga’ that I posted in January (see earlier posts under Fulvia Alternator replacement)

It is a fiddle to re-fit the drip tray, but it must be a good thing to have with the carbs in such close proximity to the alternator.

The photo shows what a snug fit it is and how close the tray is to the Exciter terminal (black wire) of the alternator. The main power terminals (red wire) are much further away and I can’t see how these could come in contact with the tray.

Colin

Bit better with a dynamo!

Brian
8227

[ColinMarr]

Brian,

Yes, and easier to see, and take photos of, when you don’t have a sideways-opening bonnet, and apparently without as radiator!

Colin

[lancialulu]

I often wondered why dynamo's didnt give enough charge but seeing that belt I understand!!!

Tim

[fay66]

I often wondered why dynamo's didnt give enough charge but seeing that belt I understand!!!

Tim

Unlike the Coupes, when it's all attached you can't even see it, let alone take a photo, but I must admit I think the Sport has even worse access than the Berlina, and that's saying something

Brian
8227

[Neil Lewis]

It pprobably sounds obvious but...  Why not just fit a shorter alternator belt and be done with it.  That's exactly what I did, it was a bit of a palaver to get the belt on (but Fulvia belts are always difficult to fit with the radiator so close), but I had the fingers width afterwards which was fine.

By the way, older belts are narrower than the newest ones.  So an old belt will appear longer when fitted because it goes deeper into the pulleys.

Neil

[dhla40]

Sorted at some time in the past the alternator had been taken apart and reassembled incorrectly putting the main terminal at the top.  I just had to undo the through bolts and spin the body to put the exciter terminal at the top and the main feed safely below. Might be something worth checking if you have a ducellier, not sure if the bosch alt could have the same clearance problem.  If something can be done wrong etc, etc.

Sean

[fay66]

Sorted at some time in the past the alternator had been taken apart and reassembled incorrectly putting the main terminal at the top.  I just had to undo the through bolts and spin the body to put the exciter terminal at the top and the main feed safely below. Might be something worth checking if you have a ducellier, not sure if the bosch alt could have the same clearance problem.  If something can be done wrong etc, etc.

Sean

Excellent example of Sods Law

Brian
8227

[lancialulu]

Easy done on reassembling the alternator (I've done it myself when rebuilding but realised before refitting).

kicking myself for not thinking of it but a good example of picking up someone elses work.

Well done for sorting.

Tim