Cleaning the alternators

Harmon

Member
Jun 28, 2011
357
Jackson NJ/Beach Haven LBI
Boat Info
Current: 2006 320DA as of 6/7/19
Previous 1997 Sundancer 250
1989 Basstracker 40HP
Engines
Twin 350 Horizon with Vdrives

Single 7.4 Ltr carbed
Bravo 3 outdrive
After laying around on top of my motors looking down hither and yond I notice a very heavy build up of what looks like soot on both generators. Black sooty, slightly oily coating, pretty heavy to the point that its almost clogging the vented areas. Mechanic said it belt dust build up, what ever it is I know its not helping alternator performance.
Im thinking shop vac and brush and maybe some electronics cleaner to finish off and then run motors?
 
Can't see a problem with your plan... definitely sounds like there'y not getting the needed cooling.
 
Yea, definitely a large build up of something black, it also was covering the flame arrestors to the point I may need to replace them. And!! its covering the whole intake area of the throttle body under the flame arrestor to the pint I may have to scrape it off and shop vac at the same time.
This is a new to me boat in 2019 so Im guessing the prev owner was a tad neglectful
 
I would check belt alignment. Just a possibility.
 
Yea, definitely a large build up of something black, it also was covering the flame arrestors to the point I may need to replace them. And!! its covering the whole intake area of the throttle body under the flame arrestor to the pint I may have to scrape it off and shop vac at the same time.
This is a new to me boat in 2019 so Im guessing the prev owner was a tad neglectful
That does sound excessive... you might check the pulley alignments and look for excessive belt wear.
 
I started to get a lot of belt dust showing up as well and it turned out to be the raw water pumps starting to go. Because they are on the transom end on a v-Drive you don't always see the symptoms of the bearings going and causing the belts to rub more. So you may want to check the pulleys and pumps as well.
 
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JimG I seen where you are in WV.
Where do you boat?
 
"NewJimG I seen where you are in WV.
Where do you boat?"
highjacker
 
I will check alignments and tensions for sure. As a matter of fact in the fall a mechanic said starboard tensioner could not be tightened properly, may be stripped or worn out. But dam, that a lot of debris flying around the engine room.
I could not believe the buildup on the butterfly valve, like I said I have to use shop vac and suck up the crap so it wont fall in to intake.
 

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