Alternator conversion

Loyd Dinneen

Active Member
Jul 29, 2017
484
Las Vegas
Boat Info
1977 Sea ray 240 SDA cruiser w/ twin 470 mercs.
Engines
Twin 470 Mercruisers
Has anyone out there have a done a alternator conversion on a 1977 Searay SDA SRV 240 Sundancer? I was wondering which installation the upper or lower install is easier. I am concerned about clearance of the deck or down below near the plywood shield on the strbd side and how it may all fit. I have twin 470s and the area is very tight on all sides. I just had a stator burn up and want to go for the conversion on that engine, the other one is still working as far as I can see if not it will be next. This boat has been a bit of a money pit and I fix one thing and something else breaks, I think I am close to an end as I have fixed just about everything. Right now I just need to know which setup will work with least effort.
 
My 260 has twin 470s but they both have functioning charging systems. The hull is the same except for the length. On the port engine there at least on mine would be room for the upper mounted. The starboard engine I would have to use the lower mount as that engine has the power steering. In either case the engine would most likely have to come out as there is not enough room in front to get the rotor off the front of the engine. Unless of course you have the rotors that already have a pulley on them. Check out Breezeworks as they are a supplier of parts for these engines. I just went through pulling engines about a year ago to replace a port coupler and rear mounts. While I had them out I also replaced cam seals. Any questions let me know.
 
The low mount requires 9 inches of clearance on the side of the motor Top mount almost none on top. Both use the oem balancer pulley groove , installed 3 from this guy.A very nice install and price.1 year warranty and the alt is the 100 amp. Check your messages. post a pic of the engine compartment.
 
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You just answered all the questions that have asked Breezeworks, I will be putting the kits on both engines as I believe the port is not charging either. looks like I will need to change out amp gauges also I don't think the originals go up to 100 amps(one is pegged out anyway). I have the grooved pulley and it looks like the top mount will be easier to do and get at. The price is right for sure.
 
The amp meters was actually a change that mercruiser did. They found there was enough resistance in the length of the wires that they changed over to a volt meter. I would suggest doing that change. Just need a small wire from the ignition switch to the gauge and then to ground. Pretty easy to disconnect the original wires going forward while doing the conversion. Good luck.
 
remove the ammeter gauge and install volt meter gauges
With the link I sent you , you eliminate the extra pulley and the work to center it correctly
 
Sorry BT I didn't get any link, I sure appreciate the help and will hook up my battery volt gauges over to the alternators after I get them set up and disconnect the amp gauges, may replace with volt gauges in the dash later on.
 
s-l1600.jpg
 
Is this any better than the set up sold by breezeworks? I don't have power steering so it is pretty simple. Sure looks like a simple set up to install and line up.
 
I bit the bullet and purchased two of those alternator kits that you had a picture of and got a real good deal for 620.00 including shipping for the two kits. Will be here in about a week. Really nice guy to do business with. Those kits look like the easiest to install.
 
Have one of the alternator kits installed on the stbd engine with the exception of putting the belt on seems to be a little short will have roll it on when I can get another hand to turn over the engine. Have removed the amp gauges and put the volt gauges in place. What I see is the stbd amp gauge has alot of wires on the right post port gauge not so many. I know I don't need but two wires for the volt gauge so at the moment I have removed the wires from the amp gauges and bolted each post of wires and labeled them. Tomorrow I will check to see which wires are tied into the ignition switch and use them for the volt gauge and find the grounds. Still have to install the port alternator kit and uninstall the regulater wiring. One question I have for anyone is have you ever did a gauge change over on a 77 sda 240 sundancer and what did you do with all those wires that comes off the amp gauges?
 
post a pic of the back of the gauge, normally only just 2 wires
Never had a belt issue with his product, have you tried installing the belt first ,then the adjusting bolt

If your regulator is missing this jumper , add it
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Have tried to add belt and the put bolt in the adjuster but won't quite reach the hole. I will jump it on should be good after running it abit and the belt stretches. I see that long orange wire on the port engine and both have small jumper wires. After I get the volt gauge wired up and belt installed I will see how things work. Voltmeter has only two wires to install ampmeter had about 6 or 8 wires on it I just kept the groups together and bolted them and labeled their location. The port amp gauge had the 10 gauge orange wire just like the regulator has the stbd gauge had large 10 and 12 gauge red wires and large black wires which I would think are ground wires. If I can I will take pictures of the wiring later on.
 
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Well got the belt on and ran the engines and both alternators are charging 14.7 volts and bodies very warm to the touch. I didn't mess with the regulator on the port engine other than disconnecting the rectifier wire and taping them up. Both volt gauges show about 13.9 volts with the stbd gauge dropping down to 12.5 volts and then up again to 13.5. Port gauge hold just below 14.0 volts. I also have some digital volt gauges that are connected to the batteries and they show 14.7 volts as does the terminals at the alternators. So what the heck do I need to do seems like the alternators are in a full charge mode. The trim gauge is pegging and unpegging and the volt gauge has a tic on the stbd side. Man I am not an electricion
 
Well tonight went back out to the boat and had a look at the amp gauge wiring that I had removed and organized and there was two wires one red and one black that was on one of the posts on the port amp gauge. I kind of thought was a bit strange so I tested then for voltage. The red showed 12+ volts and the black none. When I disconnected them at first there was no starter at the ignition switch ,and a bundle of hot wires from the stbd engine was very hot. So I disconnected the odd wires and tightened the hot wires up and then I got a starter circuit back and the wires cooled down.I then taped the other two wires separtely and now the voltage gauge and trim gauge both work properly and the alternators both now charge at 14.5 volts and are cooler to touch. I not sure what to do with all those wires that come off the amp gauges other than how I did it by keeping each post of wires together and taping them up to keep from getting shorts and labeling them for any future referance. I also fixed some other wiring issues with the dash switches and now ( KNOCK ON WOOD) perhaps I can get it out to the lake for a test run for the heating issue, wish me luck.
 

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