Alternator LH or RH?

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SteveSarabande

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ok this alternator is dead, but is it a LH or RH we need. The adjuster bar is visible top left.

The current one is 70a but will fitting a 55a give any noticable difference. This 12v alternator only charges the starter battery, the 24v one on the other side charges all the domestic stuff.

A 55a is available locally, the 70a would have to be ordered.

IMG_2535.jpg
 
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SteveSarabande said:
ok this alternator is dead, but is it a LH or RH we need. The adjuster bar is visible top left.

The current one is 70a but will fitting a 55a give any noticable difference. This 12v alternator only charges the starter battery, the 24v one on the other side charges all the domestic stuff.

A 55a is available locally, the 70a would have to be ordered.
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Cant see the drive end in the picture. They usually turn the same way as the engine . Most engines turn clockwise when viewed from the front ... that would, i think, make it right handed.

BUT I cant off hand think what the difference between a LH and a RH will be. Brushes ??
 
stevie69p said:
I think the left hand or right hand refers to the way the mounting brackets are laid out, not to the direction of rotation...
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I think that too from What I read. In ours the adjustment bar is above the main axle as you look at it from the front. I think that means it is a RH, but before ordering and shipping to the Caribbean it would be nice to confirm that.
 
SteveSarabande said:
I think that too from What I read. In ours the adjustment bar is above the main axle as you look at it from the front. I think that means it is a RH, but before ordering and shipping to the Caribbean it would be nice to confirm that.
Click to expand...

I'm trying to remember how we used to classify the old Lucas ACR alternators... I think if you sat the alternator down on a flat surface with the mounting brackets and the adjusting hole at the bottom (on a table / flat surface) then the LH or RH was what side the mounting holes were on when viewed from the front. But this is me thinking back 20 years, and I struggle to recall stuff from last week!
 
SteveSarabande said:
I think that too from What I read. In ours the adjustment bar is above the main axle as you look at it from the front. I think that means it is a RH, but before ordering and shipping to the Caribbean it would be nice to confirm that.
Click to expand...

Yes, it's where the adjustment lug is located. Nothing to do with fan rotation. There are some photo examples of LH and RH variants here - https://www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk/product_list/168
 
SteveSarabande said:
ok this alternator is dead, but is it a LH or RH we need. The adjuster bar is visible top left.

The current one is 70a but will fitting a 55a give any noticable difference. This 12v alternator only charges the starter battery, the 24v one on the other side charges all the domestic stuff.

A 55a is available locally, the 70a would have to be ordered.

View attachment 63339
Click to expand...

The left and right hand refers to the mounting bracket configuration. However the actual assembly parts of left and right are usually identical so it is possible to switch a left hand to tight hand by removing the frame bolts and rotation g the parts to the required configuration then resecuring. Your supplier should be able to confirm this.
 
Bilgediver said:
The left and right hand refers to the mounting bracket configuration. However the actual assembly parts of left and right are usually identical so it is possible to switch a left hand to tight hand by removing the frame bolts and rotation g the parts to the required configuration then resecuring. Your supplier should be able to confirm this.
Click to expand...

The only caveat to the above is that some come with adjuster hole tapped to take a bolt rather than just drilled to have a bolt go straight through, so you may end up having to drill the thread out.
 
Steve you can swop over the brackets quite easily. Just undo all the nuts on the body, carefully remove the regulator and bushes ( not as tricky as it sounds) spin the bracket to the required hand. Just fitted a new one onto my boat. They all come right handed I believe. It could be just the regulator that has blown.
 
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