Subject: RE: Generator Bracket Question
Author: Ian Adkins
Date: Nov 16, 2004, 3:43 AM
Post ID: 1717892120
Hi All,
I began tearing into Baretta's engine yesterday. Everything looked ok as I
removed the ring gear, clutch assembly and flywheel. Lots of clutch dust had
accumulated but everything looked solid. Does anyone know the wear limits on
the plates? The ones in there had a fair bit left but I'll likley go with
new clutch plates anyways. That will leave me with two sets of plates with a
fair bit of material on them...but I've done my time removing engines to get
to the plates :-)
As for the generator bracket...looked like the PO (or whomever did the work)
had been too lazy to remove the oil line to get a straight shot at the bolts
so installed them at an angle. I'll have to helicoil (or timesert as
suggested). What is the diameter that should be used to predrill the hole? I
am wondering if the aluminum might be weakened by drilling the tap hole. I
am assuming that I should red loctite the inserts in place?
I will get to the top end tonight. Feels good to finally get into the
engine....Ian
Keith: The generator should be pretty solid, while you have the tank off you should definitely take a few minutes and take the generator off to inspect the bracket. I've seen them cracked on the bottom between a mounting hole and the side; sometimes a bolt comes loose and strips out the aluminum threads in the engine case, possibly from being overtorqued by someone before it got to you; always be mindful when cranking down on a bolt threaded into softer aluminum threads. In one instance a PO broke off one of the bolts in the case and retapped the remains for a smaller one, nice piece of bodge work. I've welded another piece of steel over the complete bottom of the inside of the bracket as a repair (doesn't change the tension dimension), and have done the standard repair of helicoils (better yet, Timesertshttp://www.timesert.com/) and replaced the bolts with locktited studs with nylock nuts and star lockwashers to hold the bracket down. You'll need an angle drill attachment to do this with the engine in the frame, I can lend you one if you go that route.. John Prusnek |