470 Mercruiser charging system

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blasep

Cadet
Joined
Oct 12, 2006
Messages
26
Ive heard a lot about the many problems with the 470. This is my first boat, Ive had it a couple years with minimal problems but now I am seeing all the problems Ive heard about. I am working on the cooling system and possible head gasket. But the stator made a noise last time out and quit charging...so I am assuming it is no good.
I would like to convert to an alternator... I ordered a marine alternator and am hoping I can make a bracket for it and wire it up to work...If anybody has ever done this I would really appreciate any help.
first question is does the harmonic balancer come off with just the one bolt...that is all I see and didnt want to force it.
not sure about the wiring either but I guess I have to see if I can get it mounted first and then tackle that.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
thanks
Nick
 
Bt Doctur

Bt Doctur

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Aug 29, 2004
Messages
19,344
Re: 470 Mercruiser charging system

you remove the bolt and use a "harmonic balancer puller"
 
K

King P.V.

Seaman
Joined
Aug 13, 2005
Messages
72
Re: 470 Mercruiser charging system

there's a alt. kit you can/should buy, Why re-invent the wheel. A little research will find it......
 
G

guyaverage

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 4, 2008
Messages
101
Re: 470 Mercruiser charging system

Go to Breezeworks.net and email or talk to Kevin, he will set you up with a bracket kit. Kevins kits come with or without the alternator. There are a variety of kits on ebay also, some better than others. I would avoid the Wagner kit, I have heard very little good about it.

Or if you do want to reinvent the wheel and spend a bit of time, you can make your own, its not terribly hard. I made my own and so far 2 years in everything is holding up quite nicely. Alternator, hardware and wiring and I have less than $80 in this:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/guyaverage/April017.jpg

Thats a picture of my original setup, I have made a few changes to the upper bracket to make it even more rigid beacuse this setup was randomly snapping bolts (the adjuster bolt, specifically). I can take pictures of the current setup if you want, it wont be for a few days though.

If I had to do it all over again, I would just get a kit. Much easier, much less time spent screwing around inventing things, no drilling, no filing, etc. You will spend $200+ on a kit, but nobody buys a 470 to save money..... :D

If you are using a 'one-wire' alternator, wiring is a snap. The two yellow stator wires get disconnected from the 470 regulator and individually taped or shrink wrapped, then zip-tied out of the way. The sense lead and charge lead on the regulator also get disconnected, and individually taped or shrink wrapped. The 'one-wire' from the alternator gets connected either to the battery (+) lug, or the (+) lug on the starter, either one. Wiring is done.

If you heard noise and suddenly had no charging, one or more of the magnets are probably loose on the inside of the balancer. You will need to remove it and either reglue the loose ones, or remove all of them and all traces of glue and magnet. Most of mine snapped right off. One did not, and it took the better part of 2-3 hours of scraping, grinding, and cussing to get it completely removed. Wear leather gloves, trust me..
 
zbnutcase

zbnutcase

Commander
Joined
Sep 19, 2009
Messages
2,055
Re: 470 Mercruiser charging system

$200 on a kit? Try about 500 now. 'nutcase
 
B

blasep

Cadet
Joined
Oct 12, 2006
Messages
26
Re: 470 Mercruiser charging system

thanks for the replies...yea i saw the kits but really didnt want to spend that much...thought I could make the bracket. thanks for the pic (average) of your homemade one. and I didnt know about the manual online so thanks for that. Well I guess Im gonna try to make it and see how that goes... I am waiting on the alternator so I can see where it bolts up. looks like I may have to move the coil and/or coolant resevoir?? I will probably have more questions so I will post back and let you know how it goes.
thanks for the help
Nick
 
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