I know I'll probably get flamed for this, but I am a bit of a neat freak. I have rebuilt my engine and the block was glass beaded etc etc so it looks BRAND SPANKING NEW. However the other components like Alt, PS pump etc look old and there is some corrosion on them. I wanted to be different and clean these components while the engine is out of the car. I was thinking to clean them and then spray them with 1200 degree clear. The question comes in since the coils on the Alt are exposed would the clear coat hinder the performance of the Alt?

Simple Question... Can you paint an Alternator without killing it?

 

 

Not the brightest thing i've ever heard of but oh well. I would strongly recommend against it. Inside the alternator are surfaces that need to contact each other (in most simplest of terms). If you accidentally get too much paint inside you are basically insulating them and now have a fancy paper weight. Understand?

I can picture the gooey mesh as i type this, especially when things start to get hot.

I say hell no...mis dos pesos.

 

Is it possible to remove the outer housing and just clean that up and re-install?

 

Paint it with a brush and make sure you dont have any paint dripping down inside the housing.

 

sounds to me like more things can go wrong than 'right'.

 

"Is it possible to remove the outer housing and just clean that up and re-install?"

Like he said...

 

Yeah its possible to remove it, I've seeen many min truckers and old school show cars chrome theirs out for that neat look under the bay......like people say anything is possible...

 

Take it apart and paint it properly if you do it..

I don't see anything totally wrong with it.

But why not just polish it with a buffer instead? Bling bling?

 

well, post pics of the sparkling engine.

 

none of the parts that rewuire contact are readily paintable fromthe outside unless u plan on dipping it in a bucket. just go sparingly on the paint, andu will be fine, it is only the outside of the armature that will get paint on it, and that doesnt hurt it

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Is it possible to remove the outer housing and just clean that up and re-install?</TD></TR></TABLE>

That was my next question. Just didn't want to take this thing apart and not be able to get it back together. Okay don't laugh, but the alternator is just and electric motor that generates electricity right?
Basic design is that of an RC car motor. The Coils on the RC motor are covered with silicone or some kind of laminate.

 

Yes, you're right. The parts inside are pretty similar.. but a motor is different from a generator.

Just don't get paint on the parts inside (brushes, windings, stator, magnets, etc) and you'll be good.

 

Okay I don't recommend taking it apart.



I HAD a spare Alt. I suspected that it may be broken but it may not have been until now. I am sure it won't work again now. LOL I took off the little nuts holding ittogether and gently pulled on the housing.
After a bit of fanessing the housing came apart and pieces went rolling . I put it back together with all the parts I could find BUT it was HARD to get it to fit like it did before I tampered with it. Not a big deal cuase I can still use that one to trade in as a Core, but for those who have never done this before I don't recommend it.
I am pretty mechanically inclined and I have rebuilt two engine so far and countless other things. So I am not one who takes things apart and typically can't get them back together.

I think I will paint it and just be careful not to get too much in the vent holes.
The part that Spins and the contacts aren't exposed (this I can see once I opened it.)
Although a Generator and electric Motor are built for two different purposes the components and construction are very much the same.The Coils are laminated with silicone and this is the only thing that is exposed to the vents and the only thing that would get some paint on it

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by TypeR 01 886 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">well, post pics of the sparkling engine.</TD></TR></TABLE>

As you requested.


Still haven't painted the Alt but polishing it is out of the question. Too time consuming plus I accitentally created a mice Paint combo of Black and gold to make a nice bronze that is pretty cool IMO Will post pics of the bronze later