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alternator rubbing on cradle

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BaccoBouncer View Drop Down
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    Posted: May-31-2020 at 7:42pm
I have a 1997 Nautique with the GM 350 TBI. The person I purchased the boat from was the original owner. He had very low hours on it and never any major service, just recommended maintenance. When I first looked at the boat I noticed that the alternator was rubbing on the engine cradle. When I changed my drive shaft a few year back and was aligning the shaft/moving teh motor around, the only way to get the shaft aligned with the motor was to have the motor in a position where the alternator was touching the motor cradle. It makes it miserable for getting the belt tight. I have to buy belts that are as small as possible to where I can still get them on, but it is still hard to get them tight. From what little investigation I did it seems that cradle was designed around the Ford with an alternator mounted high. The GM has no clearance.
I figure the best solution is to get an alternator with a smaller housing diameter. Any ideas? I figured some hotrod guys might know of alternators that are compact for light weight racing etc. Or has anyone else with a GM motor experienced this same issue?
Thanks
-Adam
'97 21' Sport Nautique
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Nautiquehunter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June-01-2020 at 9:13am
What is on there now. A picture would help a lot.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BaccoBouncer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June-01-2020 at 9:44am
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 8122pbrainard Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June-01-2020 at 9:55am
Originally posted by BaccoBouncer BaccoBouncer wrote:

   I have to buy belts that are as small as possible to where I can still get them on,
-Adam

Adam,
To me, it sure looks like you need an even shorter belt.


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote KENO Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June-01-2020 at 10:27am
Bacco

Just so you don't feel like the Lone Ranger here's another picture with not much clearance   

Originally posted by gravyleg pirate gravyleg pirate wrote:


   
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote GottaSki Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June-01-2020 at 10:48am
Perhaps dont dismiss a shorter belt yet. if one removes the adjustment bolt for a moment. Or swing the slotted adjuster down and out of the way for to get the belt on then replace the lower bolt.

Seems you already took a grinder to the cradle.

those always squeal like a pig. wonder if a double belt could be configured with a different alt pulley.
"There is nothing, absolutely nothing, half so much worthwhile as messing around with boats...simply messing."

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote KENO Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June-01-2020 at 10:54am
Originally posted by KENO KENO wrote:

From the thread about your alignment here's a picture of your clearance.

You look to have a good 1/4 inch, what more do you need


Originally posted by BaccoBouncer BaccoBouncer wrote:


   
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BaccoBouncer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June-01-2020 at 12:52pm
Keno, Wow you are good with research. That pic had the alternator loose I think.
I cant' go with a smaller belt because the alternator is hitting the block with it swung in. i even removed the locking bolt just to see if I could more. i might have also removed the pivot bolt (don't remember but I may try that. I could take the Alt pulley off and put a smaller belt on and then slide the pulley back on. But I dont' know if that get's me anything considering I am pulling the Alt pulley farther from the crank pulley to get it on and off. Some of the spacing get's used up with the motor moving from torque. It seems to push it back in as it hits the cradle and it is looser than when installed. You can see how I just want to find a smaller alt. Why does it need such a large one anyway, it charges the starter battery and runs a radio at most. I don't have a fridge and air conditioning on it.

Over all it's just a ridiculous design considering how much space their is on this boat for the motor. Why was there so many motor options? It is ridiculous and adds so much more engineering to making sure they all can work. Motors put out torque on a rotating shaft. That's pretty much it for functionality. Have two options big and small, by the same manufacturer and be done with it. I'm not just ranting I am actually curious if anyone has an answer for this silliness. BTW I'm an engineer that has worked in marine engine design. My motors were 90,000 Hp and went on super tankers, turbo two stroke diesels. You could walk in the crankcase. So this kind of BS drives designers nuts.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BaccoBouncer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June-01-2020 at 12:57pm
This is me next to a piston and an exhaust valve I participated in the design of. I did the calculations to optimize thermal load vs physical stress. (That's not a perm, it was just the '90s)
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