On Feb 16, 1:22 pm, "Tim" wrote:
James wrote:
I'm not
surpirsed about your alternator, I can not see anything about mine that
makes it marine and I know for a fact it is the original merc alternatior.

Depending on the set up. If the alternator is a Motorola (maybe
labeled as "Prestolite" or "Leece Neville") ,Those little units are
marine aproved because the brush assembly is totally enclosed and
there is no way for sparks to "kaboom" any gas fumes.

If it's a typical Delco car job, What the difference is, that the
alternators are "hollow" and fumes enter the unit and with brushes
exposed to air, you can get a spark. What is done to cure this is, to
install a (Spark arrestor) screen kit, which has some fine mesh
screening that bolts to the inside of the front housing (disassembly
required) then a screened back cover. I suppose it works.

Anyhow the screen kit isn't expensive. It's been a while since I
bought one but it's less than $20.00. No rocket science to install,
but takes 15-20 min. if you've never done one before. Only thing to
remember, is to pin the brushs for assembly,put the housings
together, but make sure you pull the pin before installing the back
cap.

The only reason I'm mentioning this, is if your alternator is a Delco,
you should have a screen kit installed. In my area, I've never known
of a boat blowing up because the Delco alt didn't have the screen kit
installed, but if by chance there was an engine fire, and the ins. co.
investigated, and the kit wasn't installed, the ins. co would probably
have second thoughts for honoring a claim.

I know my alternator is the original merc one so I think I'm ok as far
as it being marine.