96' Explorer Eddie, Alternator vibrates very badly at low rpm.?.

[Omnius1]

I have tried to get some answers on this subject. Only at low rpm, riding or just idling, My alternator just vibrates very loudly and visibly also. When I purchased it there was this wood wedge in between the alternator housing and the valve cover, when it worked loose, I see why it was there . It does work well and test fine. I replaced the belt tensioner and that did nothing for it. Thought maybe it was a blown bearing but it would have died by now if that were so. Does anyone know what this is or could be?
Any help would be good here since a new one is around 120$.

Also it is a 6cylinder 2wheel drive.

 

[X-North]

Buy one from a junkyard for around 40 dollars...because the alternator is bolted in three places direct on the engine so you cant make alignment mistake while mounting it. One thing for sure you will have to replace maybe the belt too not only the tensionner and look closely the pulley maybe the jerk that put wood on engine pryed it for some reasons and distorted the pulley so it dont scrap the bearing but its enough to vibrate a lot

 

[Omnius1]

Thank you. I have checked almost everything, I can't seem to find a complete rebuild kit for this alternator anywhere. Replaced the tensioner already, the only thing left would be to rebuild but with no kit available, a new one is in order. Just for info, brushes and a regulator can be purchased for this alternator but bearings and such can't. I don't have but one scrap yard near where I live, and at 170$ tax and all with core, I can get a new one with a Limited Lifetime Warranty also. Thanks for the reply and help.

 

[budwich]

well, take it apart and give it a "spin" by hand and feel what you see. That should indicate whether you are "chasing" bearings or an out of balance armature or something else.

 

[Omnius1]

Will do. I am going to wait a week or so until I have the cash for a new one just in case, then I will take the old apart and post what I find. TY again.