Daihatsu Skywing - Alternator Case Splitting?

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Tue 22 Sep 2020 11:14
Daihatsu Skywing - Alternator Case Splitting? - edlithgow

Snuck into the Art Department last night and used their vice to get the pulley nut off my alternator, but I still can't get the case halves apart, though I've levered a bit of a gap.

I'd earlier taken all the obvious nuts bolts and screws off.

No make visible. There's a paper sticker on the case but whatever was printed on it is gone

Any tips/tricks?

I MIGHT be able to bring a 2-jaw puller to bear but that seems quite likely to break something..

Pictures of the ******* thing

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Edited by edlithgow on 23/09/2020 at 07:05

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Wed 23 Sep 2020 12:44
Daihatsu Skywing - Alternator Case Splitting? - John F

Pour boiling water over it? Bit of expansion might help.

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Wed 23 Sep 2020 14:38
Daihatsu Skywing - Alternator Case Splitting? - dadbif
Inner bearing stuck in casing or shaft stuck in bearing? Bit of gentle heat judiciously applied...
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Thu 24 Sep 2020 01:55
Daihatsu Skywing - Alternator Case Splitting? - edlithgow

Thanks both

That matches the sole suggestion I found in extensive trawling of the Internyet (in the only acknowledgement I’ve found ANYWHERE that alternators are ever difficult to take apart) that heat might help. (hotplate? Hair dryer? Boil the ******** thing and make electric soup?) so I’ll try those.

https://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=639322

Might also try vibration from a hammer drill with an aluminium rod in the chuck.

The Internyet is awash with videos showing how easy it is to take an alternator apart. Gets quite irritating after a while, but this thread is a small step towards realism.

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Mon 28 Sep 2020 12:09
Daihatsu Skywing - Alternator Case Splitting? - edlithgow

Well, heat and vibration didn't seem to do anything, though maybe I didn't try hard enough.

I then cranked up the puller on the front, pushing on the rotror shaft. That separated the case halves, but damaged the connections between the stator and the rear (I suppose rectifier pack), so I think I broke it as expected.

From a qui8ck poke about ( which dislodged a capacitor,(?) breaking its soldered connectors) there aren''t any obviously replacable components but I'll have another look when I've cleaned it.

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Mon 28 Sep 2020 18:58
Daihatsu Skywing - Alternator Case Splitting? - brum

It has to be said......

Why don't you just get rid of that pile of junk you call a car?

Or do you suffer from some obscure sysiphean syndrome where you are destined to labour relentlessly on this lost cause for eternity?

Or perhaps you belong to an obscure Taiwanese cult dedicated to reviving the unrevivable?

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Mon 28 Sep 2020 22:55
Daihatsu Skywing - Alternator Case Splitting? - Metropolis.
It did not have to be said. Some of us run older cars for a variety of reasons, including cost, sentimentality, a refusal to admit defeat, or that we value a vehicle as a luxury that deserves effort to maintain. A desire to make do and mend rather than throw things away has a lot going for it. Ridiculous comment!
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Tue 29 Sep 2020 11:26
Daihatsu Skywing - Alternator Case Splitting? - galileo
It did not have to be said. Some of us run older cars for a variety of reasons, including cost, sentimentality, a refusal to admit defeat, or that we value a vehicle as a luxury that deserves effort to maintain. A desire to make do and mend rather than throw things away has a lot going for it. Ridiculous comment!

I quite agree, I admire ed for his perseverance, lateral thinking and ingenuity. Years ago I would repair and patch up cars that many would have scrapped simply because I was used to them and had enjoyed driving them.

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Tue 29 Sep 2020 15:11
Daihatsu Skywing - Alternator Case Splitting? - edlithgow

Thanks for the supportive comments, though I'd think the negative view is the majority one, if not inside this forum then certainly outside it.

I'd guess a lot of my motivation is a certain counter-cultural contrariness, since Taiwanese do no DIY at all, and require cars to be new and shiny to avoid unbearable shame. They are continuously astonished (and in the case of El Presidente of the university I work at. outraged) that the heap is still legal and still runs a lot of the time.

I rather like that.

I teach on a sustainable development course, so its arguably a bit of a sustainability object lesson for the students, and I've used it for one or two student projects which I hope to continue doing this semester. Suspension lift this time, maybe..

In the case, of the current brokeness though, we are talking about a failed alternator, a modular sub-assembly that shouldn't really condemn the car its in IF a replacement can be obtained.

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Tue 29 Sep 2020 17:07
Daihatsu Skywing - Alternator Case Splitting? - sandy56

Components are shared between cars, if you cannot find a SKYWING alternator I am sure an alternative is available. What other cars shared the engine/electrics ? Toyota ? Suzuki? Daihatsu Charade 1.0l engine? Alternators for the D Charade available on Eb-y.

Good luck and keep up the good work.

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Tue 29 Sep 2020 17:52
Daihatsu Skywing - Alternator Case Splitting? - bathtub tom
They are continuously astonished (and in the case of El Presidente of the university I work at. outraged) that the heap is still legal and still runs a lot of the time.

I know someone who went to a public school, insisted on having a Skoda as their first car so they could park it on the premises. Had no effect whatsoever, in fact the parents of schoolmates were impressed they'd a car at 17.

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Tue 29 Sep 2020 18:15
Daihatsu Skywing - Alternator Case Splitting? - brum

I'd guess a lot of my motivation is a certain counter-cultural contrariness, since Taiwanese do no DIY at all, and require cars to be new and shiny to avoid unbearable shame. They are continuously astonished (and in the case of El Presidente of the university I work at. outraged) that the heap is still legal and still runs a lot of the time.

Only time I have been in Taiwan around 15 years ago doing training for some customers. I remember a bit of embarassment when firing up my 8 year old laptop (made in Taiwan) which took an age to load XP and someone says "That thing belongs in a museum...”

Strolling on an evening, I was astounded at what appeared to be large numbers of young people driving brand new top of the range Mercedes and BMW 4x4s.

Edited by brum on 29/09/2020 at 18:26

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Wed 30 Sep 2020 08:53
Daihatsu Skywing - Alternator Case Splitting? - Brit_in_Germany

Why do you think the Middle Kingdom is casting its beady eye in Taiwan's direction?

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Sat 3 Oct 2020 14:56
Daihatsu Skywing - Alternator Case Splitting? - Sprice

Get rid of the piece of junk, then you can enjoy life instead of fixing the neverending problems you report on here.

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Sun 4 Oct 2020 00:52
Daihatsu Skywing - Alternator Case Splitting? - edlithgow

Fixing never ending problems is a pretty good working definition of "life"

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Sun 4 Oct 2020 10:31
Daihatsu Skywing - Alternator Case Splitting? - Bolt

Fixing never ending problems is a pretty good working definition of "life"

My mate kept saying that with his 1963 Wolseley Hornet in his garden, every time he took a part off to fix it he found more problems, and the body had almost come away from the floor pan, after 15 years of trying he has finally sold it to someone who has the time and parts to restore it

Shame really he left it so long

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Sun 4 Oct 2020 16:31
Daihatsu Skywing - Alternator Case Splitting? - edlithgow

Fixing never ending problems is a pretty good working definition of "life"

after 15 years of trying he has finally sold it to someone who has the time and parts to restore it

Well yeh, but

(a) I meant in general, not just in a car fettling context

(b) This isn't a 1963 Wolseley Hornet

(c) There is no such person in Taiwan. If the Skywing goes, as eventually it must, it'll have to be scrapped

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Sun 4 Oct 2020 20:48
Daihatsu Skywing - Alternator Case Splitting? - Bolt

Fixing never ending problems is a pretty good working definition of "life"

after 15 years of trying he has finally sold it to someone who has the time and parts to restore it

Well yeh, but

(a) I meant in general, not just in a car fettling context

(b) This isn't a 1963 Wolseley Hornet

(c) There is no such person in Taiwan. If the Skywing goes, as eventually it must, it'll have to be scrapped

I knew what you meant, as life is.

Didn`t say it was though I suspect as much work has gone into it?

As all motors eventually, just a case of where is the limit to whats possible?. only you know that and good luck...

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Wed 7 Oct 2020 03:34
Daihatsu Skywing - Alternator Case Splitting? - edlithgow

Fixing never ending problems is a pretty good working definition of "life"

after 15 years of trying he has finally sold it to someone who has the time and parts to restore it

Well yeh, but

(a) I meant in general, not just in a car fettling context

(b) This isn't a 1963 Wolseley Hornet

(c) There is no such person in Taiwan. If the Skywing goes, as eventually it must, it'll have to be scrapped

I knew what you meant, as life is.

Didn`t say it was though I suspect as much work has gone into it?

As all motors eventually, just a case of where is the limit to whats possible?. only you know that and good luck...

It'll probably depend on parts availability, at least until /if I leave the country, ASSUMING inspection, who's attitude seemed less friendly last time, doesnt take a scunner to it.

I've replaced an exhaust section, a couple of wheel cylinders, some brake hoses, oil and filters, a few bulbs, steering column switchgear, recent set of tyres (which would be enough to stop me scrapping it) and done some fiddling and rust prevention. I paid 15KNT for it (overpriced, about 300 quid then) and have spent next to nothing on it over the 7 or 8 years (have to check) I've owned it.

I don't think that's too bad.

If it was replaced it would probably have to be with something much newer which I wouldn't understand and wouldn't be equipped to diagnose or repair..

I would then find myself a hostage to the expensive superfluous mysteries (and expensive associated b*******ters, though they aren't quite so expensive here in Taiwan) that fill this forum.

Apparently this is what "enjoying life" is all about.

Edited by edlithgow on 09/10/2020 at 05:12

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Mon 2 Nov 2020 10:59
Daihatsu Skywing - Alternator Case Splitting? - edlithgow

Alternator from scapped car (which inevitably will have looked MUCH better than mine) finally came up and was 800NT. about 22 quid these days.

Seems to work OK. MAYBE a bit of noise which MIGHT be bearing, or I've just got the belt tension wrong.

This one looks dismantle-able (though of course I havn't tried). Unfortunately the old one looks different, wasn't dismantle-able in my hands (I broke it), and may be an aftermarket replacement.

This implies parts cannibalisation probably won't be possible, which is a pity. Still, it may never happen.

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Thu 5 Nov 2020 19:23
Daihatsu Skywing - Alternator Case Splitting? - brum

Alternator from scapped car (which inevitably will have looked MUCH better than mine) finally came up and was 800NT. about 22 quid these days.

Seems to work OK. MAYBE a bit of noise which MIGHT be bearing, or I've just got the belt tension wrong.

This one looks dismantle-able (though of course I havn't tried). Unfortunately the old one looks different, wasn't dismantle-able in my hands (I broke it), and may be an aftermarket replacement.

This implies parts cannibalisation probably won't be possible, which is a pity. Still, it may never happen.

Where was it I read "it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for edlithgow to fix an alternator"?

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Thu 5 Nov 2020 23:04
Daihatsu Skywing - Alternator Case Splitting? - edlithgow

Alternator from scapped car (which inevitably will have looked MUCH better than mine) finally came up and was 800NT. about 22 quid these days.

Seems to work OK. MAYBE a bit of noise which MIGHT be bearing, or I've just got the belt tension wrong.

This one looks dismantle-able (though of course I havn't tried). Unfortunately the old one looks different, wasn't dismantle-able in my hands (I broke it), and may be an aftermarket replacement.

This implies parts cannibalisation probably won't be possible, which is a pity. Still, it may never happen.

Where was it I read "it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for edlithgow to fix an alternator"?

I think it must have been here. Bit of DIY.

And if it gives you pleasure, where's the harm, eh?

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Fri 6 Nov 2020 11:35
Daihatsu Skywing - Alternator Case Splitting? - edlithgow

It'll probably depend on parts availability, at least until /if I leave the country, ASSUMING inspection, who's attitude seemed less friendly last time, doesnt take a scunner to it.

Murder a few metres from where I park my car has understandably concentrated cop attention,

They got someone, so I'm not a suspect, a change from the UK

The car just passed an inspection at a private centre.

If they now insist on an (allegedly strict to hostile) government one, as was mentioned, then that's probably game over, though it passed one about 5 years ago.

No big deal in context.

Edited by edlithgow on 06/11/2020 at 11:37

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Fri 6 Nov 2020 12:02
Daihatsu Skywing - Alternator Case Splitting? - madf

Why don't you buy a Japanese car as they never go wrong?

Err oh I see...

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