[John in OkieLand]

For future reference to anyone thinking about db, just look the other way. I had their starter and alternator, both crapped out after about a yr or so.

Thanks for the link RT.

I am the Admin for GoldwingFacts.com motorcycle forum.

DB Electrical alternators are not working so well on our bikes.

last June, I bought my '02 7.3L Excursion from a guy up in Kalispell, Montana...
I noticed the hood insulation was really loose, but didn't do anything about it at the time.

at about a 800 miles it was throwing a code that I have since forgotten.
In Price, Utah I took the truck to Landon Diesel Services and they said the Alternator was totally packed with fiberglass insulation and barely making 11.9 volts ......

they said if I would purchase a replacement, they would install it for me. They cleared all the codes, and none have come back since.


so, I bought a MechMan 320A so it could handle the big Warn Winch on the front.
glad I did, because we have 3 big dogs that go where we go, and at idle, and both front and Rear A/C fans on high, it idles at 14.3 volts.

No regrets on spend the bucks for MechMan.

 

[John in OkieLand]

in my Goldwing motorcycle world, they last just barely long enough for the warranty to expire.
Horrible Reputation in my m/c group.
In fact, none of us will buy them, period.

we have had reports of many of them burning up in less than 90 days, and the warranty replacements maybe last that long.

 

[John in OkieLand]

John, after starting what is your voltage while the glow plugs are still on?

I have a Digital VM plugged into the Cigarette Lighter power socket, I don't recall actually taking a real close look at it, I will try and make a video recording though, snowing now.

but IIRC, some what close, it is still close to 12 volts or in the middle 11s
Don't hold me to that, but I will get a video as soon as I can.

I keep a Battery Tender on the truck, so it is always Floating at 13.3 to 13.6 before the Key is turn ON. had to change the batteries out a couple weeks ago, they were ruined when I bought the truck last June 2022... and I just suffered through until I finally got the Parasitic Draw Fixed..... then I bought new batteries...

I keep Battery Tenders on everything we own here,

EZ Go golf cart, old from the early '90s ( just put $1500 worth of new batteries in it​

...... 1st time the Trojan I replaced batteries, and I bought it used in 2005 )​

RV trailer​

Zero Turn mower​

'01 Suburban​

'02 Excursion​

'58 Kubota tractor​

'09 Piaggio MP3 scooter​

the old EZ Go batteries, I keep a very expensive trickle charger on them. I monitor water level close every 60 days, Distilled only.

Summit brand Charger --- gets plugged every time Cart is left unused, period......

 

[John in OkieLand]

Not familiar with H/O brand...
oops, you mean a High Output.

I can Testify to 10 Star Customer Service with MechMan brand.

I bought their 320A version, they have one in the 500 Amp range also.

It works flawlessly, at Idle the Alternator holds 14.6ish with both front and rear A/C fans on High and Max Cold in my Excursion....


I was trapped in Podunk, Utah ( Price ) last summer with Codes throwing left and right....
was referred to a great diesel repair shop ( Kenworth, Mack, PeterBilt, etc... ) and they took in my '02 Excursion to try and work on it..... they traced the problems down to a bad Alternator...

they were unable to find one anywhere close to them, asked me to find one, and they would install it...... I decided to suffer the Wallet Strike, and went for the MechMan after searching the 'net and reading reviews on all brands. I called them on phone, paid for it, they shipped it direct to the diesel shop.... made me happy, my sister's ranch is 20 miles away in the desert and deliveries there are spotty.... it was at their shop 2 days after I hung up the phone, Free Delivery..... FedEx carried it to them.

I have gotten over the Debit charge now, and just grin every time I see that Digital VM in the Power Port staying at 14.4 to 14.8 all the time; Idle or cruising.

MechMan Alternators


My install;

that little blue DVM is always 0.3 volts higher than my Good DVM sitting on the Battery Terminals.... don't matter, it shows the current STATUS of the electrical system.

let me know which one you choose for that Snow Plow.... guarantee this brand will do the job.

 

[John in OkieLand]

I am definitely going to install a LED light connected to the Glow Plug Relay on my truck.

it now has a 320A alternator....
Prior to yesterday, it was wired up wrong, and was putting out full Force Darth Vader at 14.5 plus the instant the engine started....

guess I been lucky so far?
The glow plugs still "seem to be" working, in that the truck starts right up, after I count to 20 AFTER the WTS light goes off.