Starters & Alternators for 270

[Pacemaker36]

Hi Everyone,
I am slowly gathering the parts for my repower project. I am installing two new "old stock" Crusader 270's (5.7L/350cid).

I am looking at buying starters and alternators soon.

From what I have found the stock alternators were Crusader 39049 or 39200. (They cross reference with Arco 60075, API 20062, and Mando 39200. They are 55 amp alternators.) I plan on setting up my boat with three battery banks (one cranking for each engine & one house). I also plan to connect them via a battery isolator (two alternator/three bank). I know that it depends upon usage etc.... but in general should I be looking to bump up to larger alternators? Also, does anyone have a brand preference?

When I look at starters for the same engines I'm not sure the best option. I had someone tell me to get the newer style small starters with the reduction gear rather than the giant old ones. Does this make sense to do? Also, how do I know they'll be the right ones?

Thanks for any insight!

 

[makomark]

alternator size (need) depends upon usage...until you know what your requirements are we can't help much for size. As far as brands go, most all the rebuilders use imported stuff. I'd say balance price with warranty to where you are happy.

You may want to consider getting all your goods at one shop and ask for the 'quantity discount', especially this time of year.

As far as the reduction gear starter - no 1st hand experience here...got to be lighter. make sure whatever you get is rated for MARINE applications. The rotation of the starter is key on the older engines....another good reason to use a local shop - if they botch something, likely to get it fixed w/i 24 hours, if not the same day.

 

[Docksidemarineservices]

The Arco line is pretty good and the Perminate magnet reduction startes work great. Just don't drop or bang the starter hard, you will damage the magnets inside.

 

[RicardoMarine]

I will absolutely Ditto the HTGR/PMGR starter motors. The armature turns approx 3 x's faster, and via the reduction, the crank spins faster.
Quicker starts/less battery consumption.
Ask if the motor in question is using anything but "all steel" reduction gears (yes, some use one nylon gear in the set).
The non-gear reduction motors went the way of the buggy whip many years ago.

Assuming that you have I/B's, are your starter motors engine mounted, or flywheel cover mounted?
This will help determine the starter motor rotation.
In either event, you'll need to the ring gear tooth count to find the correct starter motor nose housing configuration. There is a 153 tooth and a 168 tooth.
Starter motors must accommodate the flywheel diameter.

E-BasicPower lists this for the Crusader Standard LH Rotation engine.

​

See this web page for starter motor rotation info.


Alternators:
You can't beat high quality, but if budget dictates the choice, consider one of the Delco 10si alternators.
Easy to work on, cheap enough to carry an o/b spare.
These can be single wire, or three wire, and in an array of amp ratings.

Until you get into the more expensive alternators (Balmar, for example), don't count on a usable high amp output. Most any of these will cut back quickly, and not maintain the anticipated charge rate.

Battery Banks:
Here's what has worked well for me and several others, and for years.

I have twin SBC engines...... both with the HTGR/PMGR starter motors.
My Stdb side system provides House Load power and my accessories that I have added.

Port engine has dedicated cranking bank.
Stbd engine Does NOT have a dedicated cranking bank.
Instead, the Stbd engine cranks on my one large House Load battery bank of multiple 6 volt deep cycle batteries.

By eliminating the Stbd cranking batt, I was able to increase the capacity of the HLBB.
With multiple Deep Cycles, you will not harm them when cranking from them.
The key is "Multiples". (don't crank on a single deep cycle if you can avoid it)
You'll be surprised at how little Amp Hours are required to fire up on the HTGR starter motors.

Where's my Stbd side and Stbd engine redundancy?
Well, my Stbd redundancy is my Port cranking bank via a momentary combining solenoid switch
This solenoid operates via a momentary helm switch.
One push of the helm switch, and the two banks are momentarily combined.

None of us have had any issues with doing this.
It helps if you have the HTGR starter motor and a quick firing engine.

If the helm switch and solenoid idea does not sound good to you, there are Auto-Combining relays that can be used.
Blue Sea offers several, and their products are great.

Isolators:
This is old school technology. I'd consider the BEP VSR or the Bluesea ACR for this.

 

[RicardoMarine]

I'm just playing around here to see if I can arrange the text with these images. When you cut/paste, it does not lay out correctly.

Just for fun! Borrowed from EbasicPower.com


How to determine LH RH I/B engine starter motor rotation

This Standard LH Rotation is the most common engine rotation found on today's marine engines.
This is the same rotation as automotive engines.
Use this chart to determine the correct starter needed.

Engine rotation is always viewed from the flywheel end.




This is the Reverse RH Rotation and is not as common on today's marine engines.
This is the opposite rotation of automotive engines.
Use this chart to determine the correct starter needed.

Engine rotation is always viewed from the flywheel end.

 

[RicardoMarine]

​

Looks like I got carried away a bit with my last two posts! A bit more than asked for.... sorry!

As for the battery banks, by all means do as you wish and use two separate cranking banks and a HLBB (house load batt bank).
That will work just fine.
Those were just my suggestions for you.

If you are interested, here is a simple schematic that shows how the combining would take place.... both manually with the MBSS's combined, and/or via the solenoid switch.
The Auto-Combining relay could replace the solenoid in the same position schematically.

An ACR or a VSR could also be added to take advantage of the Port engine alternator for HLBB charging while under way.


Example only.

 

[marcin]

Good day guys.
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You can easily find any part you looking for by entering your parts serial number in search box, this will bring up all the suitable parts for the part.