Scott had the right suggestion.  I removed the regulator/brush package and
one of the brushes was about 1/4 inch shorter than the other and the face
was very smooth - the longer brush - the one still making contact had more
slight grooves that matched it's slip ring.

The intermittent failure towards the end also points to a failing contact.

A new regulator/brush package fixed me right up and it is possible to
replace this unit with the alternator in place if you're patient and have
dexterous hands.

Thanks to those who offered suggestions.

John

On Sun, Mar 29, 2009 at 8:22 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans <
scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:

> what pops into my mind is short or worn brushes in the voltage
> regulator/brush package unit in the back of the alternator.
> Sometimes a new one of those will keep an alternator going a long time yet,
> if it's the brushes that are warn.
>
>
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