Why do alternators have clutch pulleys?
The clutch pulley allows the alternator’s heavy rotor to overrun, absorbing shock, each time the alternator cycles on and off (about 3 times per second). The result is smoother idle, no belt chirp, increased life of alternator, power steering pump, water pump, sepentine belt and automatic belt tensioner.Click to see full answer. Similarly one may…
The clutch pulley allows the alternator’s heavy rotor to overrun, absorbing shock, each time the alternator cycles on and off (about 3 times per second). The result is smoother idle, no belt chirp, increased life of alternator, power steering pump, water pump, sepentine belt and automatic belt tensioner.Click to see full answer. Similarly one may ask, what is an overrunning alternator pulley?The function of the overrunning alternator pulley is to decouple the generator from the rotational irregularity of the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine. The large mass of the generator cannot follow the high irregularities of the crankshaft at engine start and drive resonances.Furthermore, what does a bad alternator pulley sound like? If you hear a squeaking, squealing, or an irritating noise coming from your vehicle as it runs, it could be from your alternator pulley. Not only is this noise annoying, but a slipping or loose pulley could mean other problems in the future if not fixed. Keeping this in consideration, how does a freewheel alternator pulley work? This is where the clutched alternator pulley comes in – just like the bike, the alternator can “free-wheel” at the higher speed, spinning down gradually until the alternator speed matches the engine speed, at which point the pulley will engage again, just like your bike.Does alternator make noise when bad?If you’re hearing a grinding sound in your car, this could indicate that the alternator is going bad. The grinding sound may be caused by a worn-out bearing. Your car can also make a whining sound when the voltage regulator is sending signals to the alternator to charge more than is necessary.
