[DeTomaso] Here's a weird one

[Tomas Gunnarsson]

I can understand that an on/off clutch can do that but what I know as a
sprag clutch can in this application either be in:

A: the locked position where the pulley drives the alternator
or
B: the freewheeling position where the alternator turns faster than the
pulley

How do sprag clutches work according tou you?

Tomas

-----Original Message-----
From: JEFFREY COBB [mailto:zumzum at cox.net]
Sent: den 6 november 2011 01:17
To: Tomas Gunnarsson
Cc: JEFFREY COBB; detomaso at realbig.com
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Here's a weird one


The sprag is used in many German cars. The clutch removes most parasitic
drag and vibrational periods of the alternator for fuel economy reasons and
belt life. The alternator can now keep up a higher speed.
On Nov 5, 2011, at 6:12 PM, Tomas Gunnarsson wrote:

> When's a sprag on an alternator pulley supposed to be of use? To allow the
> alternator to keep spinning when you turn the engine off?
>
> Just asking...
>
> Tomas
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: detomaso-bounces at realbig.com
> [mailto:detomaso-bounces at realbig.com]On Behalf Of Will Kooiman
> Sent: den 5 november 2011 03:32
> To: detomaso at realbig.com
> Subject: [DeTomaso] Here's a weird one
>
>
> My wife called me last week while she was on the way to work.
>
>
>
> She said she heard a crunch, the power steering went out, and all of the
> lights on the dash came on.  I'm assuming it was more than just the check
> engine light, but I didn't see it so I can only go by what she described.
>
>
>
> The same thing happened to me in her car 2 years ago.  The water pump
> cracked badly around the bearing.  It dumped water on the ground, plus it
> made the serpentine belt pop off.  $800 later ('00 Boxster-S), and it was
> all better.  I figured the same thing had happened this time.
>
>
>
> Not so.  This time it was a failed alternator clutch.  Yep - not a typo.
>
>
>
> Her car has a sprag clutch on the alternator pulley.  A sprag is a one way
> ratcheting bearing.  It free wheels in one direction only.  The clutch had
> been locked up for who knows how long.  The failure was the inner shaft
> walking off of the sprag.  It eventually walked enough to make the
> serpentine belt pop off.
>
>
>
> It's a good thing it wasn't the water pump.  I wasn't looking forward to
> another $800 repair bill.  This time it was only $440 - not counting the
tow
> truck.
>
>
>
> I'm going to try to talk her into a Mangusta.
>
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