Ive had this happen before. Move the wire to a mounting bolt if you can and it should work as a short term patch. If you can get to an autozone or a tire shop on batterys if thats not an option or your worried about sheering a mounting bolt too. Then you can buy/rent/borrow a drill and drill out the bad nut amd thread in a diffrent bolt or screw that will work. Just make sure to hit the screw/bolt with some sandpaper to ensure no factory gunk is preventing a firm ground.
As a last ditch thing if none of the above is an option. Get some JB weld and grind up a pencils graphite or better yet get a bunch of fine metal powder (sandpaper and some copper or a bolt, nearly every truckstop has both) and add that to the JB weld to make it conductive. It wont be perfect but ive done that in the past as a field fix to get me home when i did oilfield work. Tends to ruin the ground wire head and is a nightmare to clean up though. Just dont get it on the guts of the alt or you could damage it.
Bolt head broke on alternator wire, any temporary solutions?
Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by JonJon78, Sep 24, 2023.
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I tried using the mounting bolt this morning but they're too big, I guess if it was 100% emergency I could cut a slice in the tip of the negative cable and it would have fit around... I do carry vice grip but only a real big pair, I'd be scared that would break off when hitting a bump and then go through my fan or belts... Definitely plan on getting some smaller sizes as has been recommend here...
And I also carry a drill but same thing that was gonna be a last ditch effort... Drove 350 miles today with how I have it pictured below. That thing it's attached to normally has my coolant hose zip tied to it... Looks like i might need to get the hose replaced sooner or later with that indent in it from all the vibration.... Stopped and picked up a new OEM alternator $505 and pulley $120 from Peterbilt today. Surprised it doesn't have a core charge... Was caught off guard with that...
Speaking of drills I picked up the Milwaukee pictured below a couple weeks ago from Home Depot, tool only as I already have the batteries
... But man, if anyone here is looking or thinking about a new drill to go along with any other m18 tools you have, I highly recommend. That thing is a beast!!! Wish I wouldn't have waited so long to purchase!!!
Thanks 4 the help/suggestions...
Last edited: Sep 25, 2023
Siinman, 77fib77, Rideandrepair and 4 others Thank this. -
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