How-to: Rebuild an Alternator in Africa

Bernard took me to see Stephan, an auto mechanic who is a master of fixing things with very few tools or supplies. Stephan is truly amazing, an example of an African who uses his ingenuity to solve problems that would seem insurmountable to others.

One of the things Stephan has done, is figured out a way to rebuild alternators with limited materials. Below are some pictures and a video that discuss how he does it. Supplies needed:

Rebuilt Alternator   newish alternator

  • 17 gauge copper wire
  • plastic sheet
  • bamboo
  • broken alternator

Here’s the video showing how it’s done:

45 comments for this post.

Comment from A Z LYRIC:FREE MP3 !!!
7 July 2006 - 10:07 pm - :

Stephan is truly amazing, an example of an African who uses his ingenuity to solve problems that would seem insurmountable to others. One of the things Stephan has done, is figured out a way to rebuild alternators with limited materials.” [via] -Link (photos and video). [Read this article] [Comment on this article] More: continued here

Stephan is truly amazing, an example of an African who uses his ingenuity to solve problems that would seem insurmountable to others. One of the things Stephan has done, is figured out a way to rebuild alternators with limited materials.” [via] -Link (photos and video). [Read this article] [Comment on this article] More: continued here

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Comment from Soours
10 July 2006 - 10:51 pm - :

How-to: Rebuild an Alternator in Africa — AfriGadget Archive

How-to: Rebuild an Alternator in Africa — AfriGadget Archive

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Comment from Rien à proposer. - par jm
11 July 2006 - 2:55 am - :

How-to: Rebuild an Alternator in Africa and the blog in general: Gadgets for Africa, solving everyday problems with African ingenuity.

How-to: Rebuild an Alternator in Africa and the blog in general: Gadgets for Africa, solving everyday problems with African ingenuity.

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Comment from Social Edge Technology Portal
11 July 2006 - 6:48 pm - :

that I will probably never make, but that being said, it’s nice to know that if I ever did need a personal submarine, I could make one out of a pig trough (no, I’m not joking). Moving on though, one of their features was about an African mechanic who repairs automobile alternators with nothing more than bamboo, copper wire and a few other materials. It struck me that innovation is truely incredible in Africa, and that sometimes where you have the least ammount of resources to work with you can often find the greatest innovation.

that I will probably never make, but that being said, it’s nice to know that if I ever did need a personal submarine, I could make one out of a pig trough (no, I’m not joking). Moving on though, one of their features was about an African mechanic who repairs automobile alternators with nothing more than bamboo, copper wire and a few other materials. It struck me that innovation is truely incredible in Africa, and that sometimes where you have the least ammount of resources to work with you can often find the greatest innovation.

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Comment from Sociolingo’s Africa blog
8 March 2007 - 6:13 am - :

supplies. Stephan is truly amazing, an example of an African who uses his ingenuity to solve problems that would seem insurmountable to others. One of the things Stephan has done, is figured out a way to rebuild alternators with limited materials. Go to AfriGadget to see the video of this being done.  Posted in African technology, AFRICA, TECHNOLOGY | No Comments »

supplies. Stephan is truly amazing, an example of an African who uses his ingenuity to solve problems that would seem insurmountable to others. One of the things Stephan has done, is figured out a way to rebuild alternators with limited materials. Go to AfriGadget to see the video of this being done.  Posted in African technology, AFRICA, TECHNOLOGY | No Comments »

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Comment from White African :: where africa and technology collide » Blog Archive » New AfriGadget Post: Alternator
6 July 2006 - 11:15 pm - :

[...] I just posted a new story to AfriGadget about how this fundi named Stephan in Banana Hill can rebuild alternators very cheaply. Take a look, it’s very impressive. [...]

Comment from Erik
6 July 2006 - 11:16 pm - :

NOTE: There is actually one more video, but it’s taking to long to upload in Nairobi. I’ll try and put it up later.

Comment from mzeecedric
7 July 2006 - 2:26 am - :

Great Erik, that’s what I’ve been waiting for, LOL. I guess you’ll record tons of such storys.

Comment from Kenyan Blogs Webring feeds: Published items (items 1 to 50)
7 July 2006 - 7:17 am - :

[...] I just posted a new story to AfriGadget about how this fundi named Stephan in Banana Hill can rebuild alternators very cheaply. Take a look, it’s impressive. [...]

[...] I just posted a new story to AfriGadget about how this fundi named Stephan in Banana Hill can rebuild alternators very cheaply. Take a look, it’s impressive. [...]

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Comment from MAKE: Blog: Rebuilding an alternator in Africa
7 July 2006 - 1:26 pm - :

[...] Erik writes – “Bernard took me to see Stephan, an auto mechanic who is a master of fixing things with very few tools or supplies. Stephan is truly amazing, an example of an African who uses his ingenuity to solve problems that would seem insurmountable to others. One of the things Stephan has done, is figured out a way to rebuild alternators with limited materials.” [via] – Link (photos and video). [...]

[...] Erik writes – “Bernard took me to see Stephan, an auto mechanic who is a master of fixing things with very few tools or supplies. Stephan is truly amazing, an example of an African who uses his ingenuity to solve problems that would seem insurmountable to others. One of the things Stephan has done, is figured out a way to rebuild alternators with limited materials.” [via] – Link (photos and video). [...]

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Comment from Tiny Tiny RSS : Article 83657
7 July 2006 - 5:25 pm - :

[...] Erik writes – “Bernard took me to see Stephan, an auto mechanic who is a master of fixing things with very few tools or supplies. Stephan is truly amazing, an example of an African who uses his ingenuity to solve problems that would seem insurmountable to others. One of the things Stephan has done, is figured out a way to rebuild alternators with limited materials.” [via] – Link (photos and video). [Read this article] [Comment on this article] update_label_counters(‘72′); [...]

[...] Erik writes – “Bernard took me to see Stephan, an auto mechanic who is a master of fixing things with very few tools or supplies. Stephan is truly amazing, an example of an African who uses his ingenuity to solve problems that would seem insurmountable to others. One of the things Stephan has done, is figured out a way to rebuild alternators with limited materials.” [via] – Link (photos and video). [Read this article] [Comment on this article] update_label_counters(‘72′); [...]

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Comment from FeedReader » Items by philliptorrone
7 July 2006 - 6:35 pm - :

[...] Erik writes – “Bernard took me to see Stephan, an auto mechanic who is a master of fixing things with very few tools or supplies. Stephan is truly amazing, an example of an African who uses his ingenuity to solve problems that would seem insurmountable to others. One of the things Stephan has done, is figured out a way to rebuild alternators with limited materials.” [via] – Link (photos and video). [Read this article] [Comment on this article] [...]

[...] Erik writes – “Bernard took me to see Stephan, an auto mechanic who is a master of fixing things with very few tools or supplies. Stephan is truly amazing, an example of an African who uses his ingenuity to solve problems that would seem insurmountable to others. One of the things Stephan has done, is figured out a way to rebuild alternators with limited materials.” [via] – Link (photos and video). [Read this article] [Comment on this article] [...]

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Comment from jake
8 July 2006 - 1:52 am - :

My father did this back in the 60’s he ran a machine shop/junkyard, but he made his real money rebuilding alternators and starters. Of course this was in Alabama not Africa.

Comment from Friends
8 July 2006 - 2:38 am - :

[...] http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2006/07/rebuilding_an_alternator_in_af.html?CMP=OTC-0D6B48984890 Erik writes – “Bernard took me to see Stephan, an auto mechanic who is a master of fixing things with very few tools or supplies. Stephan is truly amazing, an example of an African who uses his ingenuity to solve problems that would seem insurmountable to others. One of the things Stephan has done, is figured out a way to rebuild alternators with limited materials.” [via] – Link (photos and video). [Read this article</a>] [Comment on this article</a>] [...]

[...] http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2006/07/rebuilding_an_alternator_in_af.html?CMP=OTC-0D6B48984890 Erik writes – “Bernard took me to see Stephan, an auto mechanic who is a master of fixing things with very few tools or supplies. Stephan is truly amazing, an example of an African who uses his ingenuity to solve problems that would seem insurmountable to others. One of the things Stephan has done, is figured out a way to rebuild alternators with limited materials.” [via] – Link (photos and video). [Read this article</a>] [Comment on this article</a>] [...]

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Comment from matthewk
8 July 2006 - 6:23 am - :

In all of my years I have never had an alternator die because of the coils. I have had brushes burn out, I have had bearings go bad. I had one expensive jap one die because the integrated regulator took a dump, but the coils themselves seem like a pretty rare failure, at least to me. Perhaps in africa they have less raw junk to pick nad choose from, but if I had to choose one to rebuild, I would go for one with a simpler problem like brushes. Use the one with the bad coils as a parts doner. Then again looking at the video, it seemed he had both the stator and a coil of wire he pulled from something.

Comment from Africa on the web? at Stuff.za.net
8 July 2006 - 7:00 am - :

[...] So it was rather suprising while reading the Make Zine blog that they link to story about someone in Africa who repairs vehicles with very little tools, How to rebuild an alternator in Africa. It was from this page that I made one of those serendipous voyages across the web as I read more and more websites written by people in Africa and mostly about the things they build, repair and invent and general life out here. [...]

Comment from Friends
8 July 2006 - 9:30 am - :

[...] Ads by Google (Leave a comment)jcgbigler07:38 pm – Mom reportMy mom was discharged from Johns Hopkins Hospital this afternoon, and by now should be at home. The Suzuki Kingston institute finished this evening, so we’ll drive down tomorrow and spend the weekend helping her and my dad make the transition back home. We’ll probably be back in Boston on Monday or Tuesday.Current Mood: tiredCurrent Music: lotsTags: family(5 comments | Leave a comment)make_podcast05:50 pm – Rebuilding an alternator in Africahttp://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2006/07/rebuilding_an_alternator_in_af.html?CMP=OTC-0D6B48984890 Erik writes – “Bernard took me to see Stephan, an auto mechanic who is a master of fixing things with very few tools or supplies. Stephan is truly amazing, an example of an African who uses his ingenuity to solve problems that would seem insurmountable to others. One of the things Stephan has done, is figured out a way to rebuild alternators with limited materials.” [via] – Link (photos and video). [Read this article</a>] [Comment on this article</a>](Leave a comment)make_podcast04:14 pm – Mario soup – art from NES cartridgeshttp://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2006/07/mario_soup_art_from_nes_cartri.html?CMP=OTC-0D6B48984890 Ben Fry dumped the ROMs of old NES cartridges and made these cool looking posters – “Any piece of executable code is also commingled with data, ranging from simple sentences of text for error messages to entire sets of graphics for the application. In older cartridge-based console games, the images for each of the small on-screen images (the “sprites”) were often stored as raw data embedded after the actual program’s instructions. This piece examines the unpacking of a Nintendo game cartridge, decoding the program as a four-color image, revealing a beautiful soup of the thousands of individual elements that make up the game screen.” [via] – Link. [...]

[...] Ads by Google (Leave a comment)jcgbigler07:38 pm – Mom reportMy mom was discharged from Johns Hopkins Hospital this afternoon, and by now should be at home. The Suzuki Kingston institute finished this evening, so we’ll drive down tomorrow and spend the weekend helping her and my dad make the transition back home. We’ll probably be back in Boston on Monday or Tuesday.Current Mood: tiredCurrent Music: lotsTags: family(5 comments | Leave a comment)make_podcast05:50 pm – Rebuilding an alternator in Africahttp://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2006/07/rebuilding_an_alternator_in_af.html?CMP=OTC-0D6B48984890 Erik writes – “Bernard took me to see Stephan, an auto mechanic who is a master of fixing things with very few tools or supplies. Stephan is truly amazing, an example of an African who uses his ingenuity to solve problems that would seem insurmountable to others. One of the things Stephan has done, is figured out a way to rebuild alternators with limited materials.” [via] – Link (photos and video). [Read this article</a>] [Comment on this article</a>](Leave a comment)make_podcast04:14 pm – Mario soup – art from NES cartridgeshttp://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2006/07/mario_soup_art_from_nes_cartri.html?CMP=OTC-0D6B48984890 Ben Fry dumped the ROMs of old NES cartridges and made these cool looking posters – “Any piece of executable code is also commingled with data, ranging from simple sentences of text for error messages to entire sets of graphics for the application. In older cartridge-based console games, the images for each of the small on-screen images (the “sprites”) were often stored as raw data embedded after the actual program’s instructions. This piece examines the unpacking of a Nintendo game cartridge, decoding the program as a four-color image, revealing a beautiful soup of the thousands of individual elements that make up the game screen.” [via] – Link. [...]

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Comment from Gary Bennet
8 July 2006 - 9:36 am - :

“african ingenuity”..? interesting term, but where i come from we have a better name for it: “nigger-rigging.” and it’s only good for one thing– COMEDY.

Comment from A//cardiac's Friends
8 July 2006 - 10:06 am - :

[...] http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2006/07/rebuilding_an_alternator_in_af.html?CMP=OTC-0D6B48984890 Erik writes – “Bernard took me to see Stephan, an auto mechanic who is a master of fixing things with very few tools or supplies. Stephan is truly amazing, an example of an African who uses his ingenuity to solve problems that would seem insurmountable to others. One of the things Stephan has done, is figured out a way to rebuild alternators with limited materials.” [via] – Link (photos and video). [Read this article</a>] [Comment on this article</a>] (Comment on this) make_blog [...]

[...] http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2006/07/rebuilding_an_alternator_in_af.html?CMP=OTC-0D6B48984890 Erik writes – “Bernard took me to see Stephan, an auto mechanic who is a master of fixing things with very few tools or supplies. Stephan is truly amazing, an example of an African who uses his ingenuity to solve problems that would seem insurmountable to others. One of the things Stephan has done, is figured out a way to rebuild alternators with limited materials.” [via] – Link (photos and video). [Read this article</a>] [Comment on this article</a>] (Comment on this) make_blog [...]

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Comment from Mlaargh
8 July 2006 - 10:10 am - :

Wow, Gary. Your such an asshole, it bends the mind.

good luck with that.

Comment from Hemmings Auto Blogs » Blog Archive » rebuilding an alternator with bamboo
8 July 2006 - 11:03 am - :

[...] Next time you’re fussing in the garage because you can’t find a certain part, keep this guy in mind – he rebuilds an alternator by hand in Africa, where to the best of my knowledge, even Pep Boys doesn’t have a location. The page is kinda skimpy on details, but you get the picture. [...]

[...] Tre’ informative (non): http://www.afrigadget.com/2006/07/06/how-to-rebuild-an-alternator-in-africa/ [...]

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Comment from GearHack Forums: Make: technology on your time
8 July 2006 - 11:22 pm - :

[...] Erik writes – “Bernard took me to see Stephan, an auto mechanic who is a master of fixing things with very few tools or supplies. Stephan is truly amazing, an example of an African who uses his ingenuity to solve problems that would seem insurmountable to others. One of the things Stephan has done, is figured out a way to rebuild alternators with limited materials.” [via] – Link (photos and video). [Read this article] [Comment on this article] [...]

[...] Erik writes – “Bernard took me to see Stephan, an auto mechanic who is a master of fixing things with very few tools or supplies. Stephan is truly amazing, an example of an African who uses his ingenuity to solve problems that would seem insurmountable to others. One of the things Stephan has done, is figured out a way to rebuild alternators with limited materials.” [via] – Link (photos and video). [Read this article] [Comment on this article] [...]

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Comment from friends
8 July 2006 - 11:58 pm - :

[...] make_podcasthttp://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2006/07/rebuilding_an_alternator_in_af.html?CMP=OTC-0D6B48984890 Erik writes – “Bernard took me to see Stephan, an auto mechanic who is a master of fixing things with very few tools or supplies. Stephan is truly amazing, an example of an African who uses his ingenuity to solve problems that would seem insurmountable to others. One of the things Stephan has done, is figured out a way to rebuild alternators with limited materials.” [via] – Link (photos and video). [Read this article</a>] [Comment on this article</a>] LinkLeave a comment [...]

[...] make_podcasthttp://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2006/07/rebuilding_an_alternator_in_af.html?CMP=OTC-0D6B48984890 Erik writes – “Bernard took me to see Stephan, an auto mechanic who is a master of fixing things with very few tools or supplies. Stephan is truly amazing, an example of an African who uses his ingenuity to solve problems that would seem insurmountable to others. One of the things Stephan has done, is figured out a way to rebuild alternators with limited materials.” [via] – Link (photos and video). [Read this article</a>] [Comment on this article</a>] LinkLeave a comment [...]

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Comment from Zangu
9 July 2006 - 10:29 am - :

[...] Building an Alternator from scratch in Africa [...]

[...] Building an Alternator from scratch in Africa [...]

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Comment from Reading
10 July 2006 - 8:18 pm - :

[...] Erik writes – “Bernard took me to see Stephan, an auto mechanic who is a master of fixing things with very few tools or supplies. Stephan is truly amazing, an example of an African who uses his ingenuity to solve problems that would seem insurmountable to others. One of the things Stephan has done, is figured out a way to rebuild alternators with limited materials.” [via] – Link (photos and video). [Read this article] [Comment on this article] Mario soup – art from NES cartridges [...]

[...] Erik writes – “Bernard took me to see Stephan, an auto mechanic who is a master of fixing things with very few tools or supplies. Stephan is truly amazing, an example of an African who uses his ingenuity to solve problems that would seem insurmountable to others. One of the things Stephan has done, is figured out a way to rebuild alternators with limited materials.” [via] – Link (photos and video). [Read this article] [Comment on this article] Mario soup – art from NES cartridges [...]

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Comment from JKE
11 July 2006 - 4:19 am - :

The question remains, what exactly makes these things “African” despite of the fact that they are made in Kenya (or any other African country).

Good story, though, Hash — nice. Especially since you managed to upload the video from Nairobi – considering the speed of their inetconnections it is just awesome.

Let me pls work on sometthing I would like to add here in future (some jua kali stuff I learned in Kenya and that I’ll need to blog hapa soon).

Comment from StumbleUpon
9 August 2006 - 10:49 am - :

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Comment from breast enhancement
4 October 2006 - 11:55 pm - :

I read the Blog Nice site I found and I bookmarked the site… Plan on coming back later to spend a little time there.

Comment from Primitive Engineering » How-to: Rebuild an Alternator in Africa
6 October 2006 - 8:35 am - :

[...] Read More. [...]

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25 October 2006 - 12:26 am - :

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Comment from Fire your ideas » Blog Archive » Where there’s nothing, you find innovation
26 October 2006 - 9:17 pm - :

[...] Moving on though, one of their features was about an African mechanic who repairs automobile alternators with nothing more than bamboo, copper wire and a few other materials. It struck me that innovation is truely incredible in Africa, and that sometimes where you have the least ammount of resources to work with you can often find the greatest innovation. I can remember as a kid watching Clive James in Cuba, and being astonished as people made car oil out of old hair shampoo! [...]

Comment from Gregarius » MAKE Magazine » July 2006
14 December 2006 - 5:52 am - :

[...] Erik writes – “Bernard took me to see Stephan, an auto mechanic who is a master of fixing things with very few tools or supplies. Stephan is truly amazing, an example of an African who uses his ingenuity to solve problems that would seem insurmountable to others. One of the things Stephan has done, is figured out a way to rebuild alternators with limited materials.” [via] – Link (photos and video). [Read this article] [Comment on this article] [...]

[...] Erik writes – “Bernard took me to see Stephan, an auto mechanic who is a master of fixing things with very few tools or supplies. Stephan is truly amazing, an example of an African who uses his ingenuity to solve problems that would seem insurmountable to others. One of the things Stephan has done, is figured out a way to rebuild alternators with limited materials.” [via] – Link (photos and video). [Read this article] [Comment on this article] [...]

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Comment from How-to: Rebuild an Alternator in Africa « Sociolingo’s Africa blog
6 March 2007 - 3:52 am - :

[...] How-to: Rebuild an Alternator in Africa [...]

Comment from MJ99 PHP Scripts
13 March 2007 - 2:38 pm - :

Excellent writing. Keep it up.

Comment from reddit.com: what's new online
1 August 2007 - 6:20 am - :

[...] How to Rebuild an Alternator in Africa (afrigadget.com) [...]

[...] How to Rebuild an Alternator in Africa (afrigadget.com) [...]

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Comment from munnu
19 September 2007 - 12:44 am - :

Eric thanks for all this.

Abit off topic:how can I share my idea with you here on the technology we Have in the North?
I have failed to post it but I need to help in that.

[...] http://www.afrigadget.com/2006/07/06/how-to-rebuild-an-alternator-in-africa/ [...]

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Comment from Pm Alternator Building - Dogpile Web Search
18 October 2007 - 6:39 pm - :

[...] Sponsored by: http://www.LowPriceShopper.com [Found on Ads by Ask.com, MIVA, Enhance Interactive] 7. How-to: Rebuild an Alternator in Africa — AfriGadget Archive Building an Alternator from scratch in Africa […] Reading Said:. July 10th, 2006 at 8:18 pm. [...]

[...] Sponsored by: http://www.LowPriceShopper.com [Found on Ads by Ask.com, MIVA, Enhance Interactive] 7. How-to: Rebuild an Alternator in Africa — AfriGadget Archive Building an Alternator from scratch in Africa […] Reading Said:. July 10th, 2006 at 8:18 pm. [...]

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Comment from MAKE: Blog: Made On Earth Archives
30 November 2007 - 5:51 am - :

[...] Erik writes – “Bernard took me to see Stephan, an auto mechanic who is a master of fixing things with very few tools or supplies. Stephan is truly amazing, an example of an African who uses his ingenuity to solve problems that would seem insurmountable to others. One of the things Stephan has done, is figured out a way to rebuild alternators with limited materials.” [via] – Link (photos and video). [...]

[...] Erik writes – “Bernard took me to see Stephan, an auto mechanic who is a master of fixing things with very few tools or supplies. Stephan is truly amazing, an example of an African who uses his ingenuity to solve problems that would seem insurmountable to others. One of the things Stephan has done, is figured out a way to rebuild alternators with limited materials.” [via] – Link (photos and video). [...]

--> [...] Alternator Repair Kit Online. http://www.usedpartslive.com/locator/MERKUR/SCORPIO/Electrical,_Cha... repairs automobile alternators AfriGadget http://www.afrigadget.com/2006/07/06/how-to-rebuild-an-alternator-i... Auto, Car, Truck [...]

--> [...] to This Video: 9 clicks from http://www.afrigadget.com/category/transportation/ 7 clicks from http://www.afrigadget.com/2006/07/06/how-to-rebuild-... 5 clicks from http://www.videodouble.com/video/diy-12v-dc-70a-petr... 2 clicks from [...]

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Comment from alternator rebuilding supplies - Web - WebCrawler
1 February 2008 - 7:12 pm - :

[...] ready to ship Free! Sponsored by: http://www.APelectric.com/ [Found on Ads by Google] AfriGadget " Blog Archive " How-to: Rebuild an Alternator in Afri… Supplies needed: 17 gauge copper wire. plastic sheet. bamboo. broken … Comment from Hemmings [...]

[...] ready to ship Free! Sponsored by: http://www.APelectric.com/ [Found on Ads by Google] AfriGadget " Blog Archive " How-to: Rebuild an Alternator in Afri… Supplies needed: 17 gauge copper wire. plastic sheet. bamboo. broken … Comment from Hemmings [...]

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Comment from Carbon brushes News » GE AC6000CW. alternator
2 May 2008 - 1:24 pm - :

[...] How-to: Rebuild an Alternator in Africa — AfriGadget Archive One of the things Stephan has done, is figured out a way to rebuild alternators with limited materials. Below are some pictures and a video that discuss how [...]

Comment from MAKE: Blog: Rebuilding an alternator in Africa
17 June 2008 - 12:21 am - :

[...] Stephan has done, is figured out a way to rebuild alternators with limited materials.” [via] – Link (photos and video). [...]

[...] Stephan has done, is figured out a way to rebuild alternators with limited materials.” [via] – Link (photos and video). [...]

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