So here’s a cautionary tale on buying diesel parts: The bearings went bad on the alternator on my Yanmar 2gm20f. This is an alternator once made by Hitachi that used to run about $120 or so. Yanmar would rebrand them and sell the units as its own for many dollars more.
I did an Internet search and discovered Hitachi apparently no longer makes these alternators. The good news (I think)): Some nameless offshore company is manufacturing replacements. Companies are selling them as their own (most with the same stock photo) for $70 to $130. So, before ordering, I call my local Yanmar dealers to see whether he has it in stock and whether I can do my bit to keep him solvent by buying from him. Sure, we have them, the saleswoman says. Yanmar brand: $850. I choke and ask about aftermarket: $400. Remanufactured? $210. I end up saying sorry, but I can have it delivered to my door in four days for $79. All of my customer loyalty went out the window with those kinds of markups on an alternator that sells for maybe $30 wholesale. Now I’m wondering whether I can buy my filters, impellers, hoses, etc., at a deep discount by shopping online. Jack Brennan Former C&C 25 Shanachie, 1974 Bristol 30 Tierra Verde, Fl. --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus
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