Alternator under water

After a trail ride that involved some deep water crossing, enough to submerge the alternator on the 360, I was wondering about how well a standard alternator will hold up in water like that. Will it run no matter what...or maybe 5 minutes...or less?

The placement of my delco alternator on the AMC V8 is relatively low on the engine.

So what's the story on alternators working under water?

 

Old timers sometimes used to take off the fan belt before deep water fording.

 

Makes sense. It would also take a lot of drag off the engine, and reduce spray under the hood.

 

The old MBs and GPWs had a quick disconnect arm on the generator to allow things slip or free wheel during a deep water crossing. Clear water wouldn't be a concern, muddy water would worry me but those parts still work after driving through a heavy rain storm. I have an old military instruction manual and the loosening or removal of the belt was to protect the radiator as Patrick and Glenn said. Anything newer has sealed bearings so unless its packed full of mud I wouldn't worry much, But I would keep an eye on it.

 

I skipped some of the more extended water crossings because of the concern that it would just quit and I didn't want to be dead mid-stream.

By extended, I mean we would have to drive up the creek from one trail to the next maybe 100 yards.

 

Fording in clean water will not effect the charge ability of a generator or alternator.

 

Unless you still have the OEM Motorola alt, that has issues.. Mine would kill the engine if it got water in it.. Swapped it out to a CS130..

 

I have a delco 12si.