Is there a decent and cheap replacement available? Motorworks suggest £250. Anyone know if an aftermarket or refurbed service exists? Or recommend a similar but cheaper alternative?
A local alternator/starter shop in a little industrial estate will recondition it for you at a reasonable cost and there should be plenty of those all over London.
It is likely that a set of new brushes would see it right.
Autotronic services ltd. Alternator and starter motor reconditioning and repairs. 202 Merton road, London, SW18 5SW.
called them. They don't do it and have to send it away. Cost would be around the same for new unit. And they were not sure if it could be done until seeing the unit. Oh and fyi motorworks do a new voltage regulator for £30 and a second hand Bosch alternator for £76.