Why do I have two alternator brackets?

[hd002e]

I need to make some adjustments to the alternator bracket on my westerbeke M35B and noticed that the adjusting arm for the alternator is two 5mm plates that are simply held together by the bolts that attach the bracket to the engine block and the alternator. I am scratching my head trying to figure out a reason they would do this. Do two pieces provide better rigidity instead of one?

I will need to get a new one fabricated and I am wondering if I should go with two 5mm pieces or use a single 10mm thick plate.

Thank you for looking!

[markxengineerin]

Do two pieces provide better rigidity instead of one?

No, the opposite (but not a significant difference).

My guess is that the design is a shared part number and in the other application it doesn't need to be as thick. I would go with either/or, whichever is cheaper and easier for you to make or buy with the tools and material you have.

[roryboy]

When the first one broke, it was probably easiest to go back with 2 stacked on one another.