Are sparks a bad thing?

[goatseeker]

Was messing with the timing on the GTO last night in the driveway & noticed sparks from the back of the alternator while revving the engine http://forums.performanceyears.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_eek.gif. Don't know if it's always done it before but it was dark & you could really see it with the hood open sitting inside the car. It charges fine & all lights work & battery stays charged. Now I know nothing about electrical stuff (among other things http://forums.performanceyears.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_redface.gif) but seeing those sparks and my front carb about a foot away didn't seem like a good combination.
Should a normally functioning alternator produce visible sparks? http://forums.performanceyears.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_confused.gif

http://kurtspontiac.homestead.com/TimSimpson66GTO.html

[goatseeker]

Was messing with the timing on the GTO last night in the driveway & noticed sparks from the back of the alternator while revving the engine http://forums.performanceyears.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_eek.gif. Don't know if it's always done it before but it was dark & you could really see it with the hood open sitting inside the car. It charges fine & all lights work & battery stays charged. Now I know nothing about electrical stuff (among other things http://forums.performanceyears.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_redface.gif) but seeing those sparks and my front carb about a foot away didn't seem like a good combination.
Should a normally functioning alternator produce visible sparks? http://forums.performanceyears.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_confused.gif

http://kurtspontiac.homestead.com/TimSimpson66GTO.html

[TinInjun]

Would you stop messing with that poor car. Your going to break it. http://forums.performanceyears.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif
Sparks coming from the alternator. Best guess is you are seeing the sparks coming from the slip ring on the rotor. There are carbon brushes riding on it just like any electrical motor that uses them.(brushes) The sparks you are seeing sould be small and faint to the eye. If this the case then it is normal. The more load on the alternator the more you will see the sparks and vice versa. Give me a ring if need be.

"Suppose you were an idiot... And suppose you were a member of Congress... seems I repeated myself." --Mark Twain
http://members.aol.com/jetmech15/gto/topless.jpg

[goatseeker]

OK, OK! (mister smarty pants - now that your car is running again)! http://forums.performanceyears.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

http://kurtspontiac.homestead.com/TimSimpson66GTO.html