i have some kind of a c clamp that i got from a mopar dealer closeout over 30 yrs ago,it is a factory tool that i was told it was to press out diodes in alternators,ive never used it,and at this late date never will
That's the proper tool!
I have tested my alt diodes with the ohmeter position on my multitester, but not the value, just checking if they are open or closed and it has worked for me. Of course testing positive bank or negative bank diodes require switch the ohmeter leads to be able to check for that
That seems to be the bottom line.
Each 3 diode rectifier can be tested that way, or with the diode setting on a DMM that has it. But it won't show which diode is bad because there are three possible paths for the test current.
That's no big deal on a squareback or any of the other manufacturers mid 70s alternators. Its much easier to just replace the rectifier.
But with the earlier individually mounted and soldered diodes, its nice to isolate the bad one.
