Abstract Using 8 MeV 3He particles, angular distributions of alpha particles were obtained resulting from the reactions 24Mg(3He, α)23Mg, 26Mg(3He, α)25Mg, 28Si(3He, α)27Si, 30Si(3He, α)29Si and 32S(3He, α)31S. Excitation function data were analysed applying the theory of Ericson fluctuations which indicated that the reaction was predominantly direct ( > 80%) at the forward scattering angles. The 3He parameters from elastic scattering analyses were incorporated in a DWBA analysis of the (3He, α) reactions and spectroscopic factors were extracted. Evidence was seen for a J-dependent effect in the l = 2 transfer processes which could not be produced in the theoretical calculations by the addition of a spin-orbit potential. The cross sections of the (3He, α) reactions on 24Mg, 28Si and 32S were found to be considerably larger than those on 26Mg and 30Si. This is explained as being partially the result of the Q-value differences with the remaining difference attributed to reaction mechanisms other than the ordinary neutron- pickup process.