My factory alternator died in September, not that surprising, I hear they last about 25k miles on Sportsters.
So I upgraded to Cycle Electric. Which also has a benefit of not being a shunt system.
I installed it, no charging. I left it alone for winter, tried it again in March. No charging.
Called Cycle Electric. After discussing all possible failures we concluded it might be a faulty regulator. I sent it in for testing, they said it's OK.
When I put it back on the bike I noticed there is an arrow on the mounting bracket pointing up and two letters U and P. UP. Suddenly I recalled ... when I put it on in September I took the regulator off the bracket because it was easier to bolt on the bracket this way. I noticed the UP thing. But I didn't finish the job same day and forgot about it. Next weekend when I put the regulator back on bracket I mounted it upside down. Apparently it has some sort of position sensor in it and will not work when it thinks the bike is not rubber side down.
Conclusion. Finish the job same day or take notes.
Now, dudes, it is very embarrassing to me. Please do not tell anybody, alright?

 

as you get older , your forehead gets flatter..
I always say , "those who never make a mistake , don't do much"

 

Thanks for the heads up. This will ensure that those of us that have never made a mistake will not endanger our spotless record.

 

Nice safety feature, kills the charging when the bike ends up inverted.

 

Worth knowing, thanks

 

I've fcked up worse that that. lol. But not going public with it. haha..

Don't sweat it, it's not that bad.

 

"A story I do not want to tell you"

Crap happens sometimes, As I get older I'm getting where I need my glasses,magnifying glass, and spotlight just to see stuff like that.

For future reference though what you do is start the story with "my cousins neighbor knew a guy's uncle who did this".

 

I'm reaching the age where I can laugh on myself and share it with friends.

 

I don't think it was an upside down position sensor so much as it was getting a sensor in the proper position. I bet if you ran the bike upside down it would have done the same thing.

 

We're reaching the age where we can laugh at you and share it with our friends ( Sorry, I just couldn't resist ) ... Trust us ... all of us ... We won't tell A N Y O N E !!:>)