So i bought an '83 xls and one of the problems im having is that it wont stay charged. It doesnt have the original generator style but whats called an "altenator conversion kit" at jp cycles site. When i checked the charging voltage it was about 11.2 at and idle and just about 12 when i would give it a good rev. I thought it was the charging so i went to jp cycles and bought the the same style system. And got the same results.... now my question is could it be just bad luck in getting bad parts or is it in the realm of possibilities that the previous owner bought some crappy aftermarket cams and my bike just isnt spinning it fast enough?

 

you should get atleast 14v output from the system.There should be 2 wires leaving the alternator unit, measure the AC voltage there . Then reconnect the wires making sure the rectifier/regulator is properly grounded, measure at the output of the regulator/rectifier body

 

Did you install the gear at the end of the shaft? And cams have absolutely nothing to do with your charging system.

 

Any news?????

 

Im gonna chalk it up to cheap parts even tho it wasnt so cheap. Gonna go back to old school gen type