I have a '02 FXDL, that recently quite charging the battery while running. I thought it was probably my 8 year old battery's fault and replaced it with a new fully charged battery on Friday. Rode for 3 hours yesterday at 50 mph and this new battery isn't charged enough to turn the engine over (had to get a jump to get home this morning). Since this is my first Harley, I'm wondering what the most likely culprit might be. I've never had a bike that quite charging the battery.

 

more than likely its the regulator but it could be the stator also

 

I unplugged the stator from the regulator, set my multi meter to ohms, and checked each connection for continuity to ground. The multi meter showed some degree of continuity to ground on both prong connections. I'm thinking that this means that my stator is shorted to ground, and therefore bad.

BTW, testing the regulator didn't show up anything wrong.

 

If you open the primary and it smells burnt then it's your stator, your test with the multi meter sorta confirmed it. May I suggest when the stator is replaced put a new regulator from Cycle-Electric on. Kuryakyn makes/sells a neat little volt meter with LEDs that will indicate what your charging system is doing. Cheap insurance to get you home.

 

Well, the stator was shorted, and the rotor was messed up, so I had a Cycle Electric 3 phase system installed (CE-62A). It's charging well now!

 

Glad to hear you got the problem solved