Stalling, surging and blowing out lights
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 328
Likes: 64
From: Nashville, TN
Stalling, surging and blowing out lights
This problem has happened intermittently, three times now. Each time basically the same.
Bike will be running fine, then while riding everything goes out (including all the lights) and it stalls. Usually it comes back to life shortly and I’ll notice my dash light looks brighter than usual for a few seconds. Then everything is normal again, except that lights are burned out. I’ve gone through two headlights and two load equalizers (I have aftermarket LED turn signals and brake lights installed).
Curious if this sounds like anything obvious to anyone? I wonder if it could be the voltage regulator, but I’m sure that’s not the only possibility.
I haven’t gotten to investigate very deeply yet but am planning to do so this week. I’m figuring the first thing I should do is unhook all the aftermarket stuff (heated gear and phone charger plugs, etc) and start testing stuff.
Bike is the ‘97 Fat Boy in my signature.
Bike will be running fine, then while riding everything goes out (including all the lights) and it stalls. Usually it comes back to life shortly and I’ll notice my dash light looks brighter than usual for a few seconds. Then everything is normal again, except that lights are burned out. I’ve gone through two headlights and two load equalizers (I have aftermarket LED turn signals and brake lights installed).
Curious if this sounds like anything obvious to anyone? I wonder if it could be the voltage regulator, but I’m sure that’s not the only possibility.
I haven’t gotten to investigate very deeply yet but am planning to do so this week. I’m figuring the first thing I should do is unhook all the aftermarket stuff (heated gear and phone charger plugs, etc) and start testing stuff.
Bike is the ‘97 Fat Boy in my signature.
Last edited by rainsong; Nov 26, 2018 at 07:21 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 6,086
Likes: 1,128
From:
You have a 1997 Harley Davidson Fat boy.
Unknown mileage
Unknown changes from stock
Unknown history of ownership
Unknown when the bike last ran OK without any problems
Unknown time between last three intermittent problems that are reported to be the same.
You report: Bike will be running fine, then while riding everything goes out (including all the lights) and it stalls. Usually it comes back to life shortly....Does this mean the bike is still rolling and restarts on its own?
You report: I’ll notice my dash light looks brighter than usual for a few seconds. Then everything is normal again, except that lights are burned out. I’ve gone through two headlights and two load equalizers (I have aftermarket LED turn signals and brake lights installed).
Have you considered review of charging system?
Voltage at battery post at rest, while cranking?
Voltage at battery post while above idle?
It is reading like you have an over voltage situation or a combination of loose cables, bad battery and bad regulator but it requires testing to isolate.
How is the ground (negative) cable on battery?
How is the battery itself?
What is voltage output of Stator in AC volts ?
Unknown mileage
Unknown changes from stock
Unknown history of ownership
Unknown when the bike last ran OK without any problems
Unknown time between last three intermittent problems that are reported to be the same.
You report: Bike will be running fine, then while riding everything goes out (including all the lights) and it stalls. Usually it comes back to life shortly....Does this mean the bike is still rolling and restarts on its own?
You report: I’ll notice my dash light looks brighter than usual for a few seconds. Then everything is normal again, except that lights are burned out. I’ve gone through two headlights and two load equalizers (I have aftermarket LED turn signals and brake lights installed).
Have you considered review of charging system?
Voltage at battery post at rest, while cranking?
Voltage at battery post while above idle?
It is reading like you have an over voltage situation or a combination of loose cables, bad battery and bad regulator but it requires testing to isolate.
How is the ground (negative) cable on battery?
How is the battery itself?
What is voltage output of Stator in AC volts ?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,626
Likes: 6,443
From: Honah Lee
The regulator is hard to check without fancy equipment but obviously, it's letting high voltage get thru. Could even be AC. Probably needs replaced. But you also ought to check alternator stator since it could be bad also and you do not want it to kill new regulator. (stator is easy check with just an AC/DC/ ohm meter) Search on her for post if you do not know how.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Nov 26, 2018 at 09:57 AM.
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 328
Likes: 64
From: Nashville, TN
Have you considered review of charging system?
Voltage at battery post at rest, while cranking?
Voltage at battery post while above idle?
It is reading like you have an over voltage situation or a combination of loose cables, bad battery and bad regulator but it requires testing to isolate.
How is the ground (negative) cable on battery?
How is the battery itself?
What is voltage output of Stator in AC volts ?
Voltage at battery post at rest, while cranking?
Voltage at battery post while above idle?
It is reading like you have an over voltage situation or a combination of loose cables, bad battery and bad regulator but it requires testing to isolate.
How is the ground (negative) cable on battery?
How is the battery itself?
What is voltage output of Stator in AC volts ?
The original stator went bad about 2 years ago, and I replaced both it and the voltage regulator back then with Cycle Electric parts. And of course, they’re both 6 months out of warranty now.
Anyway, I just thought I’d see if it sounded like anything obvious before I dive in to it this week.
Last edited by rainsong; Nov 26, 2018 at 09:19 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,626
Likes: 6,443
From: Honah Lee
Yep, these are all things I’m planning to check.
The original stator went bad about 2 years ago, and I replaced both it and the voltage regulator back then with Cycle Electric parts. And of course, they’re both 6 months out of warranty now.
Anyway, I just thought I’d see if it sounded like anything obvious before I dive in to it this week.
If OK, recharge it till green light. Regulator needs a good battery to be correct reading at 2000 rpm service manual rating.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Nov 26, 2018 at 10:06 AM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,414
Likes: 433
From: Arkansas
Check voltage cold, warm, and then fully up to temp, you may want to warm the VR up with a hair dryer to get it above the ambient air temp as it may be at that temp when riding around (slow cruising isn't going to cool the VR much and the VR will heat up quite a bit as the bike runs) this way you can isolate VR out of the equasion.
Trending Topics
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 6,086
Likes: 1,128
From:
Yep, these are all things I’m planning to check.
The original stator went bad about 2 years ago, and I replaced both it and the voltage regulator back then with Cycle Electric parts. And of course, they’re both 6 months out of warranty now.
Anyway, I just thought I’d see if it sounded like anything obvious before I dive in to it this week.
Cycle electric is a good product..They always get good reviews.
2 years is not a long time but then again maybe you rode 100,000 miles in difficult roads within Alaska with high electrical demand heated products during those 2 years..
When lights burn, especially a headlight then i would think high voltage is getting past regulator....either due to a regulator failure or wire issue..or stator wire is somehow throwing unregulated AC voltage spikes into bike.
Cycle electric is a good product so unusual that a factory acquired part would be bad.
Why was original stator and regulator replaced 2 years ago? at what mileage? What went bad? was it a short to case at stator? broken wire? did stator burn-out? or did regulator give-up the ghost?
Is it possible that you have overtaxed the electrical output with numerous heated gear items and maybe a a battery that was not perfect thus destroying regulator a second time?
The battery cables can take some weird turns, are cables 100% OK.
I would test battery, then all connections to battery, then charging system connections then charging system.
If needed tape a voltage meter to tank in order to verify issue while riding or while lightly banging on hard parts of bike with rubber hammer (checking for loose connection) while bike is at high idle..
If this will be the third voltage regulator in bike history then it might be a good idea to study the matter in depth to not repeat the same problem.
Sometimes a quick diagnosis of a bad regulator alone might be a temporary solution but may not solve the recurring cause.
That is why sometimes, so many questions get asked.
Last edited by im; Nov 26, 2018 at 01:38 PM.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window
Verdad Gallardo
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 328
Likes: 64
From: Nashville, TN
Cycle electric is a good product and 2 years is not a long time but then again maybe you rode 100,000 miles in difficult roads and in conditions such as Alaska with high electrical demand heated products during those 2 years..
When lights burn, especially a headlight then i would think high voltage is getting past regulator....either due to a regulator failure or wire issue..or stator wire is throwing unregulated AC voltage into bike.
Why was original stator and regulator replaced? at what mileage? What went bad? was it a short to case at stator? broken wire? did stator burn-out? or did regulator give-up the ghost?
Is it possible that you have overtaxed the electrical output with numerous heated gear items and maybe a a battery that is not perfect?
I would test battery, then connections, then charging system.
If needed tape a voltage meter to tank in order to verify issue.
When lights burn, especially a headlight then i would think high voltage is getting past regulator....either due to a regulator failure or wire issue..or stator wire is throwing unregulated AC voltage into bike.
Why was original stator and regulator replaced? at what mileage? What went bad? was it a short to case at stator? broken wire? did stator burn-out? or did regulator give-up the ghost?
Is it possible that you have overtaxed the electrical output with numerous heated gear items and maybe a a battery that is not perfect?
I would test battery, then connections, then charging system.
If needed tape a voltage meter to tank in order to verify issue.
Haven't really used my heated gear a ton since then, but who knows.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 32,934
Likes: 36,032
From: Carlsbad, CA
Stator over voltage is extremely unlikely.
edit:
Sometimes, particularly for intermittent issues, is most effective to replace the highest probability failure item and cross your fingers.
Last edited by TriGeezer; Nov 26, 2018 at 01:12 PM.