John, the more you describe this, the more it sounds like a bad ground somewhere. Can you take a piece of wire, strap it to the back of the radio and run it directly to the battery ground lug and see what happens.

 

will do after i get home from work and i will let you know what happened thanks for your help

 

i ran a ground wire from the case of the radio to the negative on the battery still have the same problem

 

ok so we've isolated it from being a ground problem. my next step would be to pull the plug apart where the voltage regulator plugs into the stator and inspect it. Sometimes those connector pins will be loose fitting. They need to be nice and tight and completely sealed.

Also, you didn't mention whether this was an HD voltage regulator and HD stator that you used for replacement parts.

 

My original Harley Radio gave me a major headaches. Got to the point I could tear it apart and put it back together in no time. Then I had to drive for almost 45 minutes to test it before it would act up.

What I discovered was that mine had a face that was separate from the radio's body through the stereo caddy. Those contacts became the whole issue.

Odds are your situation is coming from the charging system. Voltage is one thing, stable DC voltage is another. If the regulator is not properly converting the AC signal from the stator to DC it could be allowing a spiking voltage of AC which the radio would perceive as a "dirty voltage" and cause abnormal sound, and / or noise. Go faster and the more spiking voltage being produced. At an idle the recharge voltage drops back and stabilizes enough to let the radio play correctly.

Grease or oil in the plug between the stator and alternator could give open, or shorted issues causing dirty voltage.

I'd pop open an inspection cover on the primary and smell it to test if the stator is breaking down. If it is the oil will smell like a burnt transformer.

I'd also do an A/C voltage test from the stator to the battery. There's a single terminal (wire) off the voltage regulator that attaches to a mounting block, that's the recharge line. Checking there to see if on a VOM (volt ohm meter) shows any A/C. That would be a bad thing. Could also fry the battery.

Good luck and let us know what you figure out.

 

the stator and the regulator are hd

 

johnny c my regulator has 4 wires 2 to the stater plug 1 to ground and 1 to the breaker no single terminal (wire) off the voltage regulator that attaches to a mounting block i checked voltage when the radio is acting up its 14.4 i brought the rpms to 4000 and it went to 14.5 volts you said What I discovered was that mine had a face that was separate from the radio's body through the stereo caddy. Those contacts became the whole issue was that on a road glide i will look at mine to see if its like that thanks for the in put and the same to you ultranutz

 

Different years, different bikes. I can't be certain your faceplate comes off, it was an issue with my factory radio.

Your voltage checks are all that was really needed. I have a central connecting block my regulator output goes to, it's the recharge circuit to the battery.

I was curious if the output fluctuated, or read A/C, indicating the regulator was not fully functioning.

 

John, you have no other issues with the bike whatsoever? To me I would think if VR or Stator, you'd be seeing other issues in addition to the radio.

Can you pop open the derby cover and take a good whiff inside. If there is an issue with your stator, you will certainly never forget the smell it puts off

 

i will check it should be all right its brand new oem but i will look anyway