Voltmeter/Charging Question
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Voltmeter/Charging Question
Hi guys...For the people with Touring Bikes. I was wondering what your voltmeters were showing at idle and when driving.
Jim
Please?
Jim
Please?
Last edited by roussfam; Jul 22, 2014 at 02:59 PM.
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Model, Year?
Charge the battery on a trickle charger until it is fully charged, then take it to a shop and have it load tested (auto parts store will do this usually for free).
Clean all the electrical connections.
Charge the battery on a trickle charger until it is fully charged, then take it to a shop and have it load tested (auto parts store will do this usually for free).
Clean all the electrical connections.
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Seasoned HDF Member
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
I was curious what your voltmeter was showing at idle and when driving
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2012
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From: Londonderry, NH
Hi guys...I was wondering what your voltmeters were showing at idle and when driving. Mine never goes above 14 volts and drops to about 13.5 at idle if I have my driving lights and stereo system on (amp). Just put a meter directly on the battery...12.9 volts at rest.
The reason I am asking is because my bike starts fine when cold, but is hard to turn over when hot, sometimes it cranks so slow it won't start and I need a boost. I am wondering if my charging system is not keeping up when riding.
Jim
The reason I am asking is because my bike starts fine when cold, but is hard to turn over when hot, sometimes it cranks so slow it won't start and I need a boost. I am wondering if my charging system is not keeping up when riding.
Jim
If your volt meter is accurate, 13.5V at idle is on the low side. Mine never gets below 14.0. I suspect you have a weak regulator.
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There are two Stickies at the top of this Tech Electrical section that give advice on checking your charging system, including Dan's suggestion. Use the scientific approach to establish if there is a problem and what it is!
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
What does your voltmeter read at highway speed?
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Seasoned HDF Member
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
Did that, everything checks out. Sounds like you either have no charging, very high charging, or fluctuating charging when your VR goes. Just wondering if it's possible to just have it not keep up.....hence the request for the voltmeter readings on other bikes....
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Road Warrior
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From: Londonderry, NH
Mine reads 14.0-at idle and 14.2-14.4 Volts under operating conditions other than idle.
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My FLHTCU 2008 read just over 13 volts at idle most of the time, at times it would go up to just over 14 volts.
After bring the RPM's up past 1500 RPM's while riding, the meter would read just over 14 volts almost always, whether my passing lights were on or off. Sometimes it is a slow steady climb to just over 14 volts from just over 13 volts. Still other times it was almost instant.
I regularly put a tender on it when I'm not riding it. Now, in the last few days of writing this post my regulator took a dive and quit working. Wires good, stator normal specs, rotor normal specs.
Jim, what are your idle and riding numbers? Also, do you have an oiler cooler located just a bit under and in front of your regulator?
After bring the RPM's up past 1500 RPM's while riding, the meter would read just over 14 volts almost always, whether my passing lights were on or off. Sometimes it is a slow steady climb to just over 14 volts from just over 13 volts. Still other times it was almost instant.
I regularly put a tender on it when I'm not riding it. Now, in the last few days of writing this post my regulator took a dive and quit working. Wires good, stator normal specs, rotor normal specs.
Jim, what are your idle and riding numbers? Also, do you have an oiler cooler located just a bit under and in front of your regulator?
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