So what's broken
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Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2006
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So what's broken
So the bike, ,90 heritage, runs fine on a fully charged battery, but it won't charge the battery. It broke down on me on the way home the other day and I had to keep jumping it to get it home. No trailer. If this was a car, I'd change the alternator, problem is, I don't know how my bike charges the battery. Something I should know, but I don't. So I'm asking you, the experts, what I should be checking. Thanks in advance.
Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Haslet Texas
Charge your battery fully and then run through the How To Diagnose Your Charging System sticky above.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 717
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From: San Dimas
But first, check the easy peasy stuff: Is the stator output plug (front of engine, right side if you're looking at your bike from the front, near the oil filter) connected? Are your battery terminals tight? Is your ground solid? Once those are done, do what TC suggested and follow the procedures...
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 17,548
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From: Oxford, Nc
There are only 3 components, the stator (under the left side cover (in the primary case,) attachd to the crankshaft - see the electric plug coming out of the front of the case?) the regulator ( that finned black box between the front frame tubes down in front of where the motor bolts to the frame,) and that runs a wire to the battery. Get a multi-meter first though.
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Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2006
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I went through that sticky in the beginning if the season and all was ok then. Obviously something broke, I just don't know what I'm looking at on a bike. I'll check it out at some point today and see where it fails. I'm going to hook the battery up to the tender now to get a good charge on it.
Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,065
Likes: 4,561
From: Haslet Texas
I went through that sticky in the beginning if the season and all was ok then. Obviously something broke, I just don't know what I'm looking at on a bike. I'll check it out at some point today and see where it fails. I'm going to hook the battery up to the tender now to get a good charge on it.
That should help a lot.
Another option is take pictures, mark what you want to know what it is, post it here and we will tell you.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,290
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From: D/FW Texas
There are only 3 components, the stator (under the left side cover (in the primary case,) attachd to the crankshaft
the regulator ( that finned black box between the front frame tubes down in front of where the motor bolts to the frame,)
and that runs a wire to the battery. Get a multi-meter first though.
the regulator ( that finned black box between the front frame tubes down in front of where the motor bolts to the frame,)
and that runs a wire to the battery. Get a multi-meter first though.
If you can afford a Harley, you can afford a cheap multimeter for your tool box; you can get one for less than 10 bucks at Harbor Freight or Wally World.
Last edited by SeaZund; Dec 8, 2014 at 10:06 AM.
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Brighton, MI
added pictures to Stiggy's post. A multimeter can measure 3 diffrent electricial properties..anps, volts (AC or DC), and resistance (ohms). Since we're checking the battery charging, we want to set the meter to measure DC Volts. Simce we're expecting something in the 12 volt range, always set your meter to the next higher range (probably 20 volts). Plus and minus leads directly on the battery will probably show approx 11.5 to 12.5 volts with the motor off. Start the bike and the reading should go higher, to roughly 13.5 to 14.5 volts. The regulator fails more often than the alternator. 13-14 volts with the engine running points to an ok alternator and regulator...probably a weak battery.
If you can afford a Harley, you can afford a cheap multimeter for your tool box; you can get one for less than 10 bucks at Harbor Freight or Wally World.
If you can afford a Harley, you can afford a cheap multimeter for your tool box; you can get one for less than 10 bucks at Harbor Freight or Wally World.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 691
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From: H-TOWN TEXAS
Unplug the regulator where it plugs into the stator on the front of the engine case and inspect the prongs on the plug. I've saw cases before where the will corrode break burn ect. An easy fix for this without replacing th regulator is, cut the plug crimp or crimp/solder 12-10 gauge bullet connectors in place of the plug and keep riding.
Last edited by Throttle_Jockey; Dec 11, 2014 at 05:32 AM.