I need some help...
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
From: tampa
arrgghhh. i am so frustrated. this has been an on going thing. battery has been replaced, but the bike has been unable to start. just turns over. I can smell gas when it is turning over. I checked and cleaned carb. seems to be good. i do not appear to be getting spark. (turned over engine, put plug against metal and no spark.) i guess i have this narrowed down to either the regulator or the coil. I'm leaning towards coil. would solve both problems. any Ideas before I blow too much money my broke *** can't afford.
Tourer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 442
Likes: 0
From: High Desert of So Cal
You said you had a light show with your blinkers before the last time your battery puked. I would check for a short in your switches before doing anything else. Also check your fuses/circuit breakers.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,375
Likes: 2,570
From: NC USA
Been a few months and I've slept since then... badazzz aren't you the one who was going to check/replace your ground cables?
Don't know where yours is mounted, but I had turn siganl flasher come apart from vibration and extreme wind slap in Wyoming a few months ago... when the internals started slapping the top of the triple tree - talk about a show!!
Sounds like you need to pull your tanks, dash, and whatever else and go over the whole thing. I may have the test figures, but I need to know what year, model, ignition system (stock or whatever). I'll be glad to walk you thru it all or email you the procedures.
Don't know where yours is mounted, but I had turn siganl flasher come apart from vibration and extreme wind slap in Wyoming a few months ago... when the internals started slapping the top of the triple tree - talk about a show!!
Sounds like you need to pull your tanks, dash, and whatever else and go over the whole thing. I may have the test figures, but I need to know what year, model, ignition system (stock or whatever). I'll be glad to walk you thru it all or email you the procedures.
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
From: tampa
Been a few months and I've slept since then... badazzz aren't you the one who was going to check/replace your ground cables?
Don't know where yours is mounted, but I had turn siganl flasher come apart from vibration and extreme wind slap in Wyoming a few months ago... when the internals started slapping the top of the triple tree - talk about a show!!
Sounds like you need to pull your tanks, dash, and whatever else and go over the whole thing. I may have the test figures, but I need to know what year, model, ignition system (stock or whatever). I'll be glad to walk you thru it all or email you the procedures.
Don't know where yours is mounted, but I had turn siganl flasher come apart from vibration and extreme wind slap in Wyoming a few months ago... when the internals started slapping the top of the triple tree - talk about a show!!
Sounds like you need to pull your tanks, dash, and whatever else and go over the whole thing. I may have the test figures, but I need to know what year, model, ignition system (stock or whatever). I'll be glad to walk you thru it all or email you the procedures.
man do I hope this isn't it. really don't want to have to do all that work. I did have a light show just before the battery cooked. It was from the turn signal indicators and dummy lights. only did it twice. happened each time the battery was cooked. Could this contribute to the lose of spark?(once again, bike won''t start)
HDF Community Team
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,375
Likes: 2,570
From: NC USA
I'm sure it's all related some degree. Hate to see anyone hanging parts chasing a problem.
Still need to know what bike you have before I can make an attempt to help. I don't know later stuff too good, but will help if I can.
Still need to know what bike you have before I can make an attempt to help. I don't know later stuff too good, but will help if I can.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,223
Likes: 3
From: Peoria, AZ
Regulator
I think everyones saying this if you read all the posts but IMHO I would change the regulator FIRST then troubleshoot for ignition spark. I don't usu. recommend repair by replacement, but it sounds like initially, assuming the batteries positive terminal were not grounding to the frame, that the charging system is (still) overcharging the batteries and the regulator/rectifier controls this. Putting in a new battery (or coil) will not correct this problem; it MAY run for a while then it will cook the battery again or worse. The battery acts as a load (or a "dam") for a normally running charging system and protects these circuits and keeps the AC charging from "taking over" and systems that run on DC then get AC voltage (why it's bad to run with the battery disconnected). The "light show" you mention could have been from AC current running through the system at the loss of battery DC in the system; that AC-juice has to go somewhere! After replacing the regulator, check the ignition and main circuit breakers as they may have (hopefully) locked-blown but I think you possibly may have "cooked" other components of the ignition, most likely the electrically-sensitive ignition module which is now causing ignition problems (that's assuming the battery is connected properly now). Checks for ignition are in the service manual.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
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
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
don't disconnect or reconnect the stator plug when the bike is running, it can (and will) fry the stator.
To check stator rotor output:
1) disconnect the stator plug
2) start bike
3) set multimeter to VAC
4) read across the stator plug (one probe in each hole)
5) have someone rev the bike up to 2000-3000 RPM
6) stator/rotor output should be 16-20 VAC per 1000 RPM
To check for a shorted or grounded stator:
make sure engine is off
1) set multimeter to "ohms"
2) read across the stator plug
3) resistance should be 0.2-0.3 ohms
4) now check each stator pin to ground
5) should have no continuity
6) reconnect stator plug
To check voltage regulator function:
1) set multimeter to VDC
2) check battery voltage...12.5-13.0 VDC
(if the battery isn't fully charged, this test is useless)
3) start bike
4) hold the red lead of the multimeter to the positive post of the battery and the black lead to the negative post.
5) increase engine RPM to at least 2000 RPM
6) multimeter will show regulator charging rate which should be 14.2-14.6 VDC. A brand new fully charged battery will sometimes only indicate 14.0 VDC, anything above 14.6 VDC is cooking the battery (no ****).
To check stator rotor output:
1) disconnect the stator plug
2) start bike
3) set multimeter to VAC
4) read across the stator plug (one probe in each hole)
5) have someone rev the bike up to 2000-3000 RPM
6) stator/rotor output should be 16-20 VAC per 1000 RPM
To check for a shorted or grounded stator:
make sure engine is off
1) set multimeter to "ohms"
2) read across the stator plug
3) resistance should be 0.2-0.3 ohms
4) now check each stator pin to ground
5) should have no continuity
6) reconnect stator plug
To check voltage regulator function:
1) set multimeter to VDC
2) check battery voltage...12.5-13.0 VDC
(if the battery isn't fully charged, this test is useless)
3) start bike
4) hold the red lead of the multimeter to the positive post of the battery and the black lead to the negative post.
5) increase engine RPM to at least 2000 RPM
6) multimeter will show regulator charging rate which should be 14.2-14.6 VDC. A brand new fully charged battery will sometimes only indicate 14.0 VDC, anything above 14.6 VDC is cooking the battery (no ****).
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
