Low Voltage ...Help...
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 187
Likes: 0
From: Charleston, SC
Good advice to check the grounds (all of them). This may involve removing the tank and fairing front to access the wiring. Disassemble and clean all the grounds and contacts in the connectors.
I did this to my bike this weekend, and now, for the first time in three years, the starter cranks the engine with the lights on, like it's supposed to. It's amazing how all the little voltage drops in the wiring due to poor contact will affect total performance. Even my instrument lights are brighter.
I did this to my bike this weekend, and now, for the first time in three years, the starter cranks the engine with the lights on, like it's supposed to. It's amazing how all the little voltage drops in the wiring due to poor contact will affect total performance. Even my instrument lights are brighter.
a volt gauge is like an oil gauge, only good for making you paranoid.
Thread Starter
|
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 10
Likes: 1
From: lexington
Thanks for all the replies. I am waiting for the rotor and stator to be return and get it all put back together. I think I will clean all the grounds and take new measurements. I will post my results here. The wire diagram says the regulator wire goes to the load side of the circuit breaker, I read somewhere that someone had good results going straight to the battery. Is that a good or bad idea?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 7,736
Likes: 1,524
From: Coromandel Peninsula New Zealand
It works either way but circuit breaker is the safer option....circuit breaker could even be causing your problem so check it between earth and where the reg meets the breaker, compare that with across the battery.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 957
Likes: 2
From: Carlsbad Springs Ontario
stop throwing parts at it !
I am having a heck of a time with an electrical problem. I have a 97 electra glide ultra classic, I bought it with a bad stator, and decided to replace everything stator, rotor and regulator. Simple enough I thought. It is the Thunderheart 3 phase system. I can not get the voltage much past 12 volts(riding down the road looking at the gage). I have sent the regulator back to Thunderheart and they say it is good. I have sent the stator and rotor back to Thunderheart and same thing they say it is good also. I see no sparks when I connect the battery and the battery (which is also new) holds a full charge when not in use. When I switch on the ignition I do not see 12 volts on the factory gage it is around 11 volts. Running at idle it does not produce 12 volts reved to about 2000 rpms you begin to see 12 volts. Where should I be looking for whatever is dragging it down? I first though I had bad components but since the factory has checked them I guess something else is causing it.
Clean up all the ground points and connectors as suggested.
You probably have a poorly calibrated OEM volt meter .?
Thread Starter
|
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 10
Likes: 1
From: lexington
Where are all the ground points that I should be cleaning? I have found two near the battery and another under the fairing. I finally got all my pieces and parts back. Ready to get it put back together sometime this week...AND Happy Fathers Day to all the Dads.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 957
Likes: 2
From: Carlsbad Springs Ontario
ground points.
Suggest that if you dont have a Harley shop manual for your particular ride , you should get one as it will cover the elec. system completely . The Clymer and Haynes manuals provide insufficient electrical diagrams .
Your problem is in regards to the dreaded electrical system and without a proper manual , you are left with insufficient info.
As an ex. auto. wiring guy i can tell you that an electrical problem can and will drive you nutts unless you have the proper research material available.
Stop throwing expensive parts at the problem until you determine what the problem is !
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Trucky911
Electrical/Lighting/Alarm
24
Feb 13, 2016 10:03 AM