I'm making a run to Texas next week, and I've had some serious concerns about my charging system. Nothing has gone on funny that would lead me to believe it's going bad, but from the reading I've done, it seems these things give up the ghost (stator, voltage regulator, or both) at around 20k miles.. my bike is sittng at 22,100 or so.

I'm going to check the charging system here later, and if it checks out, should I go ahead and ride it to Texas, and stop worrying about it; or do I park it and take the truck, and replace it with a cycle electric system when I can.

Thanks guys!

 

The stator on my 95 Fatboy went at 31K .... voltage regulator failed at 9K. Test both and if they pass, I'd ride till they die. I rode with the bad stator for several hundred miles until it drained the battery, charged it and rode it for another several hundred until I could get it replaced

 

Hmm... yeah, that's always a viable option to at least get to my destination if I can get a tow to the nearest stealership or place with MC batteries.

 

Ride it, something usually causes the stator to go out, like shorts, bad connections or a bad regulator, sometimes a regulator may go out for no apparent reason, or improper battery charging or jump starting.

For piece of mind, check the condition of the terminals in the stator to regulator plug, if they get a little corroded or loose, it gets hot in the connector.
Put a wrench on the battery connections every once in a while.
Follow the regulator hot wire back to the main circuit breaker making sure it's not chaffing on any sharp edges, also check the stator wire routing for the same.

 

FWIW my stator and regulator have at least 35k miles on them.

If you just want to replace it for piece of mind go for it but unless you are having a problem I wouldn't worry about it.

 

Good idea, I'll check all that. I did pop the stator plug off last night and there wasn't any corrosion. I'm going to wipe all of that off and put some dielectric grease on it.

I'm probably going to do that when I have the cash anyways.

 

After my charging system stranded me on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere, I put one of these on my bike so I know before the battery is dead if it is charging. Peace of mind is peace of mind.

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com...T.MC_ID=54006#

 

Just checked everything using the Dr. Hess system. About 12.86 with the bike off, about the same with the ignition on, 12 something with the brights on (no where near 12.0), with the bike running, at around 2k rpm, about 13.80 at the battery, same with the brights on. Stator plug had some oil on it from the last filter change, so I cleaned it off thoroughly, checked the rubber, and applied dielectric grease. I checked the hot wire for the regulator up the frame and under the tank, no pinch points, everything good to go.

I'm riding her to Texas! Thanks guys.

 

Y'all asked for a sound video so here you go. This was right after I cut the enrichener off so she wasn't quite warmed up yet. Once it's up to operating temperature it idles at about 1000-1100.

 

They go with no warning, ride it and stop worrying. Bigfoot could rip your head off while you are out camping, worrying about it won't prevent it...