Charging system sucks.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 856
Likes: 9
From: North Carolina
I have the 1988 FLHTC and the same issue as you. I thinks it's very typical of that year or the early evo baggers. I have the 32 amp charging system upgrade and when I hit the brakes the volt meter goes down to 9 or 10 volts. If I run all the lights and the radio it looks like I won't even make it home but, I always do.
My wife's sportster has a trike kit on it and a bunch of lights. I have waited for that to be an issue but, going on three years with no issues.
I once had a 1983 Honda Goldwing that I bought used. At night with all the lights on it looked like a Christmas tree. Light bars and fork lights and all kinds of crazyness. I once burned a wire for the light bars but, the battery and charging system seemed to do OK. Those light bars needed some serious wire because they used so much power. So, I think I'll just not worry about that stupid and worthless volt meter on the fairing. It's cosmetic only.
My wife's sportster has a trike kit on it and a bunch of lights. I have waited for that to be an issue but, going on three years with no issues.
I once had a 1983 Honda Goldwing that I bought used. At night with all the lights on it looked like a Christmas tree. Light bars and fork lights and all kinds of crazyness. I once burned a wire for the light bars but, the battery and charging system seemed to do OK. Those light bars needed some serious wire because they used so much power. So, I think I'll just not worry about that stupid and worthless volt meter on the fairing. It's cosmetic only.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
What the voltmeter (and other gauges) do is draw attention to a possible problem, when they don't read what they usually do. That's the time to check with a decent multimeter. As for getting low voltage readings, check with your multimeter to see if it confirms the drop. On an older bike (I have a 1990 Glide) there is plenty of scope for connectors and grounds to become corroded and cause voltage drop, due to increased resistance. It may be possible to improve things, with a bit of effort and some dialectic grease!
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,578
Likes: 463
From: On a Lake, not far from the Gulf
Blu, go to Harbor Freight & pick up their cheap Digital Multimeter. Not the best in the world, but it will get the job done, and they are quite accurate. Then do the charging system test on the sticky.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,725
Likes: 3,070
From: Brighton, MI
I have had two of them and they work great for automotive (and cycles) lower voltages, but checking ac current and the paper thin circuit board traces will cook. YD
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 7,736
Likes: 1,524
From: Coromandel Peninsula New Zealand
Usually a charging system either charges or it doesn't, they seldom slack off and "only just" charge. Mostly these things are caused by shorts or other loadings or the system being barely adequate to start with.
If it gets ya home, it's working...
If it gets ya home, it's working...
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