Electrical: Charging system problems?
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Seasoned HDF Member
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From: Sunshine State
Electrical: Charging system problems?
Got a call from one my bros today, electrical problem.
His battery drains while out riding, neutral light stays on.
I'm thinking bad regulator but that neutral light thing got me wondering.
His battery drains while out riding, neutral light stays on.
I'm thinking bad regulator but that neutral light thing got me wondering.
Thread Starter
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 13,456
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From: Sunshine State
Appreciate the response, we'll get it figured out.
Seasoned HDF Member
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From: pacific northwest
just wondering, what kind of life can one expect from the oem stater? my bike is at 48K miles and still charging ok, years back had one fail on a Suzuki GS1000 at 32K, also an oil submerged stater.
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From: Sandy Eggo's North County
On my FXD (1995,) I got about 60,000-65,000 before stator failure. Happened numerous times.
Also, yes, Suzuki stators are in an oil bath. And you're right, they were practically guaranteed to fail, if you rode the bike enough. Oil would short out the charging system.
Also, yes, Suzuki stators are in an oil bath. And you're right, they were practically guaranteed to fail, if you rode the bike enough. Oil would short out the charging system.
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Joined: Jan 2007
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From: along the shore of Mishigami
I had one stator failure and two Regulators fail on my 02 FXD. I put a Cycle Electric regulator and still good after 12 years. Year of your buddies bike would have been a little help, the old single phase system was pretty anemic to begin with.
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Seasoned HDF Member
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From: Sunshine State
I'll have hands on soon enough, then I'll know regulator or the stator. I did get him to throw a VOM on the battery and it is the charging system. Since the neutral light stays on I have to lean towards a bad stator. We'll see.
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Tourer
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 354
Likes: 119
From: Penna.
There's good information on the internet for checking the voltage regulator. Though to properly check it you'll need a fairly good electrical meter to check all the functions. A higher end Fluke meter will do it.
I've never had a stator go on any Harley I've had and some of my bikes had high mileage on them (100,000+). I've replaced two voltage regulators.
If it is a voltage regulator, try a Cycle Electric, they're good quality, made in the U.S., and much cheaper than the foreign made Harley unit!
Good luck.
I've never had a stator go on any Harley I've had and some of my bikes had high mileage on them (100,000+). I've replaced two voltage regulators.
If it is a voltage regulator, try a Cycle Electric, they're good quality, made in the U.S., and much cheaper than the foreign made Harley unit!
Good luck.
Last edited by 31scout; Dec 8, 2019 at 08:44 PM.
Thread Starter
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 13,456
Likes: 10,452
From: Sunshine State
There's good information on the internet for checking the voltage regulator. Though to properly check it you'll need a fairly good electrical meter to check all the functions. A higher end Fluke meter will do it.
I've never had a stator go on any Harley I've had and some of my bikes had high mileage on them (100,000+). I've replaced two voltage regulators.
If it is a voltage regulator, try a Cycle Electric, they're good quality, made in the U.S., and much cheaper than the foreign made Harley unit!
Good luck.
I've never had a stator go on any Harley I've had and some of my bikes had high mileage on them (100,000+). I've replaced two voltage regulators.
If it is a voltage regulator, try a Cycle Electric, they're good quality, made in the U.S., and much cheaper than the foreign made Harley unit!
Good luck.
I'll come back, tell you about the green light and the what part of the charging system was bad. Yes? Yes.