Engine Light. Low voltage.
Thread Starter
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Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 35,506
Likes: 27
From: Calgary eh
So I pop off the derby cover and I'll see this nut and shaft? Or do I have to disassemble something?
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 12,986
Likes: 715
From: NE Philly
Check the battery voltage using a volt meter at high idle (about (2000 RPM). If it's below 14.1, you have a charging issue.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 12,986
Likes: 715
From: NE Philly
Novice
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Knoxville, TN
First check standing battery voltage, ign off, then turn key to ign without starting it, let the numbers mellow out for a second, then start the bike. voltage should be reading 1- 11/2 volts above standing battery voltage at idle. Then rev engine to about 3000 rpm, your voltage should increase but top out about 14.26vdc or so. if all that checks out then your charging system is good.
Thread Starter
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Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 35,506
Likes: 27
From: Calgary eh
First check standing battery voltage, ign off, then turn key to ign without starting it, let the numbers mellow out for a second, then start the bike. voltage should be reading 1- 11/2 volts above standing battery voltage at idle. Then rev engine to about 3000 rpm, your voltage should increase but top out about 14.26vdc or so. if all that checks out then your charging system is good.
Yup that all checks out. I have an onboard volt meter on my dash (Road Glide). Like I said before, this only happened once. So I'm assuming it's going to bite me again... Prolly at night when it's raining, on a remote road, no cell coverage, with a pack of hungry wolves watchin ....
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 12,986
Likes: 715
From: NE Philly
Yup read that thread, and I can totally believe that I have the same issue with my regulator. It's only happened once, the charging system quit, I watched as the voltage dropped from 12 to almost 10 V. Then the next time I fired it up (probably when the regulator cooled down) the voltage was back to where it should be.
Yup that all checks out. I have an onboard volt meter on my dash (Road Glide). Like I said before, this only happened once. So I'm assuming it's going to bite me again... Prolly at night when it's raining, on a remote road, no cell coverage, with a pack of hungry wolves watchin ....
Yup that all checks out. I have an onboard volt meter on my dash (Road Glide). Like I said before, this only happened once. So I'm assuming it's going to bite me again... Prolly at night when it's raining, on a remote road, no cell coverage, with a pack of hungry wolves watchin ....
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,466
Likes: 425
From: Illinois
Why does everybody jump on the stator right away? Much more likely to be the regulator.I even had a regulator start on FIRE once. The stator was STILL good.
The shop manual goes into good detail on how to check the charging system.
The shop manual goes into good detail on how to check the charging system.
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Club Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 16,320
Likes: 306
From: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh
Maybe because the HD stators are junk. I've had 3 failed stators and no failed regulators. Switched to a better brand stator and the failures stopped.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,510
Likes: 23
From: Connecticut
I'd reckon that it's just as likely to be the voltage regulator (or connections) as it could be the stator.
I had a regulator go south on me some years back on my FXR.
I'd check the connections around the regulator. Then do a voltage output check as others have mentioned.
I had a regulator go south on me some years back on my FXR.
I'd check the connections around the regulator. Then do a voltage output check as others have mentioned.