Ironhead A place to talk about Ironheads.

regulator damage

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 18, 2007 | 10:22 AM
  #1  
pyro's Avatar
pyro
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 282
Likes: 0
From: Georgia
Default regulator damage

Is it possible, probable, somewhat likely, etc. for a bad regulator to damage a new generator?

Rich
 
Reply
Old Jun 18, 2007 | 10:38 AM
  #2  
piniongear's Avatar
piniongear
Stellar HDF Member
15 Year Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,035
Likes: 17
From: Houston Texas
Default RE: regulator damage

I do not think it is possible, or likely Rich. You can damage a regulator by making different contacts across the terminals, You always need to flash the field on a generator whenever a wire has been disconnected, then reconnected, but again this is to keep the regulator from getting damaged, not the generator.
A new generator should be working fine. An old generator can have worn brushes, or the windings can fail and cause an open circuit but that has nothing to do with being damaged by the regulator.........pg
 
Reply
Old Jun 18, 2007 | 12:48 PM
  #3  
tedali2004's Avatar
tedali2004
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 459
Likes: 1
From: Florida
Default RE: regulator damage

My recent problems with generator charging leads me to always change the reg if I buy a new gen. Regulators are usually cheap enough and I love piece of mind.
 
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2007 | 11:44 AM
  #4  
pyro's Avatar
pyro
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 282
Likes: 0
From: Georgia
Default RE: regulator damage

Thanks guys. Next question, can a bad regulator do damage to a battery?

Also:
Based on the results from my last thread I got a new generator. After I installed it, I performed the following again to try and double check if I would need to replace the regulator as well. (I know that often, one has to fix one electrical problem in order to diagnose other potential problems.)

"Unhook the battery lead from the BAT terminal on the regulator and measure the voltage at the terminal with the engine running. The volt reading should be about 12.5-13.5 VDC, and will vary with engine rpm. "

When I do this, all I read is about .5 - 1.5 maybe 2 volts. Need new regulator, right? However, what I do next confounds me even further

"If it doesn't vary or doesn't read in that range, touch the volt meter lead to the regulator GEN terminal. It should read about 15-18 VDC, once again varying with engine rpm."

I assume this is to check the voltage comming from the Generator and since mine is a solid state regulator I have to go directly to the "A" lead on the generator. when I do this I only get a reading up to 7 volts depending on rpm.

So what am I assuming or doing wrong that leads me to think I got a bad new generator and still need to replace the regulator?

Rich
 
Reply
Old Jun 20, 2007 | 11:41 AM
  #5  
crampfan's Avatar
crampfan
Cruiser
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 207
Likes: 1
Default RE: regulator damage

Why don't you just full field the gen.? disconnect the field wire from the gen. (F term.) connect your volt meter to the battery or "A" term. and start the engine you should see 16+ volts at a low rev. if not the generator is not working. sometimes you may need to polarize the gen. an few times if it has been started before polarizing it. if the generator is charging. check the wiring from the field term. on the regulator to the generator. if thats good, the regulator is done.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Goose_NC
Electrical/Lighting/Alarm
19
Aug 13, 2018 03:24 AM
AllWeatherRider
Dyna Glide Models
6
Aug 16, 2014 04:47 PM
Michael Gamboa
Electrical/Lighting/Alarm
2
Apr 25, 2014 06:58 AM
96RK
Touring Models
6
Dec 18, 2011 06:24 PM
hellboyrich
General Harley Davidson Chat
11
Mar 6, 2011 11:52 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:54 AM.

story-0
Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

Slideshow: Killer Custom's latest build relies on styling changes rather than performance upgrades, giving the cruiser an entirely different personality.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 18:28:05


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

Slideshow: From military-inspired singles to scooters and three-wheel utility vehicles, these Harleys took the company far outside its comfort zone.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-02 18:34:10


VIEW MORE
story-2
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-3
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-4
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-6
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-7
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-8
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-9
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE