Panhead A place to talk about Panhead motors.

Generator or Regulator?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 2, 2009 | 03:35 PM
  #1  
superp's Avatar
superp
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Detroit, MI
Default Generator or Regulator?

I need to pick your brains..
I have a 64FL with shovelheads and a 12V conversion. I was having some charging issues with the old genny, so I bought a new one. I still have the old Electric Franks regulator on the end. When testing the the battery, I am getting about 12.2V at 3500rpm, much less at idle. The lights do brighten up when I rev it. I replaced much of the old wire with 12gauge and soldered everything. The bike has not left me stranded but I always use a trickle charger when I park it. I always thought if the reg was bad I would be getting too much volts or nothing.
ANy ideas why I would not be getting 13V or more?
 
Reply
Old Aug 2, 2009 | 04:16 PM
  #2  
dswansbiker's Avatar
dswansbiker
Road Warrior
15 Year Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,462
Likes: 121
From: Northern Illinois
Default

Yes you should be getting over 14 volts when revved. The only way to go if running a modern generator, is a Cycle Electric with built in electronic regulator. Bulletproof!
 
Reply
Old Aug 2, 2009 | 04:20 PM
  #3  
teamstersteward's Avatar
teamstersteward
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,640
Likes: 8
From: Corpus Christi,Texas
Default

sho sounds like a bad reg??????????
 
Reply
Old Aug 2, 2009 | 07:26 PM
  #4  
superp's Avatar
superp
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Detroit, MI
Default

Dang, I was hoping to keep the cool old school Electric Franks. Looks like I may have to upgrade.
 
Reply
Old Aug 2, 2009 | 07:40 PM
  #5  
sqdealgeorge's Avatar
sqdealgeorge
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,854
Likes: 20
From: Eagle River WI
Default

Get yourself a mechanical reg like Bosch or Accel I've run them all ( Franks etc ) 7 years on the mechanicals and still ticking If you can pull into a dark garage and see the lights get brighter as you rev it I don't think there is a problem !!
 
Reply
Old Aug 2, 2009 | 08:36 PM
  #6  
superp's Avatar
superp
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Detroit, MI
Default

The lights definately get brighter when I rev but you don't think 12.2 volts is too low??
 
Reply
Old Aug 3, 2009 | 04:00 PM
  #7  
48pan's Avatar
48pan
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 260
Likes: 3
From: Fort Worth, Texas
Default

Originally Posted by superp
The lights definately get brighter when I rev but you don't think 12.2 volts is too low??
Superp you should be getting 13 to 14v at the battery. Disconnect your regulator at the generator and check the voltage at the A terminal, should be 2 to 4v at idle. You have 2 circuits in the regulator one to charge and and the other to keep it from overcharging. Generally I've seen them fail charging. They could be set up that way because if it fails at the overcharge where more voltage comes back to the gen it would turn it into a motor and fry. Any of the regulators mentioned by sqdealgeorge are good. Good luck. Let us know if it works.
 
Reply
Old Aug 3, 2009 | 06:35 PM
  #8  
sqdealgeorge's Avatar
sqdealgeorge
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,854
Likes: 20
From: Eagle River WI
Default

48 pan I like your bike ! nice job
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

10 Most Awkward-Looking Motorcycles Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Jason Momoa Is Turning Classic Harleys Into PHEVs

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-8

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Aug 3, 2009 | 09:14 PM
  #9  
superp's Avatar
superp
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Detroit, MI
Default

Thanks 48Pan, I will try that this weekend, your bike is awesome. The only thing I have left to do is get a new regulator, I will try to hunt one down.
 
Reply
Old Aug 4, 2009 | 08:07 AM
  #10  
48pan's Avatar
48pan
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 260
Likes: 3
From: Fort Worth, Texas
Default

Thanks for the comments guys. I appreciate it.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:16 AM.

story-0
10 Most Awkward-Looking Motorcycles Ever Built

Slideshow: Not every motorcycle can be a design icon, and these machines prove that bold styling doesn't always age gracefully.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-18 10:29:31


VIEW MORE
story-1
Jason Momoa Is Turning Classic Harleys Into PHEVs

Slideshow: Jason Momoa's latest restoration project blends 1920s Harley-Davidsons with modern electric technology, creating some of the most unusual hybrid motorcycles ever built.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-10 17:18:58


VIEW MORE
story-2
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-3
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-4
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-5
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-6
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-7
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-8
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-9
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