Generator question
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 574
Generator question
'69 stock FLH with 65A generator. Bike started to loose charge after riding and sitting for a few days. Battery was about 4 years old so I replaced it with a new AGM battery. Thought that was it but generator light would stay on for quite a long time and come back on at lights and stop signs. Not just flickering but on solid. Thinking it was the regulator, I replaced it with same result. I had a cycle electric generator on the shelf so I replaced the 65A and the charging system worked perfectly. I put the old Delco regulator back on and it worked as it should so I figured the generator was bad. I took it to the shop and the guy said it bench tested at 10-12 amps and that it is OK. My question is what would cause it to act this way? The rest of the charging system is OK and the generator bench tests OK. As usual, all advice is greatly appreciated.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 12,878
Likes: 5,449
From: la la land jerzey
I own a generator testing machine and the only thing its blind to is motor heat - electrical things do not like heat my guess the field windings or even the armature is going away BUT cold it will do its thing
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 574
Thanks John and King for replies. SOP is to flash the regulator any time I disconnect the battery. Generator light stays on from stone cold to several minutes even though I've got the revs up for 1/4 mile or so and then comes on solid when they drop off at lights etc. I think John is correct (as usual). I've just never experienced this issue. Either the generator is working or it's not. Never had one kinda work.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 188
Likes: 17
From: SE Pa.
Clean the contacts in your voltage regulator. Check the gap for the contacts in your voltage regulator. Most likely the contact for the batt terminal in your voltage regulator may need to be adjusted closer, adjust approx .001 a time til you the gen light stays off at an idle.
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 574
Thanks LilRosie. I had cleaned the points on the regulator but I hadn't tried to adjust them. As it turns out, the lower bolt hole on the cycle electric generator is stripped so I've got an oil leak coming from there. Today I'm going to pull the generator and heli coil the stripped hole. If I have time, I'll put the 65A back on and fool with the contacts. I'd rather have the stock generator anyway.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
