Battery Draining While Running
Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Wisconsin
Battery Draining While Running
Hey guys. I am having some issues with my bike holding charge. While the bike is off, it will hold charge, but while its running the battery will slowly tick down. Sometimes it willl be fine for a month before I have to charge it, and sometimes it will tick down from ~13.80 volts to 11 volts in one ride.
So far I have
-cleaned the terminals and checked the wires
-replaced the relays and diodes
-checked the fuses
-replaced the battery
Any ideas while the battery is draining? I dont have any aftermarket products hooked up to the battery. Does this sound like it could be the stator?
So far I have
-cleaned the terminals and checked the wires
-replaced the relays and diodes
-checked the fuses
-replaced the battery
Any ideas while the battery is draining? I dont have any aftermarket products hooked up to the battery. Does this sound like it could be the stator?
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 274
Likes: 0
From: Holt, MO
Sounds like the regulator/rectifier or stator is out. You will want a multimeter that reads AC and DC volts. The stator outputs AC volts to the R/R which transforms and steps down to appx 14.4 VDC
I would speculate the R/R, as they are a more common failure than Stator.
I would speculate the R/R, as they are a more common failure than Stator.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 274
Likes: 0
From: Holt, MO
Start the bike and disconnect the leads from regulator to battery(a bad battery will throw the reading off) or disconnect the battery. Bring the rpms up and back down, your output voltage should be greater than 14.4vdc
I haven't looked at the manual, but most stators don't generate voltage until they are above 2500 RPMs. If your Voltage doesn't increase you have ruled out the battery.
To check the stator, you'll leave the battery off, and check voltage in the 3(or4) wires that feed the regulator. You should have at least 25VAC between any of the wire combos.
I'm going to double check the manual to give the exact figures.
I haven't looked at the manual, but most stators don't generate voltage until they are above 2500 RPMs. If your Voltage doesn't increase you have ruled out the battery.
To check the stator, you'll leave the battery off, and check voltage in the 3(or4) wires that feed the regulator. You should have at least 25VAC between any of the wire combos.
I'm going to double check the manual to give the exact figures.
Last edited by barncat; Jul 29, 2012 at 06:13 PM. Reason: changed some figures
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 274
Likes: 0
From: Holt, MO
-Battery capacity 12 volt, 9 amp hr.
-Ignition coil
Primary resistance
1200S models 0.4-0.6 ohms
All other models 2.5-3.1 ohms
-Secondary resistance
1986-1992 models
1993-2003 models
1200S models 11,500-12,700 ohms
All other models 10,000-12,500 ohms
- Alternator Stator coil resistance 0.2-0.4 ohms
AC voltage output 19-26 VAC per 1000 rpm
- Voltage regulator Voltage output
1986-1993 models 13.8-15 VDC @ 75° F
1994-2003 models 14.3-14.7 VDC @ 75°F
Amps @ 3600 rpm
1986-1990 models 19 amps
1991-2003 models 22 amps
Remember, when OHMING out anything, you CANNOT have power going to the device. So, keep the battery disconnected. OHM all the stator wires to ground, to check for a grounded stator.
-Ignition coil
Primary resistance
1200S models 0.4-0.6 ohms
All other models 2.5-3.1 ohms
-Secondary resistance
1986-1992 models
1993-2003 models
1200S models 11,500-12,700 ohms
All other models 10,000-12,500 ohms
- Alternator Stator coil resistance 0.2-0.4 ohms
AC voltage output 19-26 VAC per 1000 rpm
- Voltage regulator Voltage output
1986-1993 models 13.8-15 VDC @ 75° F
1994-2003 models 14.3-14.7 VDC @ 75°F
Amps @ 3600 rpm
1986-1990 models 19 amps
1991-2003 models 22 amps
Remember, when OHMING out anything, you CANNOT have power going to the device. So, keep the battery disconnected. OHM all the stator wires to ground, to check for a grounded stator.
Last edited by barncat; Jul 29, 2012 at 05:30 PM.
Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Wisconsin
Hey thank you for the help. Think I actually found the cause of the problem (fingers crossed). I started to inspect the voltage regulator and followed the three wires to under the gearbox. Two of the wires converge into one plug, and a single wire into another. The single wire had come unplugged from the looks of it. Plugged it back in and so far so good.
Just out of curiosity, where does this single wire go? The two (im guessing positive and ground) run into the primary and hook up to the stator. Where does the other wire connect? Tried to follow it up but lost it in the bundle of wires.
Just out of curiosity, where does this single wire go? The two (im guessing positive and ground) run into the primary and hook up to the stator. Where does the other wire connect? Tried to follow it up but lost it in the bundle of wires.
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 16,320
Likes: 306
From: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh
I don't see any (even basic) info on your bike in this thread, like year and model. Didn't you have a Buell?
I believe most Buells have 3 phase stators (3 wires) unlike the Sportster which has a single phase stator (2 wires). Where the wires go should be shown in the schematic diagrams in the back of your Service Manual.
I believe most Buells have 3 phase stators (3 wires) unlike the Sportster which has a single phase stator (2 wires). Where the wires go should be shown in the schematic diagrams in the back of your Service Manual.
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Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 11
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From: Wisconsin
Sorry its a 99' Cyclone. Looks like the third wire goes to the circuit breaker. I'm surprised it worked at all with the ground to the circuit breaker disconnected. Might explain why the bike wasn't fully charging tho.
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Road Warrior
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,718
Likes: 1
From: manhattan beach
Hey thank you for the help. Think I actually found the cause of the problem (fingers crossed). I started to inspect the voltage regulator and followed the three wires to under the gearbox. Two of the wires converge into one plug, and a single wire into another. The single wire had come unplugged from the looks of it. Plugged it back in and so far so good.
Just out of curiosity, where does this single wire go? The two (im guessing positive and ground) run into the primary and hook up to the stator. Where does the other wire connect? Tried to follow it up but lost it in the bundle of wires.
Just out of curiosity, where does this single wire go? The two (im guessing positive and ground) run into the primary and hook up to the stator. Where does the other wire connect? Tried to follow it up but lost it in the bundle of wires.