I have a 1987 sportster that I have just started riding and it's actually the only bike ive ever rode just put about 50 miles on it and loved it so far.. Only problem in having is getting it to start sometimes.. I just bought the battery less than a year ago but when I start I've noticed the ticking sound that a drained battery makes when it doesn't have enought juice to start ! It typically will start after it sits over night but have noticed if I'm riding and turn the bike off to do something it just does that ticking sound... usually I could
Get it to start but today it wouldnt turn over at all had to push the bike off to start it.. I've read thru some stuff and I'm thinking it could be the voltage regulator and I have one that's new that came in a box off stuff that can with the bike from the previous owner but it says it's made for a bigger bike.. Will it work to use the one I have or am I way off could it be something else?

 

Get a voltmeter and get the voltages with the bike OFF, then with the lights on, then idle, then high idle. You should see if it's charging or not. You could have a loose connection, or a short, or a bad battery, or...

 

Thanks! I will check it out tomorrow . The bike was a mess when I got it I've been slowly working on it for about a year.. What type of readings should I be looking for?

 

and if it checks out bad will the other voltage regulator work for my bike?