intermittent no charge. '08 ultra
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
From: Grand Haven, Mi.
intermittent no charge. '08 ultra
Picked up a new to me ultra last week.
Out riding today, put on about 50 miles, and stopped at a buddies house.
When I left, got going about 2 miles down the road and noticed the engine and battery lights are on. Looked at gauge and it was at like 11 volts.
So, I turned off the radio and spot lights, thinking I'd try to make it home, about 5 miles.
Shortly thereafter, it started charging again and was fine for the rest of ride home.
Turned lights and tunes back on. All is good.
Bike has 27,000 miles. Is there anything that is a common issue on these ?? (My other bike is '02 Dyna) so not used to all these electronics.
Going to check the obvious, battery connections and such.
Just looking for pointers on common issues.
Thanks, Jeff.
Out riding today, put on about 50 miles, and stopped at a buddies house.
When I left, got going about 2 miles down the road and noticed the engine and battery lights are on. Looked at gauge and it was at like 11 volts.
So, I turned off the radio and spot lights, thinking I'd try to make it home, about 5 miles.
Shortly thereafter, it started charging again and was fine for the rest of ride home.
Turned lights and tunes back on. All is good.
Bike has 27,000 miles. Is there anything that is a common issue on these ?? (My other bike is '02 Dyna) so not used to all these electronics.
Going to check the obvious, battery connections and such.
Just looking for pointers on common issues.
Thanks, Jeff.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,928
Likes: 117
From: Ashby, Ma
Voltage Regulator. Been there done that. Seriously, I had the exact symptoms on my 07 a couple years ago. It's the VR. I changed the battery first, thinking my battery was over 5 years old. ...but nah.. it was the VR.
I like this one. http://www.jpcycles.com/product/383-632
I like this one. http://www.jpcycles.com/product/383-632
Last edited by oldhippie; Mar 15, 2015 at 09:43 PM.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 5,092
Likes: 2
From: Wenatchee, WA
.......... check the input/output plugs on the regulator/rectifier assy - good chance they're loose.
............... possibly the regulator/rectifier assy is getting a poor ground - ensure that it is bolted firmly to the frame. No ground? No charge.
............ to properly charge the battery the regulator/rectifier puts out about 14.5 vdc and that can be measured from the pos battery lead to ground (or across the battery) with the engine running @ 1500 rpm.
............... possibly the regulator/rectifier assy is getting a poor ground - ensure that it is bolted firmly to the frame. No ground? No charge.
............ to properly charge the battery the regulator/rectifier puts out about 14.5 vdc and that can be measured from the pos battery lead to ground (or across the battery) with the engine running @ 1500 rpm.
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 270
Likes: 9
From: Western PA
Voltage Regulator. Been there done that. Seriously, I had the exact symptoms on my 07 a couple years ago. It's the VR. I changed the battery first, thinking my battery was over 5 years old. ...but nah.. it was the VR.
I like this one. http://www.jpcycles.com/product/383-632
I like this one. http://www.jpcycles.com/product/383-632
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
easy to diagnose using the tech board/ electrical sticky diagnostics.
rather than replacing good parts
( sometimes just the act of replacing parts cleans up a bad connection which kept the old part from functioning).
aside from the 2012(?) Vr recall, I have never had a VR fail.
1st make sure the battery and battery cables are good, with tight clean connections.
( your cables should have clean tight connections at both ends, check for corrosion such as white powder coming out of the ends of the cables, the insulation shouldn;t "roll" away from the cable in your fingers- it'll only do this is the cable is rotted ( see below)
then I would disconnect the stator and clean the connections, same for the VR and then start checking.
any problems you see at the dash voltmeter, confirm with a real voltmeter attached to the battery or your battery tender pigtail
mike
rather than replacing good parts
( sometimes just the act of replacing parts cleans up a bad connection which kept the old part from functioning).
aside from the 2012(?) Vr recall, I have never had a VR fail.
1st make sure the battery and battery cables are good, with tight clean connections.
( your cables should have clean tight connections at both ends, check for corrosion such as white powder coming out of the ends of the cables, the insulation shouldn;t "roll" away from the cable in your fingers- it'll only do this is the cable is rotted ( see below)
then I would disconnect the stator and clean the connections, same for the VR and then start checking.
any problems you see at the dash voltmeter, confirm with a real voltmeter attached to the battery or your battery tender pigtail
mike
Last edited by mkguitar; Mar 18, 2015 at 10:47 AM.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
From: Grand Haven, Mi.
Checked battery cables, clean and tight.
Checked grounds under the seat. Clean and tight.
Removed VR, connections are clean and tight. Added some die-electric and reinstalled.
I will do the same for the stator plug.
Weather got cold here, again. So I'll give it another try when warmer.
If it happens again, I'll replace regulator.
Well, dealership will replace, as I just bought it and thus was my first ride.
Thanks for the info.
Checked grounds under the seat. Clean and tight.
Removed VR, connections are clean and tight. Added some die-electric and reinstalled.
I will do the same for the stator plug.
Weather got cold here, again. So I'll give it another try when warmer.
If it happens again, I'll replace regulator.
Well, dealership will replace, as I just bought it and thus was my first ride.
Thanks for the info.
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Road Master
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 881
Likes: 13
From: ONT
Sounds like a VR problem to me. Also sounds like you have some warrantee on bike from dealer. Let them figure it out. Wouldn't hurt to smell the oil in your transfer case. If it smells like $hiit, it's your alternator.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 157,458
Likes: 57,015
From: Michigan 15 Minutes East Of Hell
Transfer Case .... Maybe he's riding an International ???
