On my way into work the other morning I stopped at the gas station when I came back out started my 02 Electra Glide up to finish my trip in work, She was having some trouble starting. After she started up I looked at my amp gauge and it was reading very low Negative low. After the end of the day went back out and she started right up gauge still reading Negative. I took the battery had it charged and tested. tested good now trying to test the stator and reg/rec. but not real clear on how to use a multi meter on it and where to test at. Any and all help would be great pics would be even better. Thanks!!

 

At the top of the following page are "Sticky"'s. Click on "Charging System Testing (1)" and "Charging System Testing (2)"

Testing the charging system

This video may also help


Hope you get everything worked out

 

I checked the output at idle and was about 24v, @ 2000 RPM it was anywhere between 43v to 46v. So I am thinking regulator?

 

Yep and remember that Harley didn't go to the modern 3 phase charging system until about '06 so you may still have issues down the road.

When the stator goes, consider 3 phase systems from Cycle Electric or CompuFire. After 3 failures on my bike by the time I reached 53,000 miles back in '09, I relented and bought the Compufire and that was 7 years and 107,000 miles ago and the system is still going strong. Just an fyi.

 

What kind of timeframe are we looking at before it all goes? Or is there any way of knowing?

 

There's no way IMO. Some guys never have an issue (but some guys don't ever really rack up the miles either.) As long as they put a stator right next to the engine (hot,) they increase the chance of a failure.

I've replaced lots of stuff as preventive maintenance (fuel pump, relays, spring caps on the compensator, swing arm bushings, etc,) but I'd wait for the stator to go. Depending on how much they want for a regulator, (the whole Compufire system coSt about $400,) you can make the call at that time I suppose. It's a PIA to replace a stator.

 

I have rode 18.000 in the last 14 months, I just replaced the belt earlier this year. and from what I understand it is easier to do the stator than the belt.

 

Well yeah, half way to the belt job you had the stator exposed. Maybe this is the time to do it and 'forgettaboutit'. I have really appreciated the reliability of mine. ( I saw one on Amazon not long ago.)

 

I think I will do that this winter, I have a out of state ride on Friday, hope all will stay working for that ride.

 

I wouldn't spend money on 3 phase. Replace the part that failed. Cycle Electric is considered a good brand.

I would not stop at 24 volts ac. 20 volts per 1000 rpm. Take it up to 70 or 80 volts ac.